Ornamental pachycaul with a swollen base, deciduous leaves, and bright orange or red flowers. Native to Central America. Looks good when leafy, looks good when leafless (especially when grown to favor the bottle form), looks great in bloom. Relatively common in cultivation. Monoecious and self fertile.

The form of this plant can be quite different depending on where and how it's grown. In the ground, it loses its "fat" look and grows much taller (to about 6 feet). In containers, especially given limited space, it will be a stouter, shorter plant. You can also prune it to favor this form. Strong light and excellent drainage are important. Leaves may grow bigger in partially shaded locations.

In tropical climates this plant may flower and grow year round. In subtropical climates it may lose most or all of its leaves in the fall or winter. Do not overwater at this time. When the plant is in leaf and temperatures are warm, water regularly.