Baja Elephant Bush (Pachycormus discolor)

Baja California native, known as the Torote Blanco or Copalquín, which grows to tree size in the ground, given the right conditions. It has a thick trunk with peeling gray/white/yellow bark. In habitat it is often dwarfed by harsh conditions (wind, sun, rock, drought), resulting in mother nature's bonsai: stout stems, often growing sideways, not growing tall. Container life generally results in a much smaller plant with a much slower rate of growth.

Like other plants from the region, it will go summer/drought-deciduous and then sprout new leaves in the fall or whenever the rain returns. Rather opportunistic in cultivation. Grow in full sun on the dry side for best form and prune regularly to shape the plant.

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