Pachypodium namaquanum

Pachypodium namaquanum has its ditribution in the northern Richtersveld and southern Namibia. This desert area is one of the hottest places south of the Sahara. Rainfall is very limited.

Pachypodium namaquanum is usually found on rocky outcroppings. The leaf crowns always bend towards the north giving the plants a strange, eerie, sometimes human-like appearance. In Afrikaans Pachypodium namaquanum is often referred to as "Halfmens" (Translate: half human).

These desert plants are often easily visible as there is little other vegetation around to compete in size. Some specimens form branches and plants up to 5 m in height have been recorded.

The plants are very slow growing and the larger plants on the photographs maybe a few hundred years old.

Pachypodium namaquanum is relatively easy to grow from seed, and the plants will increase in size considerably faster then in habitat. Even so the gowth rate is much slower then similar looking Pachypodium species from Madagascar.

Pachypodium namaquanum near Umdaus, Richtersveld. A relatively young plant in Pachypodium terms.


Pachypodium namaquanum overlooking an immensly hot inhospitable valley.

Pachypodium namaquanum. A group of plants on a quartzite outcropping.


Pachypodium namaquanum.