Beaucarnea guatemalensis 'Yellow Star'

[GreekDesert]

Beaucarnea 'Gold Star' is Beaucarnea guatemalensis 'Yellow Star'

[Geoff]

pretty sure this is actually a form of Beaucarnea guatemalensis... leaf thickness, texture and cold hardiness is typical of this more delicate species... but I have no proof of this.

[GreekDesert]

thank you!
Is it called 'Gold Star' or 'Yellow Star' ?

[Geoff]

I don't know what the official name is, but I usually see it as Yellow Star.

[GreekDesert]

Thank you for that information, reason enough to name it correctly.

[Geoff]

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many say these will never form big bases, but it looks like mine is swelling finally

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This is 'probably' Beaucarnea guatamalensis based on leaf structure (thin and flat and smooth unlike recurvata) and cold hardiness (B guatamalensis is a total wimp when it comes to cold... fry at 30F and die at much lower (25 defoliated my large plant, but it did eventually come back, while B recurvata right next to it was untouched). But no one has said for sure. All plants in cultivation are from cuttings from offshots of some original, larger plant. The argument has been that these cuttings will not grow like the parent plant, never forming a big fat base like the parent... well, they certainly do not come that way, but over time, a widening base is seen, though still too soon for me to describe it as 'big and fat'... but with time I will not be surprised if it does. These variegates are marginate. Some variegated Beaucarneas in cultivation or mediopictate or randomly variegated and I think those are going to end up being another species (such as recurvata- see entry of San Diego Botanical Garden's plant). Plant is otherwise fairly slow growing, likes a lot of water and is pretty easy other than its cold hardiness weakness.

Shots of my plants after frost

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[GreekDesert]

Beaucarnea guatemalensis 'Yellow Star'

[Geoff]

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[GreekDesert]

Beaucarnea guatemalensis 'Yellow Star'

[Stan]

They ARE tender and slow growing. Forget it if you want a tall massive centerpiece. Only if its in a tall massive planter.
I wouldn't doubt the one in Geoff's photo is the largest in the state. Or 99% percentile I think it is.
Nothing like the beloved B.recurvafolia.
I would bet one of these in a big Bonsai or natural style pot is a show winner. Slow.

[Stan]

Mine at 3 years? Slow to recover from frost damage.

[Stan]

Two year update on the trunk. The rest later- I forgot.

[Stan]

End of 2017 update. I think you could put one in a 15 gallon pot and it would never outgrow it.

[Stan]

Five year update! Very modest speed of growth. A forever potted plant.

[plantguy]

Where did you get this? I want it so bad now!

[Stan]

I was at a local nursery in the fall seven years ago or so and not only bought it- they had it half off! Should have bought both!
Slow grower that should be fed more often and given plenty of water. Its never branched or suckered at the base. It is tender..33F can lightly bronze the leaves while B.recurvata of course doesn't even notice that cold until its the upper 20's.
I am amazed at how large they are sold at. Look at Geoff's photos of them for sale ( like mine was) and keep in mind they are slow growers. They must have been grown in always warm greenhouses on a drip feed to even be profitable to grow.