A fast growing, slender, tree-sized Beaucarnea from seasonally dry forests in Guatemala and Honduras with a fairly smooth, sparsely branching trunk that forms a large, conical base. The numerous long, curly, straplike leaves are arranged in a dense crown similar to B. recurvata. The leaves of young plants often have an attractive purplish tinge. It is an easy and rewarding plant to grow for many tropical and warm temperate regions.