Plant in full to part sun in a well-draining soil with occasional to infrequent irrigation. It appears hardy to winter temperatures experienced in coastal southern California but likely would need protection elsewhere. A great plant for its natural bonsai-like appearance.

Operculicarya hyphaenoides grows in a small area around in the province of Toliara in southwestern Madagascar. It was first described in 1944 by the French botanist Joseph Marie Henry Alfred Perrier de la Bāthie (1873-1958) who specialized in the plants of Madagascar. His name as abbreviated H.Perrier is most familiar to those interested in Malagasy plants since many plants from there are named for him. The name for the genus is from the Latin word 'operculum' meaning a "small lid" and the Greek word 'karya' for a "nut tree" in reference to the operculate nut-like seeds. The genus has eight species of which seven are endemic to Madagascar with the eighth, O. gummifera, found in Madagascar and on the Comoros Islands. The specific epithet of this species is a reference to the palm genus Hyphaene with the Greek suffix 'oides' indicating this plant resemblance to Hyphaene.

The plants we have at the nursery of this species are seedlings raised by Joe Stead, instructor in the Horticulture Department at Orange Coast College at Orange Coast College that Joe grew from stock plants he hand pollinated. We also grow the larger Malagasy Elephant Tree, Operculicarya decaryi. 

The information about Operculicarya hyphaenoides displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.