Summary Pachypodium inopinatum Lavranos is known with certainty from a single mountain on the central plateau of Madagascar and was only described formally in 1996. The genus as a whole is popular with succulent enthusiasts, and threats to wild populations include collection of mature plants and seed, artisanal mining, and bush fires. P. inopinatum is illustrated here, and an artificial key provided to aid identification of the non‐arborescent yellow, cream or white‐flowered species of Pachypodium in Madagascar.