Pronunciation: kahm-uh-DOOR-ee-uh nay-shun-zee-ANN-uh
Common Name: Corn Palm
Chamaedorea nationsiana is a fairly rare Chamaedorea in California, but it is unclear why, as it is a very good specimen palm for shady but open gardens. This is one of the larger Chamaedoreas with fairly large leaflets. It makes a very good indoor palm as well.
Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 3-5 feather leaves
- Height: 12'
- Trunk: single; 1" thick; dark green, ringed with each ring being a small plateau
- Crownshaft: 6"; light to lime green; bulbous base, wider than stem below
- Spread: 4'-6'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; flat; upright and arching; deep green; leaflets have lines along their length; leaflets about 2"-3" wide and somewhat elongated ovoids; 3'-4' long
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 1'; smooth and rounded except at very base where channeled; light green
- Reproduction: dioecious
- Inflorescence: usually below crownshaft, but not always; simple (rarely branched); 18" long; arching when full of fruit
- Fruit: globose in compact group along main stem; green turning black when ripe; 1/2"
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 29F
- Drought Tolerance: moderate
- Dry Heat Tolerance: low
- Cool Tolerance: moderate
- Wind Tolerance: low
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: slow to moderate
- Soil Preference: moist and well draining, but tolerates some dryness and clay
- Light Requirement: shade to filtered light (leaves tend to burn in sun)
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: leaf tip necrosis (water quality versus too much sun)
- Transplants?: fairly good
- Indoor?: very good choice
- Availability: rare
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Lotusland, Santa Barbara, California
Ventura county, outdoor potted plant