Dypsis baronii

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: DIP-suss bare-OWN-ee-eye


Common Name: Sugar Cane Palm

Dypsis baronii is one of the more commonly grown Dypsis in California and numerous mature palms exist throughout the state. Most forms are clustering, but some solitary forms exist. Trunk diameter totally depends upon number of trunks (solitary species have large, thick trunks, while clustering forms with numerous stems have relatively skinny trunks). This is a variable species also in terms of coloration, some with a lot of yellow, some orange, some black, some with extremely white trunks and others with greenish trunks. Telling this one apart from the recurved-leaf form of Dypsis onilahensis is not that easy, sometimes, though the latter seems to have several degrees of cold tolerance upon Dypsis baronii, as well as a higher degree of heat tolerance as well. Miniature cultivars of this form sometimes available. Branching is not that unusual in this species, either. As might be obvious from reading below, accurately describing this species is very difficult as there is so much variation.

Synonym: Chrysalidocarpus baronii

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary/clustering with a crown of 6-14 feather leaves
  • Height: 15'
  • Trunk: single/multiple; clustering forms tend to have trunks fairly close together, forming dense crowns of leaves; 2"-6" in diameter; closely and prominently ringed; glaucous pale green, bright yellow-green, orange or blue-green to grey with age; bases of some clustering stems have nice reddish coloration, particularly in younger plants
  • Crownshaft: 18"; white (powdery patina) to pale yellow, yellow orange or pale green (or variations involving several of those colors); bulging at base wider than trunk and tapering above to just a bit narrower than trunk
  • Spread: 8'-12'+
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; flat to deeply 'V'd (solitary forms are more flat, suckering more 'V'd); 3'-6' long (solitary forms have longer leaves); arching to nearly straight (again, solitary forms tend to have much straighter leaves); leaflets very narrow (wider in solitary forms) making for very dainty leaf crowns; light green
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 3" to 6" (some forms have longer); unarmed; channeled; pale green to dark green to even jet black; sometimes reddish leaf bases or sometimes with white powdery leaf bases
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: 2' long; from below OR above crownshaft; pendant, multi-branched; fairly stout structure and bright green in color
  • Fruit: spherical; 1/2"; light green turning pale to bright yellow when ripe
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 28F
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate to poor
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate to poor
  • Wind Tolerance: poor
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: widely adaptable, but prefers moist soils
  • Light Requirement: filtered sun to partial sun
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
  • Transplants?: moderately tolerant
  • Indoor?: supposed to be a fairly good indoor plant if given enough light and humidity
  • Availability: rare but one of the more commonly available 'rare' palms- nearly every palm specialty nursery carries this one; forms with jet black petioles are sought after and very rare


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