Palms For California

Pronunciation: nor-MAN-bee-uh nor-MAN-bee-eye

Common Name: Black Palm

Normanbya normanbyi is an uncommonly grown palm for California but it has surprising cold hardiness considering its tropical origins in Australia. It looks somewhat like a skinny Wodyetia, with very similar leaves and leaflets, though far less robust, and it grows significantly more slowly, rarely ever looks 100% healthy in California. In the tropics the two can be much harder to tell apart. The name Black Palm supposedly refers to the color of its wood upon cutting it open (not black at all on the outside).

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 3-5 fishtail leaves Height: 15' estimate Trunk: single; 4"-5" thick; ringed, tapering in height; brown Crownshaft: 1.5' tall; pale green; slightly wider than trunk diameter and slightly bulging at the bottom Spread: 6'-7' Leaf Description: pinnate; arching; plumose with leaves in 4 planes; leaflets narrowly fishtail/premorse giving the effect of a foxtail from a distance; 4'-5' long; deep green Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"-8"; rounded; unarmed; un-split leaf bases Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: below crownshaft; upright to 45 degrees; 2' long; white flowers Fruit: pinkish red to purple when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 26F Drought Tolerance: low Dry Heat Tolerance: low Cool Tolerance: low Wind Tolerance: low Salt Tolerance: low Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age Soil Preference: moist, acidic and well draining Light Requirement: filtered sun to partial sun near coast Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: hard to keep more than a few healthy leaves at a time Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare

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  crown in California- Huntington Beach

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  Sullivan estate in Hawaii

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  University of Hawaii gardens

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  University of Hawaii

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  Hilo Zoo, Hawaii

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  Sullivan estate

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  Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens, Thailand

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  Huntington Beach

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  juvenile foliage in San Fernando Valley, California

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  San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles county

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  400px]]trunk in California

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  seeds in Floribunda Palms, Hawaii