Pronunciation: ak-tin-uh-KENT-ee-uh die-var-ih-CAH-tuh
Common Name: none
Actinokentia divaricata is a very tropical, very slow growing New Caledonian palm that has some ornamental appeal both indoors and out, but most find this plant too slow growing for their liking. New red leaf is very ornamental, however. No mature palms in California so ultimate height and size are estimates only.
Synonym: Kentiopsis divaricata
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with sparse crown of 3-6 leaves
- Height: 8'-12', though this is an estimate. No mature palms known in California (yet)
- Trunk: solitary, ringed 3" thick
- Crownshaft: 1' or less and light green to yellow-green; somewhat prominent
- Spread: 4'-6' (estimate)
- Leaf Shape and color: pinnate, arching with relatively widely spaced, long green leaflets; leaves open a bright red to red-orange and keep color about a week; new leaves have 'V' shade cross section with upright leaflets, but older leaves have more pendulous leaflets (often dropping just below level of rachis)
- Petiole: long- 18" to 24", pinkish to olive green and nearly tubular; unarmed
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: pendulous from below crownshaft with pinkish to brown flowers
- Fruit: oblong 2.5cm
- Seed: oblong 1.5cm
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 30F though some seedlings have survive frosts down to 25F with marked foliar damage
- Drought Tolerance: low
- Dry Heat Tolerance: low
- Wind Tolerance: low
- Salt Tolerance: low
- Growth Rate: extremely slow- in less than ideal climates may produce 1 leaf every 2 years
- Soil Preference: moist and rich
- Light Requirement: partial shade to nearly full shade
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: extremely slow growing, and very slow to non-existant response to injury or disease
- Transplants?: not known
- Indoor?: relatively good indoor palm but best if watered with rain water or purified water (prone to salt build-up toxicity)
- Availability: rare but generally available from mail order sources
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