Aiphanes minima

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: AYE-fun-eez MIH-nim-uh


Common Name: Macaw Palm

Aiphanes minima is a rare and marginal palm for California, but a relatively striking if not dangerous one for warmer, protected gardens. It differs primarily from the other Aiphanes grown in California, Aiphanes horrida, by having narrower and more parallel sided (linear) leaflets.

Synonyms: Aiphanes erosa; Aiphanes acanthophylla

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 10-12 feather leaves
  • Height: 15'
  • Trunk: single; 5" thick; ringed; very spiny with long black, stiff and very sharp spines (pale with age); grey; self cleaning
  • Crownshaft: none
  • Spread: 10'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; flat with pendent leaflets; leaflets overlapping with premorse tips and parallel sides; spines along ventral rachis
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; very spiny; initially a pale tan color, fading to gray in older leaves
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: 3' long; drooping; from within crown
  • Fruit: spherical; 1/2"; red when ripe
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 28F
  • Drought Tolerance: low
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: low
  • Wind Tolerance: poor
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: adaptable
  • Light Requirement: filtered sun to full sun
  • Human Hazards: very spiny palm all over- spines incredibly sharp
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: rare


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