Palms For California

Pronunciation: ar-kon-toe-FEE-nix al-leck-ZAN-dray

Common Name: Alexander Palm; King Palm; Northern Bungalow Palm

Archontophoenix alexandrae is a more marginal palm than the much more commonly grown Archontophoenix cunninghammiana (here in the US called the King Palm, while in its native Australia, it is Archontophoenix alexandrae that is called the King Palm), but it still is a pretty commonly grown landscape and garden palm in the less chilly areas of California. This palm can be identified primarily by its less droopy and flatter leaves (less of a 90 degree twist commonly seen in Archontophoenix cunninghammiana), the ventral leaflet surface being whitish, the trunk having more pronounced diameter changes at the rings (stepped near the base of the palm) and the flower color is different (white instead of purple). It also seems to have attain greater height potential than the common 'King Palm', at least in the tropics. In Hawaii, this palm is far more commonly grown than Archontophoenix cunninghammiana, and is even on the invasive species list there.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 feather leaves Height: 60' Trunk: single; ringed with some variation between ring diameter and rest of palm diameter (particularly near base of palm); self cleaning; 8"-10" thick; grey Crownshaft: 2' long; pale glaucous green; the same, or only slightly larger in diameter than trunk below Spread: 10'-14' Leaf Description: pinnate; flat with a subtle arch; upright to about horizontal (rarely drooping to level of crownshaft); minimal leaflet droop; leaflets very closely spaced and neatly arranged along rachis (very geometric appearance); light green on dorsal surface; whitish green below; 6'-8' long Petiole/Leaf bases: 6" long; nearly tubular; smooth; unarmed Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 1'; highly branched; below crownshaft; flowers white Fruit: spherical; 1/2"; pale yellow turning bright red when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 29F Drought Tolerance: moderate Dry Heat Tolerance: poor Cool Tolerance: moderate Wind Tolerance: moderate Salt Tolerance: low Growth Rate: moderate to fast with age Soil Preference: widely adaptable Light Requirement: filtered to partial sun when young, to full sun with age Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: poor tolerance for moving Indoor?: not likely a good choice Availability: moderately rare; commonly available through most palm specialty nurseries and sometimes found at non-specialty nurseries