Arenga undulatifolia

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: uh-RENG-uh un-dew-laht-ih-FOE-lee-uh


Common Name: none

Arenga undulatifolia is one of the most spectacular palms there are, and for that reason attempts to grow it in California have been frequent. But with very few exceptions this is NOT a good palm for California having too little tolerance for frost or even low temperatures. In a few perfect climates, however, some have eked this palm along for many years (its growth rate is a fraction of what it is in the tropics)… so it IS POSSIBLE to grow this palm here, but check your climate limits before tackling this one. In the tropics this palm is a very large plant taking up lots of room (far too much for the standard garden), taking up about as much room laterally (30'+) as it does in height. The leaves are very long with shiny, ornamentally undulating, 2'+ long, wide, leathery leaflets with silvery/coppery undersides. It is a great palm if you want a large area of dense shade in the yard (not usually a desirable thing when growing tropicals… in the tropics).

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary/ but more commonly clustering with a crown of 10-12 pinnate leaves
  • Height: 20' estimate
  • Trunk: single/multiple; 8" thick estimate; covered with a dense layer of dark fibrous weave and retained leaf bases
  • Crownshaft: none
  • Spread: 15"+ estimate
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; arching and flat; 10' long (estimate); long (12"-15") undulating leaflets with jagged ends (like a long, wavy fishtail leaflet); bright, shiny green dorsally and pale silvery to coppery ventrally; vertical orientation once trunking but young plants have more horizontal silhouettes
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 2'-4'; unarmed
  • Reproduction: monoecious; monocarpic
  • Inflorescence: 1' long; within leaves; greenish-white flowers
  • Fruit: 2"; spherical; dark red to red-brown or black when ripe; toxic oxalates
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 34F
  • Drought Tolerance: low
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
  • Cool Tolerance: low
  • Wind Tolerance: low
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age
  • Soil Preference: moist, acidic, well draining
  • Light Requirement: partial to full sun (filtered sun not ideal, but may be necessary to protect from cold)
  • Human Hazards: toxic fruits (oxalates)
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: very difficult palm in California
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: rare


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