Palms For California

Pronunciation: burr-rett-ee-oh-LEM-tee-uh huh-PAL0uh

Common Name: none

Burretiokentia hapala is another good New Caledonian palm for southern California and mature, fruiting palms exist in California. It is a classic palm shape and bright green- an excellent specimen palm for gardens with some protection from full, hot sun.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of about 5-10 leaves Height: 25' estimated Trunk: single; prominently ringed; green; 7" Crownshaft: 2' with green color near bottom and greyish to white near top; wider than stem, particularly when hiding a flower Spread: 10'-14' Leaf Description:pinnate; 8' long; flat with moderately wide deep green leaflets well separated Petiole/Leaf bases: short (6"-8") whitish to light green; unsplit Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 1' long, drooping with many brownish 'fingers' that look wooly from a distance; often multiple inflorences at a time, sometimes encircling the entire base of the crownshaft Fruit: ovoid green to reddish brown when ripe; 1/2" long Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 27F Drought Tolerance: poor Dry Heat Tolerance: poor Wind Tolerance: poor Salt Tolerance: poor Growth Rate: slow to moderate with age Soil Preference: moist and well draining, but some adaptability to a variety of soils Light Requirement: filtered to partial sun along coast Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none known Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare but readily available at many palm specialty nurseries; older plants rare and somewhat costly