Pronunciation: sir-OX-ill-on eck-inn-you-LAY-tum/ehk-heen-oo-LAH-tum
Common Name: none
Ceroxylon echinulatum is a common species in nature, but still a pretty rare one in California. It seems to have less cold hardiness than many of the other species, but increased heat toleration, which actually makes it a better palm for most of the 'good palm growing areas' of California (zones 10a-10b). It is a medium sized palm for a Ceroxylon with a greenish, waxy trunk and a uniquely pendulous crown of leaves and leaflets, making it hard to mix up with other species once it matures. There are a few maturing palms in southern California, and a lot more starting out.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 8-12 feather leaves
- Height: 50' estimate
- Trunk: single; 10"-18" thick; greenish with a waxy, whitish sheen; rings of grey to dark grey, regularly or irregular arranged
- Crownshaft: incomplete; 2'-3' tall; copperish
- Spread:
- Leaf Description: pinnate; 10'-12' long; grey-green; arching with some leaves below horizontal; leaflets evenly arranged and flat to pendulous; leaflets 2'-3' long on a single plane
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 20"-30" long; unarmed; mildly channeled; silvery/waxy
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: 2'-3'; pendulous; from above crownshaft; branched
- Fruit: spherical; 1/2"-1" thick; red when ripe
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 27F
- Drought Tolerance: moderate
- Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
- Cool Tolerance: moderate
- Wind Tolerance: low
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: slow to fast with age
- Soil Preference: adaptable
- Light Requirement: filtered to full sun
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: none known
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: rare
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