Palms For California

Pronunciation: kam-uh-DORE-ee-uh air-en-berg-ee-ANN-uh

Common Name: none

Chamaedorea arenbergiana is a relatively fast growing species from Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. It is a good understory palm, but tends to grow into the sunlight if not grown under large enough structures/trees and it then suffers from excessive sun exposure. It is also a somewhat marginal palm with very low frost tolerance. But if given plenty of water, shade on cold protection, it is an easy and fast palm with large, attractive leaflets and interesting, ornamental fruiting structures.

Synonyms: Chamaedorea densiflora; Chamaedorea latifolia

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 3-6 pinnate leaves Height: 10' Trunk: single; 1" thick; ringed with each ring wider than stem above it; green to blackish Crownshaft: 1' tall; pale green; wider than stem Spread: 3'-5' Leaf Description: pinnate (young leaves large and bifid); ovoid to lancelot leaflets; leaves 2'-3' long; light to medium green Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"-1' long; pale green; unarmed Reproduction: dioecious Inflorescence: from below crownshaft; often in large numbers; torpedo-like spikes vertically oriented; female 18" long, with only a few stout branches; male drooping structures only 6" long Fruit: globoid in tight clusters; 1/2"-3/4"; olive green, turning black when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 30F Drought Tolerance: low to moderate Dry Heat Tolerance: low Wind Tolerance: low Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: moderate Soil Preference: moist and well draining Light Requirement: filtered sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: fairly tolerant Indoor?: might be a good choice Availability: rare