Chamaedorea ernesti-augustii

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: kam-uh-DOOR-ee-uh err-NEST-eye aw-GUST-ee-eye


Common Name: Ernest August's Palm

Chamaedorea ernesti-augustii is one of the best Chamaedoreas for California with relatively good cold tolerance and tolerance of dry heat and abuse and large, attractive bifid leaves. This palm does well in many areas of California but also is one of the better indoor plants, too, tolerating low light and dry air fairly well.

Synonym: Chamaedorea simplicifrons

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Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 bifid leaves
  • Height: 6'
  • Trunk: single; 1/2"-5/8" thick; light to medium green and ringed
  • Crownshaft: incomplete (made up of 2-3 leaf bases); 4"-6" tall; pale green to pale yellow; 2x as thick as stem below; bright pale yellow stripes up undersides of leaves making up 'crownshaft'
  • Spread: 3'-4'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate/bifid; parallel sides; leaf divided about 1/3 of its length; 2' long; about 1' wide; medium green (variegated forms exist in cultivation); bumpy surface without distinct grooves
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 6" long; unarmed; make up part of the crownshaft along with several other leaf bases; pale yellow stripe ventral midline
  • Reproduction: dioecious
  • Inflorescence: 1' long; from within crown; orange older stems; branched distal portion; pale orange flowers
  • Fruit: ovoid; 1/2" long; blue-green turning black when mature
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 27F
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
  • Wind Tolerance: low
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: widely adaptable
  • Light Requirement: shade to partial sun
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
  • Transplants?: good
  • Indoor?: very good
  • Availability: rare


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