Palms For California

Pronunciation: sham-burr-ROAN-ee-uh mack-row-CARP-uh

Common Name: Flame Thrower Palm; Blushing Palm; Red Leaf Palm

Chambeyronia macrocarpa is one of the very best and fastest growers from New Caledonia, and easily one of the most popular of all palms among palm growing enthusiasts. New leaf large and brilliant red to orangish. Many palms have new red leaves, but only a few do well in California. Several cultivars available including a yellow trunked and crownshafted form called var. hookeri, and a 'Watermelon' form with speckled crownshaft and stem. Chambeyronia 'Houilou' has bifid leaves as a seedling, but ends up looking a lot like normal form once mature. Flowering and seeding mature individuals growing in California.

Synonym: Chambeyronia 'Watermelon'; Chambeyronia 'hookeri'; Chambeyronia 'Houilou'

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 pinnate leaves Height: 25' Trunk: single; 8"-12" thick; ringed; deep green trunk (speckled and yellow stem forms exist) Crownshaft: 2' long; bulging in the middle; smooth; deep green (or flecked with yellow, or completely pale yellow in some forms) Spread: 12'-16' Leaf Description: pinnate; markedly arching; leaflets large, somewhat ovoid and arching themselves; leaflets about 12"-18" long; leaves usually open a brilliant red and stay red 3-7 days, sometimes open orange and some forms have plain green new leaves; 10' long Petiole/Leaf bases: nearly tubular with a flattish dorsal surface; unarmed; 6"-12" long Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 1'; highly branched extending laterally; immediately below crownshaft; cream to pink flowers Fruit: ovoid 2" long olive green to brilliant red when ripe Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 28F Drought Tolerance: poor Dry Heat Tolerance: poor Wind Tolerance: poor Salt Tolerance: low Growth Rate: slow, to moderate with age Soil Preference: moist and rich, but fairly adaptable Light Requirement: full sun near coast to filtered light inland; nearly full shade when young Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: turning out to be a pretty good indoor plant, if can be provided some humidity Availability: rare but very readily available at most palm nurseries