Palms For California

Pronunciation: choo-nee-oh-FEE-nix high-nah-NEN-suss

Common Name: none

Chuniophoenix hainanensis may end up being a good palm for California if it someone would finally get one up to size, but its super slow growth rate is keeping its future unknown. Unlike its relative, Chuniophoenix nana, which is an excellent and moderate grower in California, this one is far more marginal and pokey. In a tropical climate, it is moderately fast grower, getting up over 10; tall and displaying strikingly powdery-white stems and stiff, ornamental, nearly circular fan leaves.

Appearance and Biology Habit: clustering with a vertical arranged crown of 10-15 fan leaves Height: 8' estimate Trunk: multiple; 1.5"-2" thick; often covered with white powdery tomentum; most of height covered with living leaf bases Crownshaft: none Spread: 6'-10'+ Leaf Description: palmate; deeply divided 2/3-3/4 of length of leaf blade; bright to yellow green; fairly stiff, but leaflet tips can flop down a bit; 2'-3' long; upright at about 45 degrees from trunk Petiole/Leaf bases: 18"-24"; narrow; unarmed; light green to silvery white near base Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: from within leaves; highly branched; 3' long; arching with most hanging down Fruit: spherical; 3/4" thick; light green turning red-orange when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 30F Drought Tolerance: unknown Dry Heat Tolerance: unknown Cool Tolerance: unknown Wind Tolerance: moderate Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: very slow Soil Preference: moist and well draining Light Requirement: shade to filtered sun Human Hazards: unknown Disease or Horticultural Problems: unknown Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare