Pronunciation: sigh-foe-FEE-nix new-SEAL/ noo-SELL-ee
Common Name:
Cyphophoenix nucele is one of the better and easier New Caledonian palms for California. A number of mature palms exist in both private gardens and at least one botanical garden in southern California. So far it does not appear this palm will come anywhere near reaching its height potential seen in the tropics (over 40') but it can look nearly perfect in the right climate.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 upright to barely horizontal leaves
- Height: 20'
- Trunk: single, prominently ringed, green; 5" thick
- Crownshaft: 2' long; same thickness as trunk but coated with a bright white ltomentum, yellowish underneath
- Spread: 6'
- Leaf Description: pinnate, 6' long; bright green: flattish to slightly 'V'd in cross section, often with a bit of a twist; leaflets relatively wide with prominent midrib and often touching
- Petiole/Leaf bases: very short and slightly channeled; unarmed
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: 8" long, stiff, upright, numerous branches
- Fruit: green to reddish brown when ripe; ovoid 1/2" long
- Seed:
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 30F
- Drought Tolerance: low
- Dry Heat Tolerance: poor
- Wind Tolerance: poor
- Salt Tolerance: poor
- Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age
- Soil Preference: widely adaptable, even to limey soils
- Light Requirement: full sun to mostly shade (does best with some shade in inland climates)
- Human Hazards: none known
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: none known
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: possibly might do OK, though has some humidity needs and bright light
- Availability: rare, but usually available at a small size at many specialty nurseries; large sizes very rare and costly
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