Dypsis basilonga

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: DIP-siss bass-ih-LONG-uh


Common Name: none

Dypsis basilonga is a distinctive mid-sized solitary palm from Madagascar that several palm enthusiasts have found grows fairly well, at least in the better growing zones here in California. These plumose palms have a unique look with a bizarrely huge first leaflet on each frond drooping pendulously over the crownshaft. These 'primary leaflets' are more leathery, wider and nearly 3x as long as the rest of the plants' leaflets. It is an neat and elegant palm, perfect as a small specimen plant or in small groups in the garden. It has a highly ornamental white, swollen crownshaft and evenly ringed trunks with a small flare at the bottom.

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-8 plumose leaves
  • Height: 10' estimate
  • Trunk: single; 3"-4" thick
  • Crownshaft: 1 foot tall; white powdery patina over a light yellow green leaf base, sometimes with some dark grey accents near the petioles; sometimes faint, curved lines show through the powdery white layer
  • Spread: 4'-6'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose with leaflets in two planes; leaflets start upright and arch down to or below level of leaflet bases; leaflets bunched along rachis in groups of three on each side; first leaflets on each side are 3x as long and wide as rest of leaflets, and prominently ridged; these first leaflets also droop straight down against crownshaft after bending at the first inch; leaves a dark, forest green (brighter green in younger plants); rachis yellow-green; 4'-5' long and very upright orientation of entire leaf
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"; unarmed; covered with some white powder but turning grey near base; un-split leaf bases
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: among the leaves (above the crownshaft); 3' long; moderately branched
  • Fruit: ellipsoid; 1" long
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 32F
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
  • Cool Tolerance: low
  • Wind Tolerance: unknown
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: adaptable
  • Light Requirement: filtered light to partial sun
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: rare


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