Palms For California

Pronunciation: DIP-siss kuh-BAD-ee

Common Name: Cabade Palm

Dypsis cabadae is one of the more commonly grown Dypsis through the tropical world but for a long time was thought too tropical a palm to grow here in California. Fortunately many growers decided to ignore this 'fact' and now there are several examples of this palm growing in California. However it is still considered a fairly marginal palm having little tolerance for cold, but thankfully, a pretty good tolerance for cool. In areas of USDA zone 10b or in other perfect microclimates this palm can grow to maturity. It is a striking clustering species with bamboo-like stems of bright green, prominent rings and delicately arching, recurved pinnate leaves. Even though this palm is very common throughout the tropics and into the subtropics, it is either extinct or just unknown in the wild (Madagascan, or nearby island home… but where?).

Appearance and Biology Habit: clustering with a crown of 8-10 feather leaves Height: 20' estimate Trunk: multiple; 3"-4" thick; very straight; blue-green; ringed evenly with white Crownshaft: 18"-24" tall; blue-green with some powdery surface patina; slightly wider (barely) than trunk below Spread: 8'-10'+ Leaf Description: pinnate; 4'-6' long; arching; leaflets upright in a open 'V' arrangement along petiole; some leaflet droop near very tips of leaflets; medium green Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; mildly channeled; unarmed Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 3'-4' long; from leaf crown (above crownshaft); highly branched; so far, no known flowering of California palms Fruit: ellipsoid; 1/2" long; red when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 33F Drought Tolerance: moderate Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate Wind Tolerance: poor Salt Tolerance: low Growth Rate: slow to moderate with age Soil Preference: adaptable Light Requirement: partial to full sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: touchy in California weather Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: supposedly good as a young palm Availability: rare