Palms For California

Pronunciation: DIP-suss dee-SIP-ee-enz

Common Name: Manambe Palm

Dypsis decipiens is one of the most revered palms, at least as a mature tree, in California. It is a truly imposing and highly ornamental species that is definitely worth the many years of waiting for it to start forming a trunk. This is one of the most iconic of the Madagascan species, and a surprisingly durable and cold hardy one as well. However, despite all its hardiness, it can be a finicky and sensitive palm as a seedling and juvenile, resenting being moved, overwatered, over-chilled or grown in heavy clay soils. Once it begins to form mature leaves (years before making a trunk) it becomes much hardier and less fastidious. As a mature palm it is one of the most cold hardy of all the pinnate leaved palms. This is a big palm and needs space to grow! For some reason, this is a very difficult, if not impossible palm, to grow in Florida, though why exactly is not known (soils?). It grows without any difficulty in Hawaii.

Synonym: Chrysalidocarpus decipiens

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary or suckering with a crown of 10-14 large leaves Height: 35' estimated Trunk: single or multiple; monolithic, concrete-like structures; 18"-24" in diameter; clean; grey, ringed, smooth; often with prominent bulge in the middle Crownshaft: 2' long; covered with powdery tomentum for a pale green to light blue-green look; parallel sides Spread: 12'-14' Leaf Description: pinnate; somewhat plumose (leaflets are in two planes along each edge of rachis; heavy (may weigh over 15lbs); closely spaced, upright leaflets that make a 'V' in cross section; 7' long Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"; deeply channeled; yellow-green, often with some white tomentum near very base; unsplit and unretained on trunk Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 2' long, many branched; laterally and ventrally oriented branches; arising immediately below crownshaft; yellow flowers of both sexes Fruit: 1/2" in diameter; spherical; light green to yellow when mature Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 18F (though seedlings can show leaf scorch at temps 6-7 degrees warmer) Drought Tolerance: low Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate Wind Tolerance: moderate Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age Soil Preference: prefers acidic, well draining soils, but will tolerate a bit of clay Light Requirement: full sun Human Hazards: heavy fronds- danger of car or head injury if falling off tall palms Disease or Horticultural Problems: seedlings and juveniles tend to 'konk' out without warning- becomes much more hardy once leaves become large and heavy Transplants?: tends to do poorly with transplanting Indoor?: too light needy Availability: rare but generally readily available as seedlings; larger plants extremely rare and very costly