Palms For California

Pronunciation: DIP-siss heh-terr-oh-MOHR-fuh

Common Name: Highland Sugar Cane Palm

Dypsis heteromorpha is a relatively new Dypsis for California, but so far it seems to be quite at home here, at least in the warmer, mostly frost-free climates. Minimum low temperatures are so far just an estimation, but it may or may not turn out to be quite a bit more cold tolerant. It is a relatively short, suckering palm with graceful, tristichous, recurved leaves and lots of reddish fuzz on petioles and rachis. It tends to grow in dense clusters with many of the trunks taking off at various angles, making this palm take up a lot more room than most upright growing, clustering palms.

Appearance and Biology Habit: Clustering with a crown of 6-8 feather leaves Height: 12' estimate Trunk: multiple; 4" thick; medium green to yellowy to yellow-tan (eventually turning just light brown with age); ringed; often growing at angles Crownshaft: incomplete; 18" tall; yellow to yellow-green, often covered with a fine layer of tiny red-brown scales Spread: 10'-15'+ Leaf Description: pinnate; 4'-5' long; recurved; narrow leaflets upright in a 'V'; leaflets reflected out and down near distal 1/4 (similar to Dypsis lutescens or Dypsis cabadae); medium to bright green; rachis often covered with reddish-brown fuzz, at least on new leaves; light green otherwise Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"-18" long, shortening with age (note: that this does not match Dransfield's description of nearly non-existent petioles); narrow; flat-topped; unarmed; un-split; often covered with red-brown fuzz Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: from below 'crownshaft'; 18" long, half peduncle, half branched flowers; sometimes paired; curved and directed downward somewhat Fruit: nearly spherical; 3/4" diameter

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 30F estimate Drought Tolerance: moderate Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate Cool Tolerance: unknown Wind Tolerance: moderate Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: slow to moderate Soil Preference: adaptable Light Requirement: full sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none yet Transplants?: Unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare