Dypsis leptocheilos

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: DIP-suss lep-tuh-KEY-los


Common Name: Teddy Bear Palm

Dypsis leptocheilos is one of the better Dypsis for southern California and can attain nearly as good an appearance as it has in the tropics. There are several fuzzy, red, crownshafted Dypsis palms, but this is the only that is a reliable grower in southern California. With its nearly white, ringed trunk and long, red-brown fuzzy 'crownshaft' and leaf bases and perfectly flat, light green leaves, it is an extremely ornamental specimen palm for the more protected, warm areas of our state.

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 12-20 leaves
  • Height: 25'
  • Trunk: single; prominently ringed; white tomentum covering the upper rings; 8" thick
  • Crownshaft: incomplete (does not completely surround trunk- more obviously a leaf base that 'nearly' surrounds trunk); 18"-2' long and covered with dense, short layer of red-brown fuzz, with the very bottom sometimes with white tomentum
  • Spread: 12'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; flat to leaflets gracefully angled somewhat downward; leaves oriented upward to flat/parallel to crownshaft, but leaves fall off before droop below crownshaft; 7' long
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"; channeled with red-brown fuzz on leaf bases; olive to light green color; unarmed
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: 2' long; horizontal orientation with a droop as fruits form; 1' peduncle and 1' flowering parts; highly branched
  • Fruit: spherical; dark brown; 1/2" diameter
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 28F
  • Drought Tolerance: poor
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
  • Wind Tolerance: poor to moderate
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: well draining and acidic, but can survive in clay and alkaline soils as well
  • Light Requirement: full sun or filtered light
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: some nutrient deficiencies seen in older palms; leaf scorch in full sun in hot climates
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: rare but readily available at most palm specialty nurseries


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