Palms For California

Pronunciation: DIP-siss oar-ee-oh-puh-DOAN-us

Common Name: none

Dypsis oreopedonis has been a relatively new introduction into California, with the advertisement that it is cold hardy (probably due to its natural elevation on Madagascar of about 4000 feet). It is turning out, though, to be a fairly easy-to-grow palm after all, though no adult or even trunking palms exist in California yet. As a young palm it is quite colorful and definitely worth the effort of trying it in any California yard with minimal cold. As a seedling it has regular pinnate leaves without a petiole, but this situation changes abruptly about the time it makes a stem, developing almost exaggeratedly long petioles and plumose leaves.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of maybe 5-6 plumose leaves Height: 20' estimate Trunk: single; 10" thick; prominently ringed with closely spaced rings Crownshaft: 2' tall; light to dark olive green; notably wider than trunk Spread: 15'-18' estimate Leaf Description: pinnate; as juvenile, leaves are flat to arching, almost curling under; as leaves age (once a hint of a stem exists) leaflets become plumosely arranged on rachis; leaflets themselves also curled, mostly near the tips; bright green to darker green with age; 10' long Petiole/Leaf bases: non-existent in seedlings but about 2' long once a stem is formed; rounded and thick; dull green; new leaf spike yellow to orange to red-orange at its base; new leaves have pink speckling along their petioles, fading to pale speckling with age Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: below crownshaft about 2' long and oriented horizontally; highly branched Fruit: 1/3" in diameter; spherical

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 27F Drought Tolerance: moderate Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate Cool Tolerance: moderate Wind Tolerance: moderate Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age Soil Preference: adaptable Light Requirement: partial to full sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none known Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare