Palms For California

Pronunciation: DIP-siss pin-NAT-ih-fronz

Common Name: Madagascan Palm

Dypsis pinnatifrons was a very commonly grown plant in California 15-20 years ago, mostly because as seed, many were frequently incorrectly labeled as something else and were collected by enthusiasts hoping to get something new. Now these palms have become much scarcer in California partly due to their less than beautiful appearance in California and partly due to their being a fairly marginal palm in most areas. It is a skinny, solitary, understory species with relatively short leaves and small, ovoid leaflets, making it look somewhat like a small Chamaedorea palm. Most were planted as solitary palms making them very hard to appreciate in the landscape. This is definitely a palm better grown in small groups. Note that Dypsis pinnatifrons 'Pink Crownshaft' (aka Neophloga 'Pink Crownshaft') is no longer lumped into this species and has its own species name now: Dypsis rosea.

Synonyms: Dypsis gracilis; Chrysalidocarpus sambiranensis; Dypsis sambiranensis; Phloga polystachya

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a vertical crown of 3-6 feather leaves Height: 10' Trunk: single; 1/2"-1" thick; pale green to whitish; ringed Crownshaft: 12" tall; same thickness as stem; often covered with dead leaf sheaths; pale green Spread: 2'-4' Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose; arching but mostly horizontally oriented; 1'-2' long; medium green; leaflets ovoid with pointed, pendent tips; leaflets growing in clumps along rachis (often 4 per clump); sometimes living leaves over several feet of height of stem Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"; thin; unarmed Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: from within leaves; 2' long; drooping some; with pendent, fine branches Fruit: ovoid; 1/2" long; green turning to brown when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 31F Drought Tolerance: poor Dry Heat Tolerance: poor Cool Tolerance: low Wind Tolerance: low Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age Soil Preference: seems somewhat adaptable Light Requirement: shade to filtered sun or partial day Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: tends towards nitrogen deficiency; prone to bud rot Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare