Dypsis rivularis

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: DIP-siss rih-view-LAIR-us


Common Name: Sari Palm

Dypsis rivularis is a Madagascan palm that has been grown sporadically in California for several decades, but is a fairly marginal palms all but the very exclusive, protected warm microclimates in which there is no frost and plenty of warm and wind protection. As a young palm, these plants are strikingly ornamental with deep orange-red crownshafts, leaf bases and new stems… but as they age, these colors fade and mature palms are a bit 'clumsy' looking with their sparse leaves and somewhat irregularly drooping leaflets. This palm was first marked under the moniker Dypsis 'Al Gore' and plants were extremely rare and expensive. However, now they are fairly easy to obtain from Hawaii, and far more reasonable. But still there are few growing in California due to the difficulties in keeping them happy.

Synonym: Dypsis 'Al Gore'

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 3-5 feather leaves
  • Height: 8' estimate
  • Trunk: single; 3" thick; ringed fairly closely; some red to pink coloration on newly exposed trunk
  • Crownshaft: 1' tall; incomplete (comprised of several leaf bases); yellow with a orange or even red-brown coloration in younger palms
  • Spread: 4'-5'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose or flat; leaflets at horizontal or below (usually the latter); fairly sparsely spread along rachis; 3' long and gently arching down; medium green to yellowy-green
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"-8"; unarmed; sometimes covered with a fine layer of reddish-brown fuzz; un-split
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: from within leaves; 2' long; multiple thin, winding branches; usually at a 45 degree upward angle
  • Fruit: 1/2"; ovoid
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 33F
  • Drought Tolerance: low
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: low
  • Cool Tolerance: low
  • Wind Tolerance: low
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: slow
  • Soil Preference: moist, acidic and well draining
  • Light Requirement: filtered sun to partial shade
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: rare


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