Palms For California

Pronunciation: Vonitra YOU-till-iss

Common Name: Vonitra Palm

Vonitra utilis is another of the 'hairy' branching Vonitra that have been grown successfully in California for many decades now, though it is still not an overly common or popular palm. This is one of the larger hairy Vonitras and so far has proven fairly easy to grow, but suffers in full inland sun (partial sun near the coast might be tolerated).

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary, eventually branching once (though seems less likely in California) with a crown of 8-10 feather leaves per branch Height: 20' estimate Trunk: single; branching dichotomously eventually (usually once over 10' tall) with branches barely separated by than a few inches; covered with dense layers of drooping, long, brown fibers; bottom of trunk may be clean (or cleaned manually) of fibers and faintly ringed, sometimes with a good deal of red coloration on newly exposed trunk Crownshaft: none Spread: 8'-12' Leaf Description: pinnate; flat; upright to nearly horizontal; deep green; new leaves reddish to orange-red Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; unarmed; un-split leaf base Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: among or below leaves Fruit: spherical; 1" diameter; purplish black when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 28F Drought Tolerance: low Dry Heat Tolerance: low to moderate Cool Tolerance: low to moderate Wind Tolerance: low Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: very slow to slow Soil Preference: adaptable Light Requirement: filtered light to partial sun near coast Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare