Palms For California

Pronunciation: lee-ku-ALL-uh pell-TAH-tuh var. soo-moe-WONG-ee-eye

Common Name: Elegant Palm

Licuala peltata var. sumawongii is one of the most ornamental and prized of all palms that can grow in California, but to grow it well is a challenge, as it is unappreciative of winds, arid weather, salts in the water and low temperatures. This understory palm has very large, nearly completely circular, pleated, deep green leaves that are so geometric in shape, they barely look real. Some confuse this palm with Licuala grandis, which is NOT a palm that can grow outdoors in California, and has much smaller leaves (but is far more commonly grown around the tropical areas of the globe). The name Licuala elegans has been applied to this palm as well, but it appears there is already a Licuala elegans (though it may be extinct) from Borneo (not where this palm is from) so even saying it is a synonym is pushing it a bit. Far more popular in cultivation than Licuala peltata var. peltata.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 4-10 entire fan leaves Height: 3' trunk estimate (plant height 10' overall) Trunk: single; 4" in diameter; covered with brown, woven fiber and retained leaf bases Crownshaft: none Spread: 5'-6' Leaf Description: palmate; nearly circular; evenly and highly ornamentally pleated; entire with only notches at edges where leaflets are not fused (though most leaves or torn along a leaflet pleat here and there in cultivation ruining the perfect circular appearance); leaves up to 2'-4' across; 4'-7' long with petioles; deep green Petiole/Leaf bases: 2'-3' long (even longer in shady tropical situations); thin; heavily armed with large, sharp teeth along margins Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 6' long; straight up (parallel to trunk) extending beyond crown; sparsely branched; thin with very thin branches that dangle, covered with flowers or fruits Fruit: 1/2" spherical; olive green to orangish-red when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 28F Drought Tolerance: poor Dry Heat Tolerance: poor Wind Tolerance: very poor Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: very slow Soil Preference: moist, acidic and well draining Light Requirement: shade to filtered light (partial to full sun in the tropics) Human Hazards: sharp teeth along petioles Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: fairly good indoor palm, though brown tips with tap water and low humidity Availability: rare but readily available at many palm specialty nurseries