Palms For California

Pronunciation: sue-doe-FEE-nix sahr-GEN-tee-eye

Common Name: Cherry Palm

Pseudophoenix sargentii can be one of the more challenging palms to grow in California as it really needs a lot of heat, full sun and minimal frost. But many have had good success with this species in southern California, as well as in Arizona (where it seems even happier). This is another native US plant (to the Florida Keys, among many other Caribbean locations) and grows much better and faster (though still slow) in Florida than in California. Though a beautiful palm and very different looking than most other palms we grow in California, its incredibly slow growth is too much for some and it still remains a rarely grown palm in California.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 feather leaves Height: 15' estimate Trunk: single; 4"-8" thick (large variation between several forms and varying environment); self cleaning; ringed closely and prominently; glaucous blue-green to medium green; eventually grayish with age (not seen in California…. yet) Crownshaft: nearly incomplete; 1' long; glaucous blue-green; tapering from diameter of trunk to narrower below leaf crown Spread: 10' Leaf Description: pinnate; pseudo-plumose( just appears so on some leaves); recurved; leaflets stiff but some with droop, upright and in a narrow 'V' (wider on older palms); bright green to glaucous; 6'-8' long Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; channeled; unarmed; pale green to nearly white with powdery patina on them; leaf bases un-split Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: so far no known flowering palms in California; 3'; short branches; within leaf crown; upright to pendulous; greenish white flowers Fruit: spherical; 1/2"; deep red and watery pulp

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 26F Drought Tolerance: good once established Dry Heat Tolerance: excellent Wind Tolerance: good Salt Tolerance: excellent Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age Soil Preference: adaptable Light Requirement: full sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: sometimes hard to get started (damps off), but hardier in a few years Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare but often available from Florida growers (not for shipping, though)