Palms For California

Pronunciation: ray-un-NAY-uh GLAW-cuh

Common Name:

Ravenea glauca is one of the very best Raveneas for southern California, and arguable in the top 20 of all palms for southern California, at least for the right climate. This is a nice, lean, gracefully thin-leaved palm with pure white petioles beneath that makes a striking landscape palm for warmer areas of southern California.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 20-25 leaves Height: 20' estimated Trunk: single; clean trunk; pale to nearly white with faint, closely spaced rings; 6" thick (with a flare at the bottom); Crownshaft: none Spread: 10' Leaf Description: pinnate; 6' long; flat with somewhat widely spaced, long, thin, slightly drooping leaflets; medium green Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; slightly channeled; unarmed; ventral surface with a thick layer of white tomentum- almost spongy near very base; un-split Reproduction: dioecious Inflorescence: Fruit: Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 28F Drought Tolerance: moderate to poor Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate Wind Tolerance: moderatet Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: slow Soil Preference: widely adaptable Light Requirement: full sun to partial shade Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: tolerates some movement, but gets set back Indoor?: likely poor choice Availability: rare but usually readily available from palm specialty nurseries