Pronunciation: sigh-AH-gruss skits-oh-FILL-uh/ sky-zoe-FILL-uh
Common Name: Arikury Palm
Syagrus schizophylla is a relatively compact Syagrus and quite a bit different looking from most of the other commonly grown Syagrus in California. There are only a few mature palms in California since they are so slow growing (though palms in Florida grow 3-5x as fast) so are often the source of larger specimens in California). One of the only Syagrus with toothed petioles which sometimes confuses identification by less experienced enthusiasts.
Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 15-20 leaves
- Height: 6' (trunk height)
- Trunk: single; retained leaf bases along entire length of trunk save in really old palms; 6" thick
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 10'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; arching and flat; long, wide, well spaced leaflets that extend laterally entire length (older palms), or with the last 1/2 to 2/3 drooping ornamentally downward (younger palms); olive to lime-green foliage; dark green if in deeper shade or very well fertilized; 6' long
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 18"-24" long; narrow; armed with sharp, black hooked, teeth a few inches apart
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: 2'-3' long, initially nearly completely vertical flower between lower leaves; gold colored with white to yellow flowers; arching and pendulous once in fruit
- Fruit: 1" spherical, light green to yellow to orange when ripe
- Seed:
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 26F
- Drought Tolerance: fair
- Dry Heat Tolerance: good
- Wind Tolerance: moderate
- Salt Tolerance: moderate
- Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age
- Soil Preference: widely adaptable, including heavy clay
- Light Requirement: full sun to partial shade
- Human Hazards: sharp petiolar teeth
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: none in California
- Transplants?: fair transplanter
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: rare but readily available at palm nurseries; larger plants available from east coast where grows quite a bit faster
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