Difference between revisions of "Ravenea rivularis"

Revision as of 09:52, 21 August 2014

Pronunciation: rah-vih-NEE-uh riv-yoo-LAIR-iss

Common Name: Majesty Palm

Ravenea rivularis may be one of the most commonly available palms in all of the US, but a well grown maturing palm is still an eye-catcher and a worthy specimen. Often sold as indoor plant but not one of the better palm choices for growing indoors. Often sold in groups/multiples but recommend separating before planting. Loves LOTs of water. Tendency for nutritional problems. Eventually develops a large, pale very tall trunk if watered well and grown in the right climate. Even does well in the desert with extreme heat. Fast palm once trunk formed.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 15-25 leaves
Height: 40'
Trunk: single; clean; whitish tan to grey, often tapering (particularly if not very well watered)
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 12'
Leaf Description: pinnate; 6'-8' long and 3' wide; flat to slightly twisted, upright to just below parallel before leaf falls off; light to deep green, but often yellowy in poorly fed palms; ratty in wind-exposed palms
Petiole/Leaf bases: 12"-18" with light layer of greyish tomentum near base; light to mod green; unarmed; top fairly flat; unsplit
Reproduction: diocieous
Inflorescence: short from lower leaf bases with white flowers
Fruit: 1/2" diameter and red when ripe
Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 27F
Drought Tolerance: moderate but prefers high water exposure- can even grow in standing water if not cold
Dry Heat Tolerance: good
Wind Tolerance: poor
Salt Tolerance: moderate
Growth Rate: moderate to fast with age
Soil Preference: highly adaptable, but prefers rich soils with a lot of nutrients
Light Requirement: full sun to partial shade or filtered light (full sun once trunk preferable)
Human Hazards: none
Disease or Horticultural Problems: often yellowy (nitrogen and/or iron deficiency common) with potassium deficiency also sometimes problematic; yellowy also in full, hot, inland sun as juvenile
Transplants?: moderately good
Indoor?: though one of the most commonly sold indoor palms, performs poorly due to low light and humidity; prone to spider mite
Availability: extremely common- available from many non-specialty nurseries and very inexpensive

Huntington gardens, California
Los Angeles arboretum
tall transplanted plant, Orange county, California
tall transplanted plant
Los Angeles arboretum
Balboa Park, San Diego, California
San Fernando valley, California
San Fernando valley, California
Palm Desert tall palm
palm in Living Desert botanical gardens, Palm Desert, California
shorter Palm Desert palm, California
San Fernando valley, California
San Fernando valley, California
San Diego county, Cal
stunted landscape palm
San Fernando valley, California
Hawaiian palms
huge trunk of palm growing in stream, Hawaii
juvenile palm trimmed
leaf detail and showing some bud damage post severe frost
racing with nearby Dypsis decipiens (eventually began to pull ahead, but barely)- Huntington Gardens, California

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 File:Ravenea rivularis tall H.JPG|Huntington gardens, California
 File:Ravenea rivularis with people larb.JPG|Los Angeles arboretum
-File:Ravenea rivularis really tall SCP.jpg|tall potted plant, Orange county, California
+File:Ravenea rivularis really tall SCP.jpg|tall transplanted plant, Orange county, California
-File:Ravenea rivulari SCP tall.jpg|tall potted plant
+File:Ravenea rivulari SCP tall.jpg|tall transplanted plant
 File:RAvenea rivularis tall larb.JPG|Los Angeles arboretum
 File:Majesty tall pinch-head Balboa.JPG|Balboa Park, San Diego, California

Difference between revisions of "Ravenea rivularis"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 09:52, 21 August 2014