Pronunciation: RAY-piss mull-TIFF-ih-duh
Common Name: Finger Palm
Rhapis multifida is an excellent palm for the shadier and warmer areas of California though its cold hardiness is unfortunately not on par with the more common Rhapis species. Some consider this a dwarf form of Rhapis humilis. But this palm does have known native populations in China and possibly Vietnam.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: clustering with a crown of 10-20 leaves per stem
- Height: 6'
- Trunk: multiple; 1/2" thick; covered with a fine fibrous weave and old leaf bases; lower stems sometimes are cleaner showing smooth, dark green ringed stems
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 3'+
- Leaf Description: palmate; deeply divided to nearly the petiole; leaflets narrow and pointed; semicircular leaves; about 16-26 leaflets per leaf; some forms have only 3-4 wider leaflets per leaf
- Petiole/Leaf bases: very thin; 8"-12" long; unarmed; un-split leaf bases, usually retained on stems being trapped by fibrous weave
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: 8" long; branched; yellowish
- Fruit: 1/2"; spherical
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 27F
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