Palms For California

Pronunciation: ar-kon-tuh-FEE-nix cun-ning-ham-ee-ANN-uh

Common Name: King Palm (US); Picabeen Palm (Australia); Bungalow Palm (Australia)

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana is one of the most commonly planted palms in southern California and very widely available at many common nurseries. Provides a classic and inexpensive tropical look, particularly if planted in clumps in which the palms can arch away from each other. One of the faster growing palms for southern California. Poor choice for deserts (generally will not survive). Cold tolerance seems much higher in southern California than similar USDA zones on east coast.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary; 8-12 leaves per canopy Height: 60 feet Trunk: single, ringed and pale grey; 8" thick; arching sometimes if planted in tight groups Crownshaft: medium to olive green, often darkening to brownish purple towards leaves, 2'-3' and barely wider than trunk except at base where flowers form Spread: 12'-15' Leaf Shape and color: pinnate, arching, flat with characteristic twist in mature palms to point where leaflets perpendicular to ground; leaflets long and closely spaced ending in point; pale green underneath and deep green on top (of pale, yellow or burnt in hot, dry conditions) Petiole: 1' long nearly tubular with flattish surface dorsally; unarmed Reproduction: monoecious and prolific once mature Inflorescence: long, pendulous, often multiple arising from base of crownshaft with lavender flowers (male and female flowers separate but on same inflorescence) Fruit: pale yellow-green to red when ripe; 1cm spherical Seed: 8mm black and spherical

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 25F but usually damaged foliage below 28F; some mature palms can recover from brief frosts down to 20F Drought Tolerance: low to moderate Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate Wind Tolerance: low to moderate (depending upon humidity)- higher near coast Salt Tolerance: low Growth Rate: moderate to fast with age Soil Preference: very adaptable, but prefers rich, most soils Light Requirement: full sun to partial shade Human Hazards: fruits/ seeds on sidewalks can be slippery Disease or Horticultural Problems: prone to trunk splitting if overwatered in sloggy soils; rare leaning palm syndrome; ratty looking crowns in dry, windy, hot climates Transplants?: touchy and very difficult to successfully transplant large palms without a lot of preparation and acquiring large, intact root balls- rarely worth the price since so common and fast growing Indoor?: needs too much light to do well indoors Availability: very commonly available (one of the most)