Palms For California

Pronunciation: gee-oh-NOME-uh un-DAH-tuh

Common Name:

Geonoma undata is a very rare palm, but one of the most remarkable and ornamental of the Geonomas that can grow in California. Does better in fairly narrow temperature range- best in somewhat temperate climates, such as near the beach and in Northern California (and New Zealand). However, some have managed to keep it fairly happy in Southern California as well. Unlike most more understory palms, this one has a nice, large, ringed trunk and some forms have a shocking red crownshaft and new pinkish-orange foliage (note that most forms in nature have an 'ordinary' green crownshaft).

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of maybe 8-10 leaves Height: 10' estimate Trunk: single; 4" thick; pale tan with white rings; clean/ self cleaning Crownshaft: brilliant pinkish red to lime green with age and sun exposure; about 12" tall; somewhat incomplete; same diameter as trunk or nearly so Spread: 6' Leaf Description: when young leaves are partially fused with prominent leaflet ridges; as they age, leaves become more typically pinnate; about 3' long; leaflets in a shallow 'V' and drooping at nearly half their length; light green but opening a pinkish- orange Petiole/Leaf bases: 12"; bright red at their base with about half their length pressed against trunk/crownshaft; unarmed and unsplit Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: Fruit:

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 30F Drought Tolerance: low Dry Heat Tolerance: very poor Wind Tolerance: poor Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: slow Soil Preference: moist, well draining and acidic Light Requirement: filtered light to part day sun near coast Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: does poorly during heat waves Transplants?: not a good transplanter Indoor?: unknown Availability: very rare; often only available as seed