Pronunciation: SOO-doe-fee-nix ek-MAH-nee-eye
Common Name: Dominican Cherry Palm
Pseudophoenix ekmanii is a very rare palm for California so far, partly due to its rarity, but mostly due to its marginal nature and extremely slow rate of growth. It is, however, worth the effort as it is one of the most curious and ornamental of all the palms, with a wonderfully ventricose, striped trunk, topped with a narrow crownshaft and ploof of arching leaves (making it look a bit like a giant, striped above-ground carrot).
|
Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 3-6 feather leaves
- Height: 6' estimate
- Trunk: single; markedly ventricose, being widest near the top, just before it tapers rapidly to a narrow crownshaft; striped; smooth; grey with broad white stripes
- Crownshaft: 1' tall; pale green with glaucous patina of white
- Spread: 5'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; flat; arching a bit; stiff; medium green; 2'-3' long
- Petiole/Leaf bases: none
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: from within leaves; 2'-3' long; arching
- Fruit: spherical; red-orange when ripe; 3/4" in diameter
|
Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 32F
- Drought Tolerance: moderate to good
- Dry Heat Tolerance: very good
- Cool Tolerance: poor
- Wind Tolerance: good
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: extremely slow
- Soil Preference: well draining
- Light Requirement: full sun
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: so slow it seems to not be growing sometimes
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: very rare
|
both shots of Matt Bradford's palm in San Diego county, California
Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Miami, Florida
Fairchild Tropical Gardens
Fairchild Tropical Gardens
