Palms For California

Pronunciation: SAHR-ih-bus row-TUN-dih-foe-lee-uh

Common Name: Footstool Palm; Roundleaf Fountain Palm

Saribus rotundifolia is really NOT a good palm for California and nearly impossible to keep alive over winter… but some have managed to keep one growing for 4-5 years at a time, so it is included here. Until recently, this was a member of the Livistona family, but now lives with a few other species including Saribus jeanneneyi, one of the rarest palms on earth. This is an extremely commonly grown palm in the tropics, partly due to its incredibly rapid growth rate (easily in the top 10 fastest growing palms on earth), highly ornamental foliage, trunk and seed, and its ease of care and transplantation. However, in California, it has proven to be extremely cold sensitive and needs a very well protected environment if one is to keep it alive for even one winter.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 4-8 fan leaves Height: 6' estimate in California Trunk: single; 6" thick; either covered with a dense weave of fibers and retained leaf bases, or smooth and red-brown in color; moderately ringed Crownshaft: none Spread: 5' here Leaf Description: palmate; shiny bright green; about 4'-5' long; circular, plate-like leaves; minimal leaf tip droop; leaves divided about 1/3 their diameter Petiole/Leaf bases: lime green; 2'-3' long; heavily armed with closely spaced, very sharp, black teeth; un-split leaf bases retained, at least near top of trunk, if not entire length Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: 3'-5' long; arching; from within leaves (unlikely to be seen ever in California) Fruit: spherical; 1/2" thick; brilliant red when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 34F Drought Tolerance: low Dry Heat Tolerance: low Cool Tolerance: very low Wind Tolerance: low Salt Tolerance: low Growth Rate: very slow in California (very fast elsewhere) Soil Preference: moist and well draining, acidic Light Requirement: partial to full sun Human Hazards: very dangerous petiolar teeth Disease or Horticultural Problems: extremely cold sensitive and cool sensitive as well Transplants?: very tolerant Indoor?: fair Availability: rare

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  3rd year in ground, garden of Gary Levine, Escondido, California (no longer alive, though)

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  palm identified as such, Huntington Gardens, California

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  Singapore botanical gardens

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  zoo in Hilo, Hawaii

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  Nong Nooch Tropical gardens, Thailand

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  Hilo zoo

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  Hawaii

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  Sarawak

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  conservatory palm, Orlando, Florida

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  Hawaii University palm

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  Hawaii Univesity

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  Floribunda Palms, Hawaii

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  Hawaii

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  Huntington palm

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  seed in Hawaiian palm