Palms For California

Pronunciation: ar-kon-tuh-FEE-nix MAX-ih-ma

Common Name: Walsh River King Palm

Archontophoenix maxima is a relatively rare palm for California that really should be grown a lot more often than it is now. It has very similar cultivational needs though just a bit less cold hardy. But as a mature palm it has a nice blue-green crownshaft and relatively flat, pinnate leaves. As a growing palm the new leaf tends to be redder than most other Archontophoenix, the trunk is prominently ringed and green (eventually turning grey like the others) and an ornamental turquoise crownshaft.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 8-10 feather leaves Height: 40' estimate Trunk: single; 8" thick; ringed with slight steps near base of trunk (as in Archontophoenix alexandrae); slightly blue green near top of trunk, to grey-brown below Crownshaft: 2' tall; slightly glaucous blue-green; same diameter as trunk, narrowing a bit towards crown Spread: 10' Leaf Description: pinnate; flat with very subtle 'V'; medium green; new leaf often orange to reddish flush (very short lasting- less than a week), at least in younger palms; 7'-9' long Petiole/Leaf bases: short (4"-6") Reproduction: monoecious Inflorescence: Fruit:

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 28F Drought Tolerance: moderate to low Dry Heat Tolerance: low Wind Tolerance: moderate Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: slow Soil Preference: adaptable Light Requirement: filtered to full sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: none Transplants?: poor Indoor?: unknown Availability: rare