Dypsis nodifera

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Pronunciation: DIP-siss no-DIFF-er-uh


Common Name: none

Dypsis nodifera is a fairly marginal palm for most areas of California, and does best in coastal gardens where these is plenty of shade, wind protection and no freezes. It is a very wispy, slow-growing palm with thin leaves and a similarly skinny stem. A few maturing palms exist in California but it is overall a very rare palm in this state.

Appearance and Biology
  • Habit: solitary with a crown of 3-4 feather leaves
  • Height: 8' estimate
  • Trunk: single; 0.5" thick; green; ringed
  • Crownshaft: 6" tall; slightly wider than stem; pale green and sometimes mottled
  • Spread: 2'-3'
  • Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose; leaflets thin and spread out along rachis; leaflets arching, almost curled; irregularly grouped in clusters of 2-6 along rachis; light to deep green
  • Petiole/Leaf bases: very short to several inches long; un-split; thin
  • Reproduction: monoecious
  • Inflorescence: usually below crownshaft but can be borne among leaves
  • Fruit: 1/4" long; oblong; medium green
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temp: 31F
  • Drought Tolerance: poor
  • Dry Heat Tolerance: low
  • Cool Tolerance: poor
  • Wind Tolerance: low
  • Salt Tolerance: unknown
  • Growth Rate: very slow
  • Soil Preference: moist and well draining; acidic
  • Light Requirement: full to partial shade
  • Human Hazards: none
  • Disease or Horticultural Problems: none yet
  • Transplants?: unknown
  • Indoor?: unknown
  • Availability: very rare


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