*'''Indoor?''': very poor choice of indoor palm due to spines
*'''Indoor?''': very poor choice of indoor palm due to spines
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File:Acanthophoenix 1 levine.JPG|Vista, California
File:Acanthophoenix 1 levine.JPG|Vista, California
Revision as of 21:03, 4 November 2014
Vista, California
Pronunciation: uh-can-tuh-FEE-nix kri-NEE-tuh
Common Name: test test test
Synonym: test test test
Acanthophoenix crinita is a thin-trunked, pinnate palm from Reunion Island, east of Madagascar. Though from a decidedly tropical climate, this palm has surprising cold tolerance and does surprisingly well in a Mediterranean climate, growing to maturity in several California locations. Though not as colorful as its cousin, Acanthophoenix rubra, it is far hardier and is a fascinating spiny palm for partially sunny areas of the warmer areas of southern California.
Appearance and Biology
Habit: solitary
Height: 15-20 feet
Trunk: clean; light tan to white, prominently ringed with long black spines when younger, disappearing with age; 'foot' at base; 4"-6" thick
Crownshaft: brown and intensely spiny in younger palms (no old palms in southern California, yet)' about same width as trunk
Spread: 8'-10'
Leaf Shape: 6 feet long, flat with closely spaced leaflets
Petiole: short and spiny when young
Foliage: medium bright green and somewhat spiny in younger plants
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: white to pinkish-orange flowers
Fruit: 6mm and black when mature
Seed: 4mm spherical
Horticultural Characteristics
Minimum Temp: 28F
Drought Tolerance: poor
Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate if protected from sun
Wind Tolerance: mod to poor
Salt Tolerance: unknown
Growth Rate: slow but picks up a bit with age
Soil Preference: rich and well draining, but somewhat tolerant of clay soils
Light Requirement: filtered light when young to half day sun as adult (even inland)
Human Hazards: very spiny palm until mature (some spines seem to remain)
Disease or Horticultural Problems: unknown
Indoor?: very poor choice of indoor palm due to spines
Vista, California
Huntington Beach, California
Vista, California
Orange County, California
ringed trunk
swollen base (foot)
spiny crownshaft
crownshaft shot of mature palm, Orange county, California