Difference between revisions of "Hyophorbe verschaffeltii"

Revision as of 17:37, 20 September 2015

Pronunciation: HIGH-uh-for-bee ver-shuh-FELT-ee-eye

Common Name: Spindle Palm

Hyophorbe verscheffeltii is one of three species of Hyphorbe grown in California. It is much hardy than the ever popular Bottle Palm (Hyophorbe lagenicaulis) but a much easier palm to grow. However, it still is considered a marginal palm in most areas of California except for the nearly frost free zones nearer the coast. The other skinnier cousin, Hyophorbe indica, is the easiest to grow, but Hyophorbe verschaffeltii is probably the most ornamental of the tree, with great crownshaft and petiolar colors, along with a prominently ringed, creamy crownshaft and a unique crownshaft shape (like a spindle).

Appearance and Biology

Habit: single with a crown of 3-6 pinnate leaves
Height: 15'
Trunk: single; 14" thick; prominently ringed; cream colored to grayer in older palms
Crownshaft: 18" tall; grayish yellow-green to pale turquoise and covered with a thin white patina; bottom 1/4 as wide as trunk, but then tapers rapidly to half that diameter for remained of length
Spread: 5'-6'
Leaf Description: pinnate; arching/recurved; upright leaflets arranged in a fairly narrow 'V'; 3'-5' long; gold, thick rachis; leaflets tend to droop more near the tip of the leaf; bright green to yellow-green
Petiole/Leaf bases: almost nonexistent to about 3"; mildly channeled; smooth-edged and unarmed
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: 2' long; right below crownshaft; projecting at about a 45 degree angle from crownshaft; cream flowers
Fruit: spherical; 3/4"; orange to red when ripe; contain some oxalates

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 30F
Drought Tolerance: moderate to poor
Dry Heat Tolerance: low
Wind Tolerance: moderate to low
Salt Tolerance: moderate
Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age
Soil Preference: widely adaptable
Light Requirement: filtered light to full sun at coast or excellent microclimate
Human Hazards: mild fruit toxicity- do not ingest or even chew on them
Disease or Horticultural Problems: tends to be a bit yellowy
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: unknown
Availability: rare but usually available at some palm nurseries

@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
 File:Hyophorbe verscheffletiis.JPG|
 File:Hyophorbe verschaffeltiis on way to Piercys.jpg|Hawaii
+File:Hyophorbe verschaffeltii leaves LB.jpg|Long Beach, California
+File:Hyophorbe verschaffeltii LB leaf bases .jpg|Long Beach, California
 File:Hyophorbe verschaffeltii crown Kona.jpg|Hawaii
+File:Hyophorbe verschaffeltii trunk LB.jpg|crownshaft and early trunk, California palm
 File:Hyophorbe trunks 3.JPG|trunk (right) next to ''Hyophorbe indica'' trunk, California
 File:hyophorbe trunks 4.JPG|
+File:HYophorbe verschaffeltii seedling for sale LB.jpg|young palm for sale
 File:Hyophorbe verschaffeltii seedling color.jpg|young palm showing nice colors of rachis (California)
 </gallery>
 [[Category: Hyophorbe]]

Difference between revisions of "Hyophorbe verschaffeltii"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 17:37, 20 September 2015