Difference between revisions of "Ravenea xerophila"

Latest revision as of 16:12, 22 September 2016

Pronunciation: rav-uh-NAY-uh zurr-OFF-fill-uh/ zee-ruh-FILL-uh

Common Name:

Ravenea xerophila is an unusual Ravenea but one of the most sought after species for warm and desert gardens of southern California. This palm has a curious, succulent-like root system that, as a seedling, resembles that a cycad, but with maturity, becomes quite extensive, thick but extremely delicate. A nice blue-grey, exotic look for the right climates.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 8-15 leaves
Height: 12' tall estimated (no mature palms in southern California, and may be none for many years)
Trunk: 8"; usually with a very dense layer of retained leaf bases (very old palms may have some clean trunk)
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 8'-10'
Leaf Description: pinnate; 10' long; very upright orientation with markedly recurved last 1/3-1/4 of the leaf; sea green to pale blue-green
Petiole/Leaf bases: 3' long, nearly a 'V' in cross section, though not as deeply channeled as that; unarmed save for some scurf, but fairly sharp edges; covered with thin layer of powder tomentum giving the appearance of baby blue petioles; petioles appear to shooting out of the ground for the first 15 years or more
Reproduction: dioecious
Inflorescence:
Fruit:
Seed:

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 24F
Drought Tolerance: good
Dry Heat Tolerance: very good
Wind Tolerance: good
Salt Tolerance: unknown
Growth Rate: very slow to slow with age and perfect climate
Soil Preference: porous but somewhat adaptable, even to clay soils if not sloggy in winter
Light Requirement: full sun
Human Hazards: none known
Disease or Horticultural Problems: tends to rot if overwatered or sitting in constantly moist soils when cold
Transplants?: moderate to poor, depending upon condition of roots (break like glass when moved)- do not water after transplant too often or will rot
Indoor?: very poor choice
Availability: very rare but occasionally can be found at specialty nurseries- any thing but dinky seedling very pricey

@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 <gallery>
 File:Ravenea xerophila humongous GL 14.jpg|nearly trunking palm in Escondido, garden of Gary Levine
+File:Ravenea xerophila huge shot 2 GB.jpg|San Diego county, California
 File:Ravenea xerophila Trunking GL 14.jpg|trunk of palm in Levine garden, Escondido, showing old inflorescence and dried, unfertilized seed
 File:Ravenea xerophylla looking great larb 2014.jpg|Los Angeles arboretum
 File:Ravenea xerophila large Levine.JPG|Escondido, California
+File:Ravenea xerophila shot 3 front yard GB.jpg|San Diego county, California
 File:Ravenea xerophila 1 levine.JPG|Escondido
 File:Ravenea xerophila 2 levine.JPG|Escondido

Difference between revisions of "Ravenea xerophila"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Latest revision as of 16:12, 22 September 2016