Pronunciation: sir-OX-ih-lawn PAR-vum
Common Name: Dwarf Wax Palm
Ceroxylon parvum is the smallest species of Ceroxylon, originating in the mountains of several South American countries at the north western end of the continent. It is not one of the more attractive species and aside from its waxy, ringed trunk, it looks more like a scruffy Syagrus than a Ceroxylon at first. It does have some good tolerance of high humid heat, managing to grow for many years on the island of Hawaii. However, its need for humidity makes it very difficult to grow in southern California. Multiple mature specimens can be found in the Berkeley botanical gardens in northern California.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 plumose leaves
- Height: 25'
- Trunk: single; 5" thick; grayish waxy with darker grey rings; often covered with old leaf bases, sometimes its entire length
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 6'-7'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose with leaflets in two distinct planes; leaflets in groups of two along each side of the rachis; leaves a medium green and paler beneath; about 4'-5' long; spreading with some living leaves often hanging well below the horizontal; some palms retain skirts of multiple dead leaves
- Petiole/Leaf bases: about 1'; flat dorsally; unarmed and un-split; often retained along upper trunk or even entire trunk length
- Reproduction: dioecious
- Inflorescence: upright to 45 degrees; 4'-5'; minimally branched; from within leaves
- Fruit: spherical; 1/2" thick
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 32F
- Drought Tolerance: low
- Dry Heat Tolerance: low
- Cool Tolerance: excellent
- Wind Tolerance: moderate
- Salt Tolerance: low
- Growth Rate: slow to very slow
- Soil Preference: well draining and moist
- Light Requirement: full sun
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems:
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: likely poor choice
- Availability: very rare
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