Palms For California

Pronunciation: DIP-siss deh-CARRY-eye

Common Name: Triangle Palm

Dypsis decaryi is one of the most commonly grown Dypsis species in southern California and there are some palms in northern California as well. It is an excellent landscape choice for many areas, both inland and coastal. It is a uniquely shaped palm that makes an excellent landscape tree for xeriscaping and multiple plantings (particularly in a row). There are several Dypsis that are somewhat tristichous (leaves in three ranks), this palm is precisely so, and a beautiful palm at that. This is also one of the only Dypsis that performs well in the inland low deserts. Despite is seemingly ubiquitous presence throughout much of the southern half of California, it is a relatively marginal palms in many areas of California where many other palms grow easily. It does not like cold weather. Though seemingly perfectly adapted to a warm, dry, Mediterranean climate, it also does very well in Hawaiian volcanic soils and extremely high rainfalls.

Appearance and Biology Habit: Solitary Height: 30 feet Trunk: clean, closely ringed, brown; 1' thick Crownshaft: no true crownshaft but forms an impressive dark, fuzzy wall of leaf bases on 3 sides Spread: 10'-14' Leaf Shape: pinnate, 8'-10' arching/recurved with upright long, thin leaflets, 'V' in cross section; leaves in 3 ranks (aka tristichous) Petiole: short, deeply channeled and often covered in a layer of scurf Foliage: pale blue-green Reproduction: monoecious and prolific Inflorescence: many branched, short arising from between upper leaves Fruit: pale green darkening to near red-brown when ripe about 2cm in diameter Seed: 1cm, light brown nearly spherical

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 28F (though can tolerate frosts down to 25F briefly with some foliar damage Drought Tolerance: excellent once established (needs watering when young and just planted) Dry Heat Tolerance: good Wind Tolerance: fair to good Salt Tolerance: low Growth Rate: slow to moderate with trunk formation Soil Preference: well draining but tolerant of a wide variety; does not tend to do well in heavy clays or alkaline soils Light Requirement: high (gets weak and etiolated in shade) Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: bud rot from overhead watering; root rot from overwatering in non-ideal soils; difficult to move after starts forming a trunk Indoor?: poor choice due to light restrictions