Pronunciation: HIGH-fuh-nee/ HI-fee-nee thee-BAY-ih-kuh
Common Name: African Doum Palm; Gingerbread Palm
Hyphaene thebaica is one of the above-ground branching Hyphaenes which, so far, have no managed branch above ground in California… yet. However, of all the Hyphaene species, this one holds the most promise to doing so.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary branching palm with a crown of 15-20 fan leaves
- Height: 20' estimate
- Trunk: single, though in California usually branches at ground level (so looks like offsetting); 20" diameter; retained split leaf bases for up to 10' or so, then trunk tends to clean itself; tan
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 15'-20'+
- Leaf Description: markedly costapalmate; waxy/leathery; blue-green-grey to green-grey; 4'-6' long
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 2' long; slightly channeled; armed with dark, hooked teeth (facing away from trunk); light yellow-green underneath to pale grey to peach colored near base; some scurf on sides and teeth; leaf bases split and often retained on trunk until maturity
- Reproduction: dioecious
- Inflorescence: from with crown; upright; arching; 3'-4' long; branched- 8" branched off main peduncle; flowers yeloow-white (or purplish-brown)
- Fruit: pear shaped; brown; 3" long; reportedly edible
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 29F
- Drought Tolerance: good
- Dry Heat Tolerance: excellent
- Wind Tolerance: good
- Salt Tolerance: moderate
- Growth Rate: slow
- Soil Preference: widely adaptable but seems to do particularly well in sandy, alkaline soils
- Light Requirement: full sun
- Human Hazards: sharp petiolar teeth
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unlikely to do well
- Availability: rare but available periodically through palm specialty nurseries
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San Diego botanical gardens, California
San Diego botanical gardens
San Diego botanical gardens
Fosters Gardens, Oahu, Hawaii, male plant
Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Miami, Florida
Living Desert, Palm Desert, California
Egypt- photo by Charlie Slezak
Egypt- photo by Charlie Slezak
Egypt- photo by Charlie Slezak
Egypt- photo by Charlie Slezak
Egypt- photo by Charlie Slezak
male inflorescence, Living Desert, Palm Desert, California
