Pronunciation: sigh-AHG-russ russ-kee-AH-nuh
Common Name: none
Syagrus ruschiana is still a rather rare palm for California, but so far it is turning out to be a nice dainty little palm that does fairly well in several warmer climates in varying degrees of sun exposure. As of 2014 there are no fruiting palm yet, but that may not be too far in the future. Though a clustering species, it takes some time to start making offsets, so starts out as a solitary sometimes not until maturity.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: clustering with a crown of about 8-9 feather leaves per stem
- Height: 6' estimate
- Trunk: 4"-5"
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 6'-10'+
- Leaf Description: pinnate; 3'-4' long; flat and arching/drooping; leaflets thin, long and very pendant; leaflets spread out along rachis giving leaf a wispy appearance; medium green; dead leaves retained on trunk for several years
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 12"-18" long; thin and arching; un-split leaf bases; unarmed
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: 2'-3' long; from within or below the last living leaves; upright and arching outward; often several at a time; short, wiggly branches from main peduncle
- Fruit: 1"; ovoid though nearly spherical; light green turning bright orange when ripe
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 28F
- Drought Tolerance: moderate
- Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
- Wind Tolerance: unknown
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: very slow to slow
- Soil Preference: so far seems adaptable
- Light Requirement: filtered sun to partial sun (possible full sun near the coast)
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: seems somewhat prone to bud rot from overhead watering
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: rare but available periodically from palm specialty nurseries
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