Difference between revisions of "Bismarckia Nobilis"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

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File:Bismarckia pale green LL.JPG|palm in coastal California mountains
 
File:Bismarckia pale green LL.JPG|palm in coastal California mountains
 
File:Bismarckia largest larb.jpg|Los Angeles arboretum
 
File:Bismarckia largest larb.jpg|Los Angeles arboretum
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File:Bismarckia Sullivan 1.JPG|white form, Hawaii
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File:Bismarckia white tall.jpg|pale blue form, Hawaii
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File:Bismarckia Leu Gardens.jpg|blue form, Orlando, Florida
 
File:Bismarckia green SD zoo.JPG|green form San Diego Zoo
 
File:Bismarckia green SD zoo.JPG|green form San Diego Zoo
 
File:Bismarckia green huge nice DN.jpg|mature, healthy green form in Palm Desert
 
File:Bismarckia green huge nice DN.jpg|mature, healthy green form in Palm Desert
File:Bismarckia female Wood.jpg|fruiting female in Fallbrook, California
 
 
File:Bismarckia green sad H.JPG|struggling green palm in California (eventually died)
 
File:Bismarckia green sad H.JPG|struggling green palm in California (eventually died)
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File:BISMARCKIA SBG.JPG|tall green palm Singapore
 
File:Bismarckia green Hotel on River Kwai.jpg|nice fast growing green palm Thailand
 
File:Bismarckia green Hotel on River Kwai.jpg|nice fast growing green palm Thailand
 
File:Bismarckia green again C.jpg|green palm in Hawaii
 
File:Bismarckia green again C.jpg|green palm in Hawaii
 
File:Bismarckia green tall Don.jpg|another healthy green palm in Hawaii
 
File:Bismarckia green tall Don.jpg|another healthy green palm in Hawaii
 
File:Bismarckia greens C.jpg|green palms in Hawaii
 
File:Bismarckia greens C.jpg|green palms in Hawaii
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File:Bismarckia female Wood.jpg|fruiting female in Fallbrook, California
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File:Bismarckia fruits Garrett again.jpg|female fruits, Hawaii
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File:Bismarckia male flowers Garrett.jpg|male in flower, Hawaii
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File:BISMARCKIA SBG.JPG
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File:Bismarckia fruits Garrett again.jpg
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File:Bismarckia male flowers Garrett.jpg
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File:Bismarckia Sullivan 1.JPG
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File:Bismarckia white tall.jpg
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File:Bismarckia Leu Gardens.jpg
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</gallery>
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</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
[[Category:Bismarkia]]
 
[[Category:Bismarkia]]

Revision as of 06:58, 16 July 2014

Pronunciation: biz-MARK-ee-uh NO-bill-iss


Common Name: Bismarck Palm

Bismarckia nobilis is a large, solitary Madagascan palm with immense mildly costapalmate, stiff leaves of either dull green or various shades of waxy blue or grey. It is widely considered one of the most ornamental and majestic palms one can grow in southern California. Green forms of this palm grow rapidly in the tropics, but are rather marginal in most areas of southern California, only managing to grow to adulthood in the most ideal climates (frost-free coastal, or nearly frost free inland low deserts). However, the blue, grey and white forms are much hardier and faster growing in a Mediterranean climate and perform excellently along the coast as well as far inland as the low deserts. Damage to young plants during moderate to severe frosts often results in complete defoliation, but surprisingly many still recover. Plant this one where you want it (remembering it gets enormous) because it is a very hard palm to remove successfully (root trauma often results in the death of the palm). Available from single leaf seedling to large boxes nowadays. Very commonly available, even at large home garden centers sometimes.

Morphology (Identification)
  • Habit: solitary
  • Height: 30 feet
  • Spread: 14'-16'
  • Trunk: 12"-24" and clean
  • Leaf Shape: palmate to mildly costapalmate, very stiff and often with a waxy coating
  • Petiole: no teeth but extremely sharp
  • Foliage: dull green (to lime green if struggling); dull, pale blue; bright light blue (nearly white); grey
  • Reproduction: dioecious
  • Inflorescence: stiff, rope-like and branched
  • Fruit: green turning black in maturity about 2", or 4"-5" if fertilized seed within
  • Seed: sperical about 2" in diameter
Horticultural Characteristics
  • Minimum Temperature: Green form- 28F; Blue or Grey forms- 22F (improves with maturity)
  • Drought Tolerance: moderate to good with maturity
  • Heat Tolerance: excellent
  • Wind Tolerance: fair to good (blue forms more tolerant than green)
  • Salt Tolerance: moderate
  • Soil Preference: prefers well draining, rich soils, but fairly tolerant of high clay content and sandy soils
  • Light Requrement: full sun
  • Growth Rate: slow to moderate, becoming moderately fast with maturity
  • Human Hazards: very sharp petiole blades (easy to injure oneself if pruning without gloves)
  • Disease Problems: few in California
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