Difference between revisions of "Zombia antillarum"

Revision as of 22:48, 12 August 2015

Pronunciation: ZOM- bee-uh ahn-til-LARE-uh

Common Name: Zombie Palm

Zombia antillarum is a fairly marginal palm for California, but some have manage to grow it for many years (no adult palms in the state at this time). It is one of the more slow growing palms one can keep alive in California. This is a unique, clustering species with very ornamental spination along the trunk covered with a large, tan, tight fibrous mesh and pronounced rings.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: clustering with a crown of 10-12 fan leaves per stem
Height: 6' estimate
Trunk: multiple; 5" thick; covered with dense, thick, tan fibrous mesh; pronounced rings where fibrous mesh adheres tightly; regularly spaced tan, thick, downward-pointing 3" spines arranged around trunk arising from each ring
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 4'-6'+
Leaf Description: palmate; 3' long; leaflets show some droop near tips; bright green on top and pale green beneath; leaf blades split to about 3/4 of their length
Petiole/Leaf bases: narrow/thin; arching; unarmed; un-split leaf bases; arise from trunk rings
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: 18" long; from within leaves; white flowers
Fruit: spherical; 1" thick; white when ripe (no fruiting palms in California)

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 30F
Drought Tolerance: good
Dry Heat Tolerance: very good
Cool Tolerance: low
Wind Tolerance: good
Salt Tolerance: good
Growth Rate: very very slow
Soil Preference: adaptable
Light Requirement: partial to full sun
Human Hazards: spiny trunks can be hazardous, though few palms in California are trunking
Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: unlikely to be a good candidate due to high light requirements and need for heat
Availability: very rare

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 '''''Zombia antillarum''''' is a fairly marginal palm for California, but some have manage to grow it for many years (no adult palms in the state at this time).  It is one of the more slow growing palms one can keep alive in California.  This is a unique, clustering species with very ornamental spination along the trunk covered with a large, tan, tight fibrous mesh and pronounced rings.
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 File:Zombia Ha.JPG|San Diego county, California seedling

Difference between revisions of "Zombia antillarum"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 22:48, 12 August 2015