Difference between revisions of "Livistona nitida"

Latest revision as of 12:10, 18 August 2015

Pronunciation: liv-ih-STONE-uh NIH-tih-duh

Common Name: Carnarvon Gorge Palm; Dawson River Fan Palm

Livistona nitida is a fast and reliable grower for California, and a nice cold hardy palm for full sun and arid regions. It does tend to a look a bit like a smaller version of Washingtonia robusta, and that may have something to do with its lack of popularity. This is one of the many Australian Livistonas that do very well in this state

Synonym: Livistona 'Carnarvon Gorge'

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 20-30 fan leaves
Height: 50' estimate
Trunk: 12" at the base; 8" higher up; often covered with retained leaf bases near base; narrowly ringed; brownish red near top and fading near base; upper trunk often has retained fibrous material between retained leaf bases
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 15'
Leaf Description: costapalmate; deep green to yellowy green near leaflets; 8'-10' long; leaves divided to about 2/3 their length; distal 1/3 leaflets drooping acutely, similar to the other 'ribbon-like' Livistonas; younger palms have stiffer leaflets that do not droop (drooping tends to happen at about same age begins to flower)
Petiole/Leaf bases: often retained for many years, and indefinitely near trunk base; un-split; armed with small, sharp, red-black teeth proximally, but often smooth distally; 5'-6' long
Reproduction: monoecious, though 'functionally dioecious (male and female flowers open at different times)
Inflorescence:
Fruit: spherical; 1/3" thick; black when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 24F
Drought Tolerance: good
Dry Heat Tolerance: good
Cool Tolerance: good
Wind Tolerance: good
Salt Tolerance: unknown
Growth Rate: moderate to fast with age
Soil Preference: very adaptable
Light Requirement: full sun
Human Hazards: petiolar teeth very sharp, though small
Disease or Horticultural Problems: tends to be yellowy unless fertilized well
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: unknown
Availability: rare

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 Synonym: ''Livistona'' 'Carnarvon Gorge'
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 File:Livistona nitida 2.jpg|all shots at the Huntington gardens near Pasadena, California, unless otherwise noted

Difference between revisions of "Livistona nitida"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Latest revision as of 12:10, 18 August 2015