Palms For California

Pronunciation: lih-vuh-STONE-uh ih-NERR-muss

Common Name: Wispy Fan Palm

Livistona inermis is one of the most challenging palms to grow in California, that CAN be grown here (there are far more challenging palms that simply cannot be grown here). It is a very fastidious palm that has very high heat requirements and seems to be fussy about soil, watering and cold as well. It turns out to be a fairly good palm for the low deserts, but not anywhere else (so far). It is a very wispy palm as the common name suggests and rather atypical for a Livistona species. In its native northern Australia, it is a very hardy palm, living on minimal water in a fairly brutal climate (though never cold). It has ornamental pink petioles and very fine, drooping leaflets making it an attractive curiosity.

Appearance and Biology Habit: solitary with a crown of 3-6 fan leaves Height: 7' estimate Trunk: single; 4" thick, covered with a dense, pale tan fibrous weave and tiny, retained, un-split leaf bases Crownshaft: none Spread: 2'-3' Leaf Description: palmate; deeply divided to the petiole; pale green; 3' long; arching and droopy; leaflets also droopy Petiole/Leaf bases: pinkish; unarmed except proximally it has tiny, reddish to black teeth; basically strap-like in cross-section Reproduction: monoecious but functionally dioecious Inflorescence: 1' long; arching; often multiple; cream colored; highly branched; from within leaves Fruit: ovoid; 1/3" thick; glossy black when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics Minimum Temp: 26F Drought Tolerance: high Dry Heat Tolerance: very high Cool Tolerance: low Wind Tolerance: moderate Salt Tolerance: unknown Growth Rate: very slow Soil Preference: very well draining, even sandy Light Requirement: full sun Human Hazards: none Disease or Horticultural Problems: extremely finicky Transplants?: unknown Indoor?: does very poorly indoors Availability: very rare