Pronunciation: RAY-piss coe-chin-chin-EN-siss
Common Name: Laos Lady Palm
Rhapis cochinchinensis is a relatively new name for a palm most growers would recognize as Rhapis laosensis. This is a relatively rare palm for California, probably best known for its being one of the parents of Rhapis 'Alicia', a wonderful hybrid created by Louis Hooper, a California palm grower and pioneer. It is a fairly marginal species in California, tending to look a bit ratty unless given plenty of protection. Two varieties recognized: Rhapis cochinchinensis var. laosensis and Rhapis cochinensis var. macrantha. The latter variety is very rare and virtually unknown in California.
Synonyms: Rhapis laosensis; Rhapis macrantha
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: clustering with a crown of 3-5 fan leaves
- Height: 7'
- Trunk: multiple; 1/2" to 3/4" thick; covered with tight dark brown fibrous weave and retained, un-split leaf bases
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 3'+
- Leaf Description: palmate; leaflets completely split to petiole into 3-4 leaflets; leaflets fairly wide tapering to point; arching/drooping leaflets; often brown-tipped if exposed to cold, wind or a lot of salts in water
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 6"; very narrow; unarmed; un-split leaf bases
- Reproduction: dioecious
- Inflorescence: 6"-8" pendulous; from within leaves; creamy flowers
- Fruit:
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 30F
- Drought Tolerance: low
- Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
- Cool Tolerance: low
- Wind Tolerance: low
- Salt Tolerance: low
- Growth Rate: slow
- Soil Preference: rich and well draining
- Light Requirement: shade to filtered sun
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: brown tipping common problem
- Transplants?: moderately tolerant
- Indoor?: unknown but might be OK
- Availability: very rare
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Louis Hooper's plant, Los Angeles
San Diego county, California
var. Macrantha, in Nong Nooch gardens, Thailand
