Difference between revisions of "Ceroxylon ventricosum"

Revision as of 15:36, 22 September 2014

Pronunciation: sir-ROX-ih-lawn ven-trih-COE-sum

Common Name: Ecuadorean Wax Palm, Andean Wax Palm

Ceroxylon ventricosum is a very rare palm for southern California, but when well grown, is one of the most awe-inspiring and impressive palms one can grow here. This palm has a pure white, waxy trunk, ornamentally ringed, and topped off with a full, 'V'-shaped crown of long, straight leaves. The mature pair growing in Ventura are among the most amazing palms that can be viewed in California. Unfortunately it is a very fastidious palm and dislikes heat and arid climates (best near the coast). It does, however, have very good cold tolerance (comes from high altitude in Ecuador).

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 25-30 feather leaves
Height: 80' estimate
Trunk: single; waxy and pure white its entire length with wide grey rings; 15" in diameter; self cleaning
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 20'-25'
Leaf Description: pinnate; mildly plumose with leaflets closely spaced and on two barely offset planes; basically flat otherwise; 15' long; dark green dorsally and silvery below
Petiole/Leaf bases: 18" long; stiff, nearly white on ventral surface (rarely see the other one)
Reproduction: dioecious
Inflorescence: 6' long arching to hang below leaf crown
Fruit: reddish-orange fruit when ripe (rarely if ever see in California as nearly impossible to pollinate these palms)

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 21F
Drought Tolerance: poor
Dry Heat Tolerance: poor
Wind Tolerance: fairly good
Salt Tolerance: unknown
Growth Rate: slow to moderate, and even fast with advanced age
Soil Preference: moist and well draining, acidic
Light Requirement: full sun
Human Hazards: leaves are heavy and fall from great height, but tend to hug trunk all the way down
Disease or Horticultural Problems: difficult palm when younger- does not like heat or dry winds
Transplants?: likely very poor
Indoor?: unlikely a good candidate
Availability: rare and only now and then shows up at specialty nurseries

All palm shots of two in Ventura, California

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 '''Common Name''': Ecuadorean Wax Palm, Andean Wax Palm
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-'''''Ceroxylon ventricosum''''' is a very rare palm for southern California, but when well grown, is one of the most awe-inspiring and impressive palms one can grow here.  This palm has a pure white, waxy trunk, ornamentally ringed, and topped off with a full, 'V'-shaped crown of long, straight leaves.  The mature pair growing in Ventura are among the most amazing palms that can be viewed in California.
+'''''Ceroxylon ventricosum''''' is a very rare palm for southern California, but when well grown, is one of the most awe-inspiring and impressive palms one can grow here.  This palm has a pure white, waxy trunk, ornamentally ringed, and topped off with a full, 'V'-shaped crown of long, straight leaves.  The mature pair growing in Ventura are among the most amazing palms that can be viewed in California.  Unfortunately it is a very fastidious palm and dislikes heat and arid climates (best near the coast).  It does, however, have very good cold tolerance (comes from high altitude in Ecuador).
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 File:Ceroxylon quindiuense crown ps.jpg|

Difference between revisions of "Ceroxylon ventricosum"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 15:36, 22 September 2014