Difference between revisions of "Ceroxylon ventricosum"

Latest revision as of 21:30, 29 July 2015

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). Seems to be a difficult palm and even gives trouble to those trying to grow it in northern California.

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
Cool Tolerance: excellent
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

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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.  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).  Seems to be a difficult palm and even gives trouble to those trying to grow it in northern California.
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 File:Ceroxylon ventricosum ps.jpg|All palm shots of two in Ventura, California

Difference between revisions of "Ceroxylon ventricosum"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Latest revision as of 21:30, 29 July 2015