Difference between revisions of "Dypsis pembana"

Revision as of 17:07, 3 March 2015

Pronunciation: DIP-siss pem-BAN-uh

Common Name: none

Dypsis pembana is one of the earlier success stories in California and some maturing palms exist in the state (though these are far shorter than those grown in the tropics). It is one of the tallest of the Dypsis palms in nature. It is a clustering species, but occasionally, in cultivation, a solitary plant will pop up. This palm is native to islands between Madagascar and mainland Africa (the Island of Pemba, one of the Comoro Islands).

Synonym: Chrysalidocarpus pembana

Appearance and Biology

Habit: slowly clustering/sometimes solitary with a crown of 8-12 feather leaves
Height: 25' estimate
Trunk: multiple/sometimes single; 4" in diameter; light green; prominently ringed; base of trunks have prominent 'feet' (bulbous, flared bases)
Crownshaft: pale green to white with powdery tomentum on it; about same diameter as trunk; about 18:-24" tall
Spread: 6'-12'+
Leaf Description: pinnate; slight recurved; upright leaflets in a wide 'V'; 6'-7' long; medium to bright green
Petiole/Leaf bases: 1' long; pale green; unarmed; un-split bases
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: within leaves (at least above crownshaft); 2' long; distal half highly branched
Fruit: 1/2: long; ovoid; bright red when ripe

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 30F
Drought Tolerance: low
Dry Heat Tolerance: moderate
Cool Tolerance: low
Wind Tolerance: moderate
Salt Tolerance: unknown
Growth Rate: moderate
Soil Preference: adaptable
Light Requirement: partial to full sun
Human Hazards: none
Disease or Horticultural Problems: tends to get yellowy the taller it gets (nutritional versus wind/cold exposure?)
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: unknown
Availability: rare

garden of Ralph Velez, Orange county, California
Levine garden, Escondido, California
Bradford estate, San Diego county, California
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
San Diego county, California
Floribunda Palms, Hawaii
Audobon Center, Oahu, Hawaii
Lyons Arboretum, Oahu, Hawaii
Floribunda Palms
Floribunda Palms
leaf base colors in California
stems in California
showing typical swollen trunk bases, Hawaii

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 '''Common Name''': none
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-'''''Dypsis pembana''''' is one of the earlier success stories in California and some maturing palms exist in the state (though these are far shorter than those grown in the tropics).  It is one of the tallest of the Dypsis palms in nature.  It is a clustering species, but occasionally, in cultivation, a solitary plant will pop up.
+'''''Dypsis pembana''''' is one of the earlier success stories in California and some maturing palms exist in the state (though these are far shorter than those grown in the tropics).  It is one of the tallest of the Dypsis palms in nature.  It is a clustering species, but occasionally, in cultivation, a solitary plant will pop up.  This palm is native to islands between Madagascar and mainland Africa (the Island of Pemba, one of the Comoro Islands).
 Synonym: ''Chrysalidocarpus pembana''

Difference between revisions of "Dypsis pembana"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Revision as of 17:07, 3 March 2015