Pronunciation: DIP-siss mar-oh-JAY-zee-eye/mar-oh-JAY-zheye
Common Name: Madagascan Foxtail Palm
Dypsis marojejyi is one of the 'holy grails' of palms and was extremely rare some 10 years ago. Now, however, it is becoming fairly commonly available as palms in Hawaii have been setting seeds for some time and seedlings are being shipped in. So far, no adult palms exist in the mainland yet, but perhaps that is in the near future. It has turned out to be a palm that grows in the better climates of California, though with a bit of protection from the sun and frost. It is one of the more spectacularly palms in terms of symmetry and color and could eventually become one of the most popular species in 'warm California'.
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Appearance and Biology
- Habit: solitary with a crown of 6-10 plumose leaves
- Height: 10' estimate
- Trunk: single; 3"-4" thick; closely ringed; red-brown
- Crownshaft: none
- Spread: 6'-8'
- Leaf Description: pinnate; plumose; leaflets on 6 planes; very symmetrical; leaflets arranged along rachis in clusters of 6-8 leaflets ; leaflets 6" long with acute bend near tip; 4' long; dark green and leathery; new leaves a coppery maroon; rachis of leaves remains a reddish brown for a few months before turning green; leaves arch gracefully
- Petiole/Leaf bases: 8"-12" long; unarmed; un-split bases
- Reproduction: monoecious
- Inflorescence: from within leaves; 4' long; branched to two orders
- Fruit: 1" long; oblong; pale yellow-green
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Horticultural Characteristics
- Minimum Temp: 30F
- Drought Tolerance: low
- Dry Heat Tolerance: unknown
- Cool Tolerance: low
- Wind Tolerance: low
- Salt Tolerance: unknown
- Growth Rate: slow
- Soil Preference: adaptable
- Light Requirement: filtered to partial sun, eventually full sun in coastal climates
- Human Hazards: none
- Disease or Horticultural Problems: none
- Transplants?: unknown
- Indoor?: unknown
- Availability: rare
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