Palms

With over 200 species of palms growing in our garden and new ones being added all the time, we are always looking for something new to offer the "Palm Nut". Even though many are tropical and require warm conditions for growing we always try to offer palms that can grow and thrive in a temperate environment. Many palms come from high altitudes and can survive cool temperatures and some can even survive snow and mild freezes with a little care. Also many "tropical" palms are well-suited for growing indoors and in pots.

All of the palms on this page are established in the pot size listed but keep in mind that in most cases they are still small and very young. This helps keep the shipping costs low because some palms, (even though still young seedlings) need to be in larger pots to allow room for large tap roots or root systems. Almost all are in limited supply so don't hesitate. And make sure to keep checking as new ones are being added all the time.


Adonidia merrillii
Adonidia merrillii (Veitchia merrillii Manilla Palm) An easy growing smaller palm with a single trunk. One of the mainstays of Hawaii landscapes. Sometimes called the Christmas palm because of the large bunches of bright red fruit that hang in the winter months. It grows well in full or partial sun and is easy to grow in as a container palm. It needs protection from cold temps.

Archontophoenix purpurea
Archontophoenix purpurea a.k.a. Mount Lewis King Palm a.k.a. Purple Crown Shaft Palm. A solitary grower with a purple colored crownshaft and silvery leaf bottoms, the purpurea can reach 40 or more feet tall. It is cool tolerant and thrives well in southern states where it can be protected from severe cold. Does best in full or filtered sun. Can be grown in pot for years.

Areca catechu
Areca catechu Betel Nut Palm. A very attractive feather palm that can reach 100 ft. in its native environment. In SE Asia and parts of the Pacific, the seed is chewed for its intoxicating effects, as well as its supposedly beneficial side effects, such as aiding digestion, and controlling internal parasites and dysentery. An easy palm to grow. It does well in both the tropics and warm sub-tropical areas. It filtered light when young, and adapts well to full sun as it ages. It likes a moist, well-drained media, and doesn't like to dry out. It is a nice choice for providing a tropical look in gardens with limited space since the fronds have a nice shape but don't get real long.
Areca ipot Also refered to as Dwarf Betel Nut Palm. It comes from the Philippines and is a favorite of palm collectors. A very attractive solitary feather palm with short upright pointing fronds and a glossy green crownshaft. Fruit is held in tight clusters on trunk and are bright orange to yellow. The fruit tends to be larger than catechu. This palm will max out at 8 to 12 feet in height making it perfect for growing in containers. Prefers filtered light and warmth. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.
Areca vestiaria
Areca vestiaria A native palm in North Sulawesi, this palm's orange crown shaft makes its green leaves stand out. The midribs of these leaves are often yellow to bright orange in color. Seedlings are maroon in color. It varys widely in growth habit some being single trunk while most clump with 2 or 3 stems. Very striking either way.A great palm for container growing since it does well in pots and won't outgrow it quickly. Needs filtered light and protection from cold.
Areca vestiaria "Red form" Same as the orange form of the A. vestiaria but with a deep red crownshaft. The leaves also have red mid rib and have a red color on the emerging leaves. Very striking and easy growing. Seedlings are maroon in color. A great palm for container growing since it does well in pots and won't outgrow it quickly. Needs filtered light and protection from cold.
Bismarckia nobilis
Bismarckia nobilis Silver. A magnificent palm with huge silver green fan leaves from Madagascar. It is cool tolerant and once established it can be frost tolerant if protected from prolonged cold spells. Loves sun and needs space to do well
Calyptrocalyx hollrungii
Calyptrocalyx hollrungii Another very beautiful Calyptrocalyx palm from New Guinea. The Calyptrocalyx are some of the most beautiful and exotic looking jungle palms that are easy to grow. It is a small slender clumping understory palm that has deep red new leaves. This is a great palm for container growing since they do not get large and have beautiful foliage. Being tropical they do need some humidity and protection from cold.
Calyptrocalyx sp. 'Sanumb'
Calyptrocalyx sp. 'Sanumb' A delicate looking Calyptrocalyx with soft feather leaves. Is perfect for growing in pots and has a very tropical look. As with other Calyptrocalyx it does not like direct sun and cold but is very easy to grow and stays small. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.
Carpentaria acuminata A fast-growing solitary palm from the Northern Territory of Australia. It is a very nice landscape palm for warmer areas like Florida. It can also grow well indoors and is sometimes planted 2 or 3 to a pot to show off the lush recurved dark green leaves.

Chamaedorea radicalis A beautiful small palm from the high elevation mountains of Mexico that is perfect for growing in a pot. Growing to no more than 3 ft., they then send out an inflorescence above the foliage that produces multiple bright red fruit. Will do very well outdoors if protected from severe frost and a good drought tolerant palm. Perfect for growers with limited space.
Chambeyronia macrocarpa
Chambeyronia macrocarpa The picture shows the red emerging frond on the left and the fat marbled crown shaft on the right. Another of Mother Nature's works of art. A striking feather palm with a sturdy trunk and a large green crownshaft that has varying amounts of lighter green mottling, which leads some to refer to it as the "Watermelon Palm". The emerging fronds also open bright red and are very eye-catching. This is a subtropical palm that can tolerate cooler temperatures, and should do well in warm temperate areas with a little protection. It should also do well indoors since it does not need direct sun to look its best.
Dypsis ambositrae
Dypsis ambositrae (Madagascar seed) An attractive, medium-sized, clustering or single trunked palm from Madagascar. It is somewhat cold tolerant and able to handle temps close to freezing if not prolonged. Very attractive plumose feather palm and rare in its native habitat.

Dypsis cabadae A clumping palm with feather-like leaves, and a blue/grey crownshaft. Very similar and related to the "Golden Cane Palm" or "Areca palm" of trade. With thin trunks growing 15 to 25 feet tall, it enjoys a partially sunny area with cool to warm temperatures.
Euterpe oleracea
Euterpe oleracea Also called the Cabbage or Assai Palm. This is a very graceful-looking multiple trunk feather palm from Brazil. It is widely grown for the "Heart of Palm" and is one of the most tasty. Being multiple trunked it is a good choice to raise for the "cabbage" since the whole tree does not need to die in order to harvest. The fruit is also made into a very popular drink and ice cream in Brazil.
It likes warmth and moisture and should be protected from full sun while young. They can be raised in large pots and look very exotic. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.
Hyophorbe indica Related to the Spindle and Bottle palm, it is very attractive with reddish colored leaf stems and a slender trunk. Very easy palm to grow and likes sun or partial shade. Does well in containers. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (Bottle Palm)
Hyophorbe lagenicaulis (Bottle Palm) This palm acquired its name from a swollen lower half trunk. A slow glower with feather like leaves that grows to be about 10 feet tall. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii (Spindle Palm)
Hyophorbe verschaffeltii (Spindle Palm) From the Mascarene Islands and in the same family as the Bottle palm. It has a unique shape with a swollen trunk that is wide for the overall size of the palm and a sharply tapered crownshaft giving it the "spindle" shape. It is an easy palm to grow and is well suited to container growing. Likes sun and is cool tolerant if kept from extremes. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.

Johannesteijsmannia altifrons The Joey Palm. From the jungles of Thailand and east Asia this trunkless palm is well suited for growing in pots and are somewhat cool tolerant. The large undivided leaves can reach 15 feet or more when mature and are very spectacular coming out of the base of the palm. Protect from bright sun.

Kerriodoxa elegans Like the name implies an elegant palm from Thailand perfect for pot culture. It is a medium-sized fan palm with dark green leaves above and silver underneath. The petiole and ribs are almost black. A very showy palm. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.

 Licuala grandis
Licuala grandis Vanuatau Fan Palm. An elegant fan palm with glossy round leaves. A tropical palm that needs warmth but grows well in pots. It needs protection from full sun and strong winds to look its best

 Marojejya darianii A very spectacular palm from Madagascar that was only discovered in the early 1980s. It will take years to form a trunk but even when small they are very beautiful with nearly entire leaves when young. Given the right conditions the emerging frond can have a nice pink blush. The palm likes moisture around the roots since it comes from somewhat swampy habitats and it is tolerant to some cold, making it a good choice for southern states. LIMITED.
Normanbya normanbyi Also called the Black Palm. It comes from Australia and looks a little like the Foxtail Palm (Wodyetia) but more handsome. The leaflets are arranged circularly and the undersides has a silvery hue to them. As it ages the trunk will become dark, almost black in color. Seedlings need protection from sun but as they age they will do fine in direct sun. Like frequent watering and should not dry out.
Phoenicophorium borsigianum
Phoenicophorium borsigianum From the Seychelles islands this is a very attractive palm with large entire leaves and a single trunk. The petioles are orange and the edge of the leaves can have a little orange color also. It likes moist well drained soil and does best in filtered light but can handle full sun if adapted slowly.
Pinanga caesia A very attractive medium-sized, solitary palm with a slender ringed trunk and a purple or orange crownshaft. It has an upright crown of lightly arching leaves with drooping leaflets. The feather leaves have a little dark on light green mottling. This is a subtropical palm from Indonesia but is well-suited to grow in containers indoors if provided enough moisture.
Pinanga kuhlii The Ivory Cane Palm. Also known as Pinanga coronata, this is a beautiful medium-sized clumping palm from Indonesia. The fronds are mottled and widely feathered. The newer leaves have a slight reddish blush as they mature. A very graceful tropical-looking palm that can be container grown but needs warmth and moisture to thrive. Large plants ready to move up to 3+ gl. pots.
 Pinanga speciosa A beautiful slender solitary palm. Some with a red crown shaft. It has a very graceful habit and grows well in containers. Although it is tropical it can do well in cooler climates if given protection from extremes.
Prestoea montana a.k.a. Prestoea acuminata. This is an easy-growing solitary feather palm from the Caribbean. It will grow well in places like Southern California and Florida as it is cool tolerant and is a moderately fast grower reaching about 30 ft. at maturity. The common name is Mountain Cabbage palm as the palm heart is said to be very tasty, like the Euterpe.
Pritchardia hillebrandii (Blue)A true Hawaiian. This is the blue Loulu from Molokai. Very attractive bluish green fan leaves grow on a smaller but robust single trunk. It is somewhat cool tolerant but needs protection from frost. Fast growing.
 Ptychosperma waitianumA beautiful small palm from the rainforests of New Guinea. It is a solitary palm with a very slender trunk and lush caryotoid leaves. The new leaves emerge with varying shades of pink to red color. A great palm for container growing. Needs to be protected from cold and low humidity to do best.
Wallichia disticha Fan Palm. A striking feather palm that grows leaves along a single plane like a fan. The single trunk is covered with thick fibers from the old petioles giving a unique appearance, also the underside of the leaves are silver colored. A cool-growing palm that should do well if protected from severe freezes. Fast growing.
 Wodyetia bifurcata The "Foxtail Palm" from Australia has become a landscape standard in Hawaii. It has a smooth light gray trunk and luxurious arching plumose fronds. It grows best in full sun and can withstand prolonged dry periods. These oversized plants are ready for planting in 3-gallon pots.
 For those of you that live here and want to visit our nursery in Iao Valley we also have some large plants established in 7gl pots ready to plant out in the ground already such as...

Euterpe oleracea Assai Palm. This is a very graceful-looking multiple trunk feather palm. It is widely grown for the "Heart of Palm" and is one of the most tasty. See above for more info.

Areca catechu The Betel Nut palm. Beautiful glossy deep green foliage.

Areca ipot Sometimes called "Dwarf Betel Nut" palm

Dypsis cabade Elegant slender clumping feather palm

Chambeyronia macrocarpa Brilliant red leaves and watermellon colored crownshafts.

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii The Spindle Palm.

Hyophorbe indica Very graceful palm with deep red to black crownshaft and stems

Caryota gigas or Thai Mountain Giant. This is a beautiful and massive solitary fish tail palm with a trunk that can reach over 4 feet dia. It is a cool grower that will thrive in our local Upcountry environment.

Kerriodoxa elegans Like the name implies, an elegant palm from Thailand perfect for pot culture. It is a medium-sized fan palm with dark green leaves above and silver underneath. The petiole and ribs are almost black. A very showy palm.

Areca vestiaria "Red form" A very attractive palm. Medium size with bright red crownshaft and stems and deep red emerging leaves.

Pinanga speciosa A beautiful slender solitary palm. Some have a red crownshaft.

· See What's Blooming in our greenhouse.