Product Description
Habitat and Distribution
Mascarene archipelago; Mauritius Islands. Endemic to Round Island. It naturally inhabits well-drained sandy soils of upland forests and coastal savannas.
Description
This little dwarf of a palm will grow slowly to a height of 10-12 ft (3.1-3.7 m). The solitary trunk is grotesquely swollen and looks as if it were cast in smooth grey concrete. The trunk is a rounded bulge in young specimens and gradually elongates and flattens somewhat as the palm matures. These oldtimer bottle palms can be seen at Miami's Fairchild Tropical Garden. A small crown consisting of 4 to 8 pinnate (feather-like) leaves sits atop a smooth green crownshaft that connects the leaves to the trunk. The upwardly arching leaves grow to about 10 ft (3.1 m) in length in mature specimens. Leaflets are about 2 ft (0.6 m) long and arranged in two upward pointing rows. The inflorescences emerge at the point where the crownshaft meets the trunk. They grow upward as they mature supporting numerous male and female small white flowers on the same stalk. The female flowers are followed by 1 in (2.5 cm) round fruits which change from green to black as they mature. Hyophorbe lagenicaulis has a single trunk up to 20 ft (6 m) tall, about 2 ft in diameter with ring scars and green crownshaft at the top. The gray, self-cleaning trunk is bottle shaped, hence the name Bottle Palm. The Bottle Palm has a small crown of 4-6 4 to 8 pinnate, or feather-like, leaves that can grow up to 10 ft. It has 140 leaflets arranged in two upward pointing rows which grow to about 2 ft long. Flowers/Fruits: The Bottle Palm produces beautiful white flowers that are held by 30 in. stalks coming from below the crownshaft. Flowers are monoecious, male and female flowers on the same inflorescence. Flowers are followed by green black berry like fruits that turn black when ripe. Oval shaped fruit is around 1.5 inches long and contains a single seed inside. (floridata.com) Editing by edric.
This tree is slow growing but can reach heights that range from 12 to 20 feet. It grows best in full sunlight but can tolerate moderate shade. The pinnately compound leaves or fronds can grow to 12 feet long and are attached to a 10-inch petiole or stem. Its slender, lance-shaped leaflets are dark green, approximately 2 feet long, and grow opposite from one another to form a "V" shape on the rachis or middle of the frond. The trunk is smooth, light gray to almost white, and when young has a noticeably swollen base that becomes less pronounced and elongated as it matures. On top of the trunk sits a bright green crownshaft (from which the fronds emerge) that has a smooth, waxy surface and can reach 2 to 3 feet in height. Heavily branched flower inflorescences encircle the trunk just below the crownshaft and can reach lengths of 3 feet. Male and female flowers occur on the same inflorescence and are white or cream colored. Fruits are one inch in diameter and turn from green to black as they ripen. (edis.ifas.ufl.edu)
Culture
Growth Rate: Slow. This is a slow growing palm that can get up to 10 – 20 ft tall and 10 – 15 ft wide, but usually is much shorter around 10ft.
Outdoor/Indoor Use: Both. This palm can also be grown indoors in a container.
Cold Tolerance: Bottle Palm is not cold hardy and will not tolerate frost. It can handle temperature down to 30F. It is great for USDA Zones 10a (30 to 35 F) to 11 (above 40 F).
Light Req: This dwarf palm tree does well in filtered light, for best appearance. It can survive in full sun if provided plenty of water. Water Req: It can adapt to different kinds of soil but likes moist well drain soil.
Maintenance: Easy to maintain. Apply good quality palm fertilizer that has continues release formula twice a year during growing season.
Propagation: Bottle Palm is propagated by seeds. It takes around 5 – 6 months to germinate.
