Bamboo Palm Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Bamboo Palm:
Previously known as:
- Chrysalidocarpus glaucescens
- Dypsis lutescens
- Phonetic Spelling
- kris-al-lid-oh-KAR-pus loo-TESS-enz
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Areca palm is a tropical perennial native to Madagascar in the palm family (Arecaceae). It is a multi-stemmed (clustering or clumping) palm that can grow to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide in its native habitat. The genus name spotlights the fruits (-carpus), which are ellipsoidal and resemble a chrysalis. Specific epithet is Latin for “turning yellow” in reference to the yellow flowers, stems and leaflet midribs.
This tropical plant is grown as a houseplant in temperate climates. In the home, they prefer a bright location in a warm to average room and high humidity. Grow in well-drained potting soil and keep moist but not soggy during the growing season. Increase humidity with a humidifier, if needed, and provide bright indirect light. Repot every 2 or 3 years. Outdoors in zones 10-11, the plant tolerates full sun but prefers partial shade and moist but well-drained soils.
They have multiple stems that arise from one base and large, arching, pinnately compound green leaves. The stems can grow up to 4 inches in diameter and have prominent nodes, like bamboo. Panicles of yellow flowers appear in the summer and are followed by yellow-orange fruits. They will rarely bloom or produce fruit as a houseplant. It has been shown to reduce indoor air pollution and is one of the most popular indoor palms. The terminal bud (heart-of-palm) is toxic and contains cyanide compounds; do not eat it. Dwarf and fastigiate cultivars have been developed in Thailand, but these are very rarely available in the US.
Quick ID Hints:
- Clustering palms with thick, bamboo-like stems.
- Pinnate leaves, with semi-erect pinnae forming a V-shape along the rachis
- Yellow-green petioles and leaf rachis
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is susceptible to scale, whiteflies and spider mites.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chrysalidocarpus
- Species:
- lutescens
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Madagascar
- Distribution:
- Cultivate worldwide.
- Wildlife Value:
- In its native habitat, some birds will eat the fruits
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Each fruit is approximately 0.5-1 inch long and egg-shaped. The fruit turns dark golden yellow-orange at maturity.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 2 feet long panicles of small yellow flowers in summer hang below the leaves are not particularly showy.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-6 feet long pinnately compound yellow-green to dark green upward curving leaves with yellow midribs. There are 40-60 pairs of leaflets that are 2 feet long, lance-shaped, and create a distinct "V" as they grow in opposite directions from one another along the gold to light green rachis.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Bamboo-like stems, erect, clustered, smooth and ringed. 2-3 inches in diameter if grown outdoors. Smaller as a house plant.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Humidity
