Butterfly Palm Dypsis lutescens
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
- Phonetic Spelling
- DIP-sis loo-TESS-enz
- Description
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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. They have multiple stems that arise from one base and large, arching, pinnately compound green fronds. Panicles of yellow flowers appear in the summer. One of several common names, "butterfly palm" refers to the leaves which curve upwards in multiple stems that look similar to a butterfly. It has been shown to reduce indoor air pollution and is one of the most popular indoor palms.
Grow in well-drained potting soil and keep moist but not soggy during the growing season.
Family name Arecaceae (Palmae)
Quick ID Hints:
- Yellow-green petioles and leaf rachis
- Petioles have maculate, fleshy base
Subtropical to 30, vase-shaped and tree-like.
Used as large floor specimen. Prefers medium light, moist soil and medium humidity; very cold-sensitive; overfertilization results in yellow leaves; pest problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dypsis
- Species:
- lutescens
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Madagascar
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
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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 Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 1/2 inch long yellow-orange fruits that mature to nearly black.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- 2 feet long panicles of yellow flowers in summer
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3-6 feet compound light green upward curving leaves with yellow midribs. Leaflets are lance-shaped, 0.5 to 0.75 inches long and there are 40-60 per side of rachis, linear to lanceolate; petioles yellow-green, waxy, base maculate. Evenly pinnately compound
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Bamboo like stems, erect, clustered, smooth and ringed.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
