Yellow Palm Dypsis lutescens
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
- Phonetic Spelling
- DIP-sis loo-TESS-enz
- Description
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Bamboo palm is a tropical perennial native to Madagascar in the Arecaceae (Palmae) family. It can grow to 30 feet tall and 15 feet wide in its native habitat. It has been shown to reduce indoor air pollution and is one of the most popular indoor palms. Specific epithet means turning yellow in reference to the yellow flowers, stems and leaf 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. They have multiple stems that arise from one base and large, arching, pinnately compound green fronds. Panicles of yellow flowers appear in the summer and are followed by yellow-orange fruits. One of several common names, "butterfly palm" refers to the leaves which curve upwards in multiple stems that look similar to a butterfly. Bamboo palm refers to the stems.
Grow in well-drained potting soil and keep moist but not soggy during the growing season. Increase humidity by misting or a humidifier and provide bright indirect light. Repot every 2-3 years. They will rarely bloom or produce fruit as a house plant. Outdoors in zones 10-11, the plant tolerates full sun but prefers partial shade and moist but well-drained soils.
Quick ID Hints:
- Yellow-green petioles and leaf rachis
- Petioles have maculate, fleshy base
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is susceptible to scale, whiteflies and spider mites. Plants grown outdoors may be subject to phytoplasma disease of palms, which is spread by planthoppers and can cause severe yellowing
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dypsis
- Species:
- lutescens
- Family:
- Arecaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Madagascar
- 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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 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 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 from yellow to dark purple or black as it matures.
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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.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- 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 orange to light green rachis.
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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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Screen/Privacy
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity