CHARACTERISTICS:
Typical Height: 20'-25' or more when mature. Can reach 40 feet or more over many years.
Growth Rate: Moderate. During good conditions, can take on a fast growth habit. Slows down in maturity.
Origin: Australia
Salt Tolerance: Low to Medium. Medium to High salt spray tolerance.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate to high, once established. Keep fairly moist during juvenile or transplanting periods.
Soil Requirements: Widely adaptable. Addition of some organic material (compost, peat moss, etc.) will improve foliage quality.
Light Requirements: Moderate - High. Some shade is preferable, although Alexander will tolerate full sun. Can be adapted to indoor conditions. Medium growth habit does not cause stretching indoors as with some faster growing palm species.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate. Some yellowing can occur in our limestone soils. Addition of organic materials, and occasional fertilizer applications should prevent yellowing. Magnesium (Mg) and Iron (Fe) will be deficient at times in limestone soil. In severe deficiency conditions, the size of the crown will decrease, often before the foliage shows signs of deficiency.
Uses: Specimen palm, poolside, planters, patios, large containers, interiorscape, background height, vertical lines.
Propagation: Seed - germinates in 2-3 months.
Human Hazards: None.
Major Pest Problems: Scale can be a problem in the landscape. Spider Mite can occur when used indoors - to avoid this raise humidity levels around the affected plants.
Major Disease Problems: None in the Bahamas.
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
Habit: Solitary, canopy of 10-12 leaves.
Trunk Characteristics: Slender, gray, ridged leaf scars, swollen at the base.
Leaf Type: Pinnately compound, bluntly jagged at the tip.
Foliage Color: Green. Generally lighter when grown in the sun, darker in the shade.
Leaf Size: 6-8 feet long. Leaflets are 2.5 feet long, approximately 3" to 3.5" wide.
Crownshaft: Smooth and waxy.
Inflorescence: Creamy Yellow, multi-branched, approximately 2 - 3 feet long, hanging below the crownshaft.
Gender: Male and Female are seperate, but borne on the same inflorescence.
Fruit Size: 3/4" long, 1/2 - 3/4" in diameter.
Fruit Color: Bright Red.
Irritant: No.
COMMENTS:
The Alexander Palm has been one of the more popular palms for landscape use in Nassau, and around the islands. It lends itself to a neat, formal look, and suits a small residential yard as well as it does a larger setting. It is great when used in group plantings or as a solitary palm, although the slender habit lends itself to groupings.
OUR RATING:
SIZES AVAILABLE:
- 3 gallon (10" pot size), 3'-4' o.a. (over-all), 1,2,3 (ppp).
- 7 gallon (14"), 4'-6' o.a., 1,2,3 ppp.
- 15 gallon (18"), 6'-8' o.a., 1,2,3 ppp.
- 25 gallon (24"), 8'-10'+ o.a., 1,2,3 ppp.
