CHARACTERISTICS:
Typical Height: 6' -12' in the landscape.
Growth Rate: Moderate, sometimes fast in good conditions when juvenile.
Origin: Mexico and northern Central America.
Salt Tolerance: Low.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate to High once established.
Soil Requirements: Widely adaptable. Addition of some organic material (compost, peat moss, etc.) will improve foliage quality and keep it greener and fuller. If this palm
Light Requirements: Low, Moderate, or High. Some shade is preferable, although the Bamboo Palm will adapt to full sun. Makes an excellent Indoor specimen.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate. Will stay full and lush if provided with sufficient nutrients and water. When used indoors, frequent fertilizing will maintain a healthy appearance.
Uses: Shrub, Specimen Plant, Interiorscape, Landscape, Screen.
Propagation: Seed - germinates in 4 to 6 months. Will sometimes volunteer itself in unexpected places!
Human Hazards: Irritant. The blossom may irritate some people's skin if touched.
Major Pest Problems: Mealybug can be a problem, especially when used indoors. Spider Mite damage has been observed when used in a dry location, Scale can also do some damage. Most often when used in the landscape no problems of significance occur.
Major Disease or Physiological Problems: None.
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
Habit: Dense Clustering. Each stem with 6 - 9 leaves.
Trunk Characteristics: Upright, Slender. Dark Green. Widely spaced ring scars. Bamboo like stems.
Leaf Type: Pinnately compound, reduplicate, 2-3 dozen leaflets crowded on the stem.
Foliage Color: Dull, medium green. Can be deep green if heavily fertilized.
Leaf Size: About 2 feet long. Leaflets are 8"-12" long, approximately 1/2" wide.
Crownshaft: None.
Inflorescence: Short, held upright below the leaves.
Gender: Seperate Male and Female plants.
Fruit Size: 1/4" diameter.
Fruit Color: Black to Purple.
Irritant: Yes.
COMMENTS:
Very sweet, fragrant smell when flowering. Makes a wonderful landscape palm, or an excellent indoor specimen. When used in the landscape, the Bamboo Palm is very versatile. It can be happy growing in the full sun, or in the full shade. The stalks will be stronger in the sun than in the shade, and often the foliage will be thicker when in the sun. This is a clumping palm, and it also spreads freely by seed, often popping up in unexpected places. Can be nice when used in corners and near water gardens.
OUR RATING:
SIZES AVAILABLE:
- 3 gallon (10" pot size), 4' - 5' o.a. (over-all), multiple (plant per pot).
- 7 gallon (14"), 5' - 7' o.a., multiple ppp.
- 15 gallon (18"), 8' - 10' o.a., multiple ppp.
