CHARACTERISTICS:
Typical Height: 10 - 20ft.
Growth Rate: Slow.
Origin: Mascarenes.
Salt Tolerance: Medium to High.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate.
Soil Requirements: Widely adaptable. Addition of some organic material (compost, peat moss, etc.) will improve foliage quality, especially the older foliage, which tends to drop off more quickly if planted in poor conditions.
Light Requirements: Moderate - High. Some shade is preferable when young, although the Bottle Palm will tolerate full sun.
Nutritional Requirements: Moderate. Some yellowing can occur in our limestone soils. Addition of organic materials, and occasional fertilizer applications should prevent yellowing.
Uses: Specimen palm, poolside, planters, patios, large containers.
Propagation: Seed - germinates in 3-6 months.
Human Hazards: None.
Major Pest Problems: None
Major Problems: Potassium deficiency.
IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS:
Habit: Solitary. Canopy of 5 - 9 leaves, or more if in very good soil conditions.
Trunk Characteristics: Thicker at the base, becoming more slender towards the crown. Grey. Ring scars are spaced about an inch and a half apart.
Leaf Type: Pinnately compound, often arching.
Foliage Color: Deep green, sometimes with a hint of orange.
Leaf Size: 4 to 6 feet long. Leaflets are 18"- 36" long, approximately 1 1/2" wide.
Crownshaft:
Inflorescence:
Gender:
Fruit Size:
Fruit Color:
Irritant: No.
COMMENTS:
The Bottle Palm makes a wonderful specimen, and it does particularly well near the sea. Typically this is an under used and under appreciated palm, although it is gaining more acceptance. The Bottle Palm is a very versatile, hardy palm, that can perform well even when under stress. Once mature, the trunk begins to take on the shape of a bottle, being fatter at the base, and curving into a more slender shape at the top of the trunk near to the crown. The branches of this palm are very strong and wind tolerant.
OUR RATING:
SIZES AVAILABLE:
- 3 gallon (10" pot size), 3'-5' o.a. (over-all), single (plant per pot).
- 7 gallon (14"), 4' - 7' o.a., single ppp.
- 15 gallon (18"), 7' - 9' o.a., single ppp.
- 25 gallon (21"), 10' + o.a., single ppp.
