Arenga Species, Dwarf Sugar Palm, Formosa Palm, Taiwan Arenga Palm, Taiwan Sugar Palm

There's a nice big clump growing in the palm section of the City Park botanical garden, and one about a block from my alma mater Country ...Read MoreDay school in Metairie (at that lavishly-landscaped house with all the Medjools, Bismarckias and olive trees). I was not happy to learn today that this species is monocarpic, but I still hope to get one, mainly because I love silvery plants. This one only has silver undersides on its leaves, with dark green on top. This species holds its leaves up so stiffly that you actually see the undersides much more than you see the green tops, hence I consider it an honorary member of the elite Silver Plant Club.

The A. engleri is native to islands south of Japan, including Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. This palm can cause severe allergic reaction...Read Mores so best to consider wearing gloves when handling seed or fruit.

Very easy to propagate from seed. Seed bank can be viable up to two years. Propagation can also be achieved by division as well as by removing the suckers.

The plant is viable in sub tropical as well as temperate (reports it is hardy to Zone 7) climates which is most probably why it is popular for those attempting to achieve a "tropical" look in their landscape.

excelent looking palm, but no mater what you think about the fruit DO NOT eat them, they are kind of toxic!!!!

This is one of the best palms you can grow in San Francisco, they grow slowly but beautifully in cool coastal climates, although they wou...Read Moreld like the hotter sumers. They handle downn to 24 F, but occasionally down to 18, as one did in Seattle, but it rotted in the summer.