Prestoea Species, Red Crownshaft Palm, Sierran Palm, Sweet Palmito

I haven't cultivated this palm, but I've seen it in its natural habitat, in Puerto Rico's rain forest, where it is literally abudant. Giv...Read Moreen the microclimate in this particular rain forest and Puerto Rico's geography in general, this palm appears thriving in some elevation, with very high rainfall and humidity (showers occur almost daily in that place), but not particularly high temperatures and definitely lower than those of coastal areas. In Puerto Rico prestoeas are somewhat small (and thin-trunked) trees, rarely reaching more than 30 ft and usually less, but this may have to do also with the rain forest's soil, which is often rocky, over-populated by plants and washed constantly by heavy rainfall. Microclimate and geography dictate also sunlight conditions, as mountainous landscape and wet weather produce significant shade (not to mention the canopy under which prestoeas often grow). Logically, this palm seems to love water and grows happily along streams and definitely enjoys high humidity, the most characteristic feature of rain forest's climate. I've never seen it growing in coastal or plain areas, being a typical inland species, but appears to be a good survivor under harsh storms, since hurricanes hit often (and in full force) Puerto Rico's central mountainous area, where the rain forest is situated. It is a very elegant, graceful, tropical-looking palm and I envy those who have the climate to grow it in their garden!

THis is a solitary to mostly often clustering species from all over Central America and into northern South America and Puerto Rico. It ...Read Morehas a nice, bulging crownshaft of reddish green to purple and a markedly ringed trunk. This variety has not been grown much in southern California and seems a bit touchier than P acuminata var montana, which is a very good grower here in zones 9b. Some varieties have a lot of color in the new growth (spikes) as well as the crownshaft. Related to Euterpe palms, and often also used as food sources (palm heart).