Plumose Dypsis

Newly described species 2008 (approximately) by Dransfield, from flowering plants on Hawaii collected originally as Dypsis ambositrae fro...Read Morem Madagascar about 10-15 years earlier and disseminated throughout the palm world under the incorrect nomenclature (see below early discussion).

Solitary, thin-trunked palm with a pale tan crownshaft that sometimes has a texture of a dead leaf (perhaps the color of a dead leaf is a strong influence). Not a spectacular palm by any standards, but fairly fast growing and relatively cold hardy and easy to grow in many climates throughout the warmer areas of southern California.

Relatively new to cultivation (1990s), this is a pretty cold tolerant palm by So Cal standards, and can handle a lot more sun than at first suspected. As a seedling it is unique in having nearly chocolate colored leaves and stem. As it grows older the leaf color becomes more normal, a dark green, but the step develops a nice white tomentum. It is a Madagascar native as nearly all the Dypsis are. The true identity of the palms being sold as D. ambositrae is still questionable, since they are growing up to be a different than the original plant described back in 1995 by Dransfield. The palms most everyone has in their yards throughout the world are from Australian palms that have been grown and reproduced, originally from Madagascan seed. It is now certain these palms are NOT the 'true' Dypsis ambostraes, but a similar palm yet to be accurately classified. UNtil that happens, it is easiest to refer them as Australian D ambositraes. The crownshafts of these palms are non-ornamental and dull brown, and have a dry feel to them. THe 'true' D ambositraes, which do exist in cultivation, but are still somewhat rare, have striking white crowns hafts, new reddish petioles and bright green, ringed trunks, and are sometimes suckering palms.

Either way, its a great new palm for So Cal and easy to fit in to just about any landscape situation.