Dictyosperma album - Hurricane Palm
Description
Dictyosperma album, commonly known as the Hurricane Palm or Princess Palm, is a striking tropical palm known for its resilience to strong winds and elegant, feather-like fronds. This palm is highly valued for its ornamental beauty, graceful form, and hardiness, making it a popular choice in both tropical and subtropical landscapes.
Flowers
The Hurricane Palm produces small, white to cream-colored flowers that grow in clusters on branched inflorescences among the leaves. These flowers are followed by small, round, red to black fruits, adding to the plant's ornamental interest.
Foliage
The leaves are pinnate and arching, with numerous narrow leaflets arranged along the length of the frond. Each frond can reach up to 2-3 meters in length. The leaflets are bright green, providing a lush and vibrant appearance. The foliage creates a dense, feathery canopy that is both elegant and functional for shade.
Fruit
The fruit is a small, round drupe that turns from green to red and finally black as it matures. While not typically consumed, the fruit adds seasonal interest to the plant.
Form and Size
The Hurricane Palm typically grows to a height of 6-12 meters with a spread of 2-3 meters. It has a slender, smooth trunk that is topped with a crown of arching fronds. The trunk is grey and often marked by ringed leaf scars, contributing to its impressive appearance. This palm is known for its ability to withstand high winds, which is why it is called the Hurricane Palm.
Growing Conditions
- Soil: Prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soils. It can tolerate a range of soil types, including slightly saline conditions.
- Sunlight: Thrives in full sun to partial shade. It requires plenty of sunlight to grow and develop its characteristic form.
- Water: Requires regular watering, especially during dry periods. It prefers consistently moist soil but can tolerate brief periods of drought once established.
- Climate: Suitable for tropical and subtropical climates. It prefers warm, humid conditions and is frost-sensitive.
Uses
- Landscaping: Ideal for use as a specimen tree, focal point, or in group plantings. It is suitable for large gardens, parks, and tropical-themed landscapes.
- Ornamental: The graceful fronds and slender trunk provide a dramatic and exotic look, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of any garden or landscape.
- Coastal Gardens: Tolerates salt spray, making it suitable for coastal landscapes.
Maintenance
- Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Remove any dead or damaged fronds to maintain appearance.
- Fertilizing: Benefits from regular applications of a balanced, slow-release fertilizer during the growing season.
- Pest and Disease: Generally pest-resistant but can be susceptible to scale insects and spider mites. Ensure good air circulation and avoid waterlogging to minimize disease risk.
Notes
The Hurricane Palm is a versatile and resilient palm that adds a distinctive tropical flair to any garden or landscape. Its ability to withstand high winds and its elegant form make it a favorite among palm enthusiasts and landscape designers.
Companion Plants
- Heliconia spp. (Heliconia)
- Alpinia zerumbet (Shell Ginger)
- Codiaeum variegatum (Croton)
- Strelitzia reginae (Bird of Paradise)
Common Name
Hurricane Palm, Princess Palm
Botanical Name
Dictyosperma album
Family
Arecaceae
Origin
Native to the Mascarene Islands, including Mauritius and Réunion
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Please note that all Plants on this site are a range of plants we grow through out the year.
Availability changes all through out the year. please check with us via our Sunshine Coast Garden Centre page for Pricing & Availability
Product Availability
Plants & Pots come and go all year around.
- Plants are seasonal and sometimes we run out but have more batches coming along.
- Some Plants are not always in-stock however we can either order it in. pending availability
- Available numbers change every hour of the day in store and where we grow so please check in with us on how many you are looking for
- we have access to thousands of plants. if you are looking for a specific plant please let us know and we will see if its coming into stock soon or if we can order it for you.
- we will sometimes keep plants on our website to show you the description of how it grows and its specific characteristics. they may not be in stock all the time however we will keep it up online so when it comes in we wont have to reload products
Where are our plants Grown and how do we grow them
- Plants are grown locally on the Sunshine Coast
- All outdoor plants are sun hardened and ready to grow
- Indoor plants are grown under 50% Shade and will transfer perfectly to indoor use
- Orchids are also grown under 50% Shade and are best brought indoors during flowering for show then returned back into a shaded area until the following flowering time
- we are Qualified horticulturists, greenkeeper as well as Qualified landscape Construction with over 35 years experience in the industry. We use Quality products and materials to grow all our plants.
How to Look after your plants like we do
- When using any Garden Care products or Fertilisers we always recommend reading the label before use
- We recommend using Earthlife crushed rock mineral on all plants when planting in the ground or in Pots.
- When planting in Pots in Our garden centre we use either Rocky Point Premium Potting mix or our own custom potting mixes blend to plant all our plants
- If planting in the ground we also recommend that you use good quality Bagged garden soil around your plants at the time of planting
