Our protagonist of today, whose scientific name is ravenala madagascariensisis known by its popular name: Travelers’ Palm. Although this is a name that can create some confusion, because in reality it does not belong to the same family as palm trees (Arecaceae), but to the Strelitziaceae family, whose close relatives are the beautiful birds of paradise whose scientific name is Queen Strelitzia.
It is endemic to Madagascar, but can also be found on other tropical islands, such as Mauritius and Reunion Island, in addition to numerous warm gardens worldwide.
Features ravenala madagascariensis
Image – Flickr / Dinesh Valke
La Palma de los Viajeros grows to an approximate height of 10 meters. It is a herbaceous plant, with a certain kinship to banana trees. Its growth rate is fast if the weather is right. The pollinators of this curious plant are black lemurs, a rather small species of primate that lives in the rainforests of Madagascar. Only they have the necessary strength to separate the rigid petals of the flowers of this plant, and thus be able to reach the pollen which is inside each one. Once the seeds mature, they are covered in a thin layer of blue ‘fluff’.
It develops a false trunk or pseudostem with a height of up to 10 meters, with leaves that have long green petioles. These are opposite, that is, there are two that spring from the same point but in the opposite direction to the other. In addition, it must also be said that, although they are leathery and apparently resistant, the truth is that the wind can break them. For this reason, it is quite common to see specimens of this species with their leaves more or less broken if they are in exposed areas.
What are the care that must be provided?
If you dare to grow a travelers palm or ravenala madagascariensiswe recommend that you provide the following care:
Location
It is a plant that has a thin trunk (about 30-35 centimeters), and that really does not need much space to grow. Still and still we recommend planting it at a distance of about 4 meters from walls and walls so that its foliage can grow well without rubbing against anything that could spoil it.
Also, if the wind blows regularly and / or strongly in your area, it is interesting to plant tall plants near it (about 3-4 meters) to protect it. And in any case, it must be in an area where the sun shines directly.
Otherwise, it can be kept in a pot as long as it is large (minimum 60 centimeters in diameter) and above all deep, with holes in its base.
Irrigation
The ravenala madagascariensis it is a plant that wants a lot of water, especially during the summer or the dry season. Because, It is advisable to water it 3 or 4 times in the middle of the summer season, and a little less the rest of the year.
If you have it in the garden, you can stop watering from the second year if an average of 1200mm of precipitation falls per year, and if these rains are registered regularly throughout all the months.
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From early spring to late summer It must be fertilized with organic fertilizers, such as guano or mulch. If you prefer, you can use fertilizers, such as the one for green plants (for sale here!), following the indications specified on the package.
Reproduction
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Lionel Allorge
It multiplies by seeds in spring or summer. Like all plants of the same family, they need heat to germinate, therefore sowing is recommended in summer if the climate is rather temperate, or in spring if the climate is tropical.
To increase the germination rate, the seeds will be cleaned well, and they will be transferred to a glass of water for 24 hours, to later sow them in a seedbed with a substrate that has perlite to facilitate the drainage of the water. The seedbed should be located in full sun.
Planting or transplanting time
In springwhen the minimum temperature is higher than 15ºC.
If you grow it in a pot, plant it in a larger one if you see roots coming out of the drainage holes, or if you see that it is fully occupied.
Rusticity
It does not resist cold or frost. The minimum temperature it supports is 10ºC. If you live in an area where it falls more, you will have to protect it at home or in a heated greenhouse.
What uses does the ravenala madagascariensis?
Image – Wikimedia Commons / Legend
This spectacular plant It will look beautiful as an isolated specimen or in groups in warm gardens, as unfortunately it is very sensitive to cold and even more so to frost, which it would not be able to resist.
Giving it heat, humidity and in the growth period compost, in a very short time you will have a beautiful Travelers’ Palm.
