Cyphophoenix elegans, a most elegant tropical palm

You like the palms And do you dream of having a garden with a wide variety of species? If so, I recommend that you look on the Internet, in online stores. The truth is that, at least so far, it is very difficult to find more than four or five varieties in nurseries; instead, browsing you can end up acquiring a beauty such as the Cyphophoenix elegans.

This palm tree, endemic to New Caledonia, it is a perfect plant for small and large gardens. Planted in a corner where it can be protected from direct sun, especially when young, it will turn that place into a wonderful area.

What is the Cyphophoenix elegans like?

Our protagonist is a palm tree that grows to a height of 15 meters

with a trunk thickness of 10 centimeters. Its crown is formed by a total of 7 to 10 leaves of about 2m in length, pinnate, and very slightly arched. The stipe, that is, what joins the leaves with the trunk, measures 50 to 90 cm, is olive green and is covered by a grayish tomentum (like hairs).

The flowers are grouped in inflorescences 60-70cm long. Each flower measures 3 to 6cm, and they are green. The fruit is ovoid in shape, 19 x 14mm in size and red when ripe. Inside we find a single seed of 1.7 x 7mm, ellipsoid.

What care do you need?

If you buy a copy, we recommend that you provide it with these care:

• Location: outside, in semi-shade. It can be indoors, as long as it is located in a very bright room.
• Soil or substrate: it must be rich in organic matter and have good drainage.
• Irrigation: three times a week in summer, and every 3-4 days the rest of the year.
• Subscriber: from spring to the end of summer, it must be paid with a fertilizer for palm trees, following the indications specified on the package.
• Planting or transplanting time: in spring.
• Multiplication: by seeds in spring. Direct sowing in seedbed. They will germinate after two months.
• Rusticity: it is said that it can withstand weak and specific frosts of up to -3ºC, but it lives better in those hot climates. From experience I can say that temperatures below 0º affect it a lot.

Have you heard of this palm tree?