Ceroxylon echinulatum
Gorgeous fog-loving palm with pretty foliage when young, growing into graceful palm tree w smooth waxy trunk.
 Height | 30–50ft |
|---|---|
 Width | 10–15ft |
 Tolerates | Cool Summers, Fog, Moist Soil |
 Water needs | Moderate – High |
This palm appreciates consistent water, but won't tolerate soggy soil. Once it's established, be sure to water it when the top inch or two of the soil is dry. Usually this will mean watering deeply every five to seven days during the dry season. Planting this palm with good drainage will help to make sure it doesn't accidentally get overwatered. | |
 Hardy to | 26°F |
 Exposure | Full Shade – Part Shade |
 Plant traits | Palm, Tropical, Trunking |
 Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
 Drainage | In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix, Tolerates Sandy Soil |
 Fertilizing | Palm Fertilizer |
 Origin | Equator |
 California native | No |
 Sunset zones | 16, 17, 22–24 |
Growing Notes
Palms are generally heavy feeders, so if you want them growing quickly and looking their best, they should be fertilized at least three times a year. Fertilizing at spring equinox, summer solstice and fall equinox will allow for a winter rest. Be sure to feed your palm with a fertilizer that contains micronutrients, especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves. Generally we recommend NPK 3-1-3 + micronutrients, particularly magnesium.
This solitary palm will grow only one trunk during its lifetime. If you have a pot with multiple trunks in it, that's because multiple separate palm trees were germinated in the pot. The good news is that you won't need to thin out suckers over time to maintain the number of trunks you started out with.
Once it's mature, this palm will naturally shed its leaves, leaving the trunk below the palm's crown exposed. A great choice if you're looking for a palm with a clean trunk but don't want to deal with manually removing the leaves.
With leaves growing in a single plane along most of the rachis, the feather palm has an elegant look to it.
Special Interest
This palm's juicy lush look is an absolute must-have when creating a tropical garden in a temperate climate. Mix it with other broad-leafed flowering plants like cannas, hedychiums, philodendrons, or monsteras.
The above information reflects the observations of Grubb and Nadler and our extended plant community. We always consider input from fellow horticulturists and welcome feedback from those with additional information on the culture of this plant.
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