Parajubaea sunkha
palma de Zunkha
Beautiful, undemanding coconut-like palm tree grows to modest size. Moves gracefully in wind; tolerates cool summers & drought.
 Height | 12–20ft |
|---|---|
 Width | 6–10ft |
 Tolerates | Cool Summers, Wind |
 Water needs | Moderate |
This palm should be watered deeply every week or two once it's established. It doesn't want to ever dry out completely. | |
 Hardy to | 18°F |
 Exposure | Part Shade – Full Sun |
 Plant traits | Edible, Palm, Solitary, Tropical |
 Indoor / outdoor | Outdoor |
 Drainage | In Ground: Cactus Mix, In Pots: Cactus Mix |
 Origin | Bolivia |
 California native | No |
 Sunset zones | 8, 9, 14–24 |
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 including magnesium), especially if you see yellowing leaves or yellow spots on the leaves.
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.
Special Interest
With leaves growing in a single plane along most of the rachis, the feather palm has an elegant look to it.
This palm makes tiny delicious edible coconuts!
Links
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.
© 2020–2026 Grubb and Nadler. All rights reserved.