It is hard to believe that the areca palm (Dypsis lutescens) is considered an endangered species in its native Madagascar.1 If you drive down almost any street in a warm stateside climate, you are likely to see dozens of these tall, attractive, clumping palms that look a lot like bamboo. These palms have smooth, sometimes golden trunks that are reminiscent of bamboo clumps. Their fronds are narrow and full, almost like bamboo leaves. When grown outdoors, they are often used as a privacy screen. These palms are also grown indoors as houseplants. They are best planted in the spring, and they have a slow to moderate growth rate.
2:31
Click Play to Learn How to Easily Grow Areca Palm
Common Names Areca palm, bamboo palm, golden cane palm, yellow palm
Botanical Name Dypsis lutescens (formerly Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
Family Arecaceae
Plant Type Palm or cycad
Mature Size 12-30 feet tall outdoors with a crown spread of 10-20 feet; 8 feet tall indoors
Sun Exposure Full to partial sun
Soil Type Moist, well-drained
Soil pH Acidic, neutral
Bloom Time Summer
Flower Color Pale yellow
Hardiness Zones 10–11 (USDA)
Native Area Madagascar
Areca Palm Care
When grown outdoors, it is important to choose a planting site that has good drainage. Soggy soil can easily cause root rot on a palm.2 When grown indoors as a houseplant, a well-draining container is essential.
In terms of regular care, plan to water your areca palm whenever the soil starts to dry out. To keep outdoor palms healthy, its especially important to keep them hydrated during hot and dry weather conditions.
Indoor palms often don’t receive enough light unless they are placed near a very bright window. So, it can benefit your palm to bring it outdoors in warm weather to be exposed to diffused sunlight.
Feed indoor and outdoor palms throughout the growing season. These palms don’t need much in the way of pruning or trimming. Wait to remove any dying fronds until they are mostly brown, as they still can play a role in photosynthesis.
If you liked this information and you would such as to get even more info pertaining to areca plant kindly visit our web site.
