Back in stock! Triangle Palms (Dypsis decaryi)

Dypsis decaryi

Triangle Palm

Very unique palm with a triangular shape; leaves grow from 3 distinct points of the trunk creating the triangle look. Spectacular grey-green leaves grow almost upright from the trunk and arch at the top. Originates in Madagascar and grows up to 15 m tall (although rarely seen at this size in cultivation). Very fast growing and very low maintenance. Extremely hardy, drought tolerant & handles light frost. For best results, this palm needs its own space to fully develop the shape which makes it so unique and special. Prefers full sun, but can be grown in semi-shade. Grows best with regular watering. Great container palm, will grow a nice thick trunk with minimal height in a pot.

Propagate from seed, usually germinates within a month.

VIEW OR BUY TRIANGLE PALMS (DYPSIS DECARYI) BY CLICKING HERE

New! Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm)

The King of Palms!

About the Canary Island Date Palm

This palm, surprisingly, originates in the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago just off the North West Coast of Africa. The Canary Island Date Palm is large & imposing, up to 20m tall. It provides a true feature in the garden with its huge, solid trunk, and long, arching feather leaves. Trunks are marked with old leaf scars. This palm bears yellow flowers, following by orange to dark red fruit with 1 large seed.

Phoenix canariensis would be great planted along streets or driveways, as a feature palm in the middle of a lawn, or even as a container palm while small. Although the fruit is edible, like other Date Palms, the size of the fruit is very small, making it hardly worth it.

Growing the Canary Island Date Palm

This palm is very hardy and is quite fast growing, especially once it starts forming a trunk. It gets large and will need to be given plenty of room. Petioles have spines on them, so keep these plants away from walkways. Choose a position in full sun, in well draining soil. The Canary Island Date Palm is frost tolerant to around -10 and also very drought tolerant. Fertilise with a slow release fertiliser in spring and summer. Mulch well, but keep mulch away from the trunk.

New! Wine Palm / Jelly Palm / Pindo Palm (Butia capitata)

Butia capitata – the hardiest feather palm in the world!

Butia capitata is commonly called Wine Palm, Pindo Palm or Jelly Palm. It is a beautiful, hardy feather palm from Brazil. Leaves are light green to bluish gray, and the palms are highly variable, every palm is different. It is a very manageable palm, growing slowly to 4-6m tall. They are also suitable as a very graceful indoor plant, in a bright spot. The Jelly Palm is not only very beautiful, it is useful too. One of the hardiest edible palms in the world; Jelly Palms bear delicious, edible fruits, which are sometimes called Pindo Dates.

Butia capitata palms are very cold hardy, making them suitable for gardens around Australia. These frost hardy palms can handle temperatures down to around -10! It is best grown in full sun to part shade, in a sandy, well draining soil. This palm tends to have longer, more graceful foliage in shady spots, but palms grown in full sun tend to be more compact.

The Jelly Palm is very adaptable and drought tolerant. A very good palm for South East Queensland where water restrictions are imminent and frosts common!

Butia capitata palms can be grown fairly close to the coast as well, but may need some protection from salt spray & winds by means of a fence / hedge or similar. Jelly Palms are fairly slow growing, but growth can be sped up by fertilising regularly, and providing adequate water.

Regular watering will improve the yield, just in case the 25kg or so of fruit isn’t enough to keep you satisfied. Fruits are very versatile, and can be eaten straight of the tree when ripe, or made into jelly or jam, or used in pies and cakes. The fruits tends to be fairly stringy (fibrous flesh), which is why it is usually made into a jelly. This is a shame as it would be a fruit which could rival your apples, pears & bananas! Fruits are orangey yellow, and vary in size from cherry to much bigger. Butia capitata fruit is delicious, very tropical, and is described as very strong, apple, pineapple, vanilla and apricot. All mixed into 1 fruit. Seeds contain almost 50% of edible oil, which is used to create margarine.

Butia capitata is sometimes crossed with the Queen Palm or Cocos Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) to produce the Mule Palm. The Mule Palm is very beautiful, but unfortunately sterile.

Cactus Island Nursery now has Butia capitata for sale, as always we offer discount for quantity as well. Contact us for mail order plants, or visit our online nursery