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Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens is an evergreen, perennial, clumping, multi-stemmed palm with upright stems arising in clusters from the base, forming a shrub-like or small-tree form.

LightBright indirect light to partial sun is suitable; outdoors it tolerates full sun but prefers partial shade, and excessive exposure may dry the leaves.
WaterDuring the growing period, keep the growing medium moist without waterlogging and use a well-drained medium; reduce watering in winter.
HumidityChrysalidocarpus lutescens prefers high humidity.
TemperatureA USDA hardiness classification is reported for this species.
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Areca Palm illustration

Overview

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens is an evergreen, perennial, clumping, multi-stemmed palm with upright stems arising in clusters from the base, forming a shrub-like or small-tree form.

Origin and habitat

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens is native to Madagascar. In its native range, it is reported mainly from swamps near white sand dunes on Madagascar's east coast and can also occur on alluvial land at higher elevations. It is a tropical plant that can be grown outdoors in tropical and subtropical regions and is usually grown indoors as a foliage plant in temperate regions.

Characteristics

Sources differ on mature size, giving a height of about 400–910 cm and a spread of about 250–460 cm. Sources describe the leaves differently, but they are arching pinnate compound leaves with lance-shaped to linear leaflets; the rachis or midrib may be yellow-green, and the foliage may range from dark green toward yellow-green. The small yellow flowers are borne in branched panicles, with separate male and female flowers, and flowering occurs in summer. The smooth fruits are ovoid to obovoid, initially yellow-orange to orange-yellow and becoming purple-black to black when mature or dry.

Light

Bright indirect light to partial sun is suitable; outdoors it tolerates full sun but prefers partial shade, and excessive exposure may dry the leaves.

Watering

During the growing period, keep the growing medium moist without waterlogging and use a well-drained medium; reduce watering in winter.

Humidity and airflow

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens prefers high humidity.

Temperature and dormancy

A USDA hardiness classification is reported for this species.

Growing medium and mounting

Use well-drained soil that remains moderately moist; a loam-based potting medium is suitable, with acidic to neutral conditions and a preference for slightly acidic conditions also reported.

Feeding

During the growing season, a balanced liquid fertilizer is generally applied.

Propagation

It can be propagated from seed, with seed from mature fruit sown as soon as possible; germination takes a period of months. Sources also report propagation by separating basal divisions with some roots, and recommend warm conditions for sowing.

Common problems

Possible pests include scale insects, whiteflies, spider mites, mealybugs, and thrips. Serious diseases are generally uncommon, although outdoor plants may develop a palm phytoplasma disease spread by planthoppers that causes severe yellowing. Excessive or intense sun exposure may dry the leaves, and sheltered positions are preferred. Indoor plants usually flower or fruit only rarely.

Identification

Key identifying features include multiple bamboo-like stems clustered at the base with conspicuous rings, often yellow-green upper stems, petioles, and rachises, together with upward-arching pinnate leaves.

Photos

Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
📷 Forest and Kim Starr · CC BY 3.0 us · source
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
📷 Dinesh Valke, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA · source
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens
📷 Dinesh Valke, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · CC BY-SA · source

Sources