Scientific Name:
Dypsis lutescens
Pronunciation:
DIP-sis loo-TESS-enz
Common Name:
Areca palm
Family Name:
Arecaceae
Plant Type:
Indoor foliage plant
Key ID Features:
Multi-trunked palm tree with cane-like clustered yellow stems up to 2.5m tall grown indoors; leaves strongly ascending, pinnately compound, large (up to 2.5m long in nature) with 30-60 leaflets 20-70cm long x 1-3cm wide on each side of a yellowish green rachis.
Habit:
Arching, Upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Medium
Mature Height:
2 - 3m
Mature Spread:
1.5 - 2.0m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Africa (Madagascar)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 10: (-1 to 4 °C)
Exposure:
Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Indoor plant
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Compound
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Lustrous
Compound Leaf:
Odd-pinnate
Colour in Fall:
Green
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Sheathing
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Panicle
Flower Morphology:
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Green-yellow
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar, Apr
Fruit Type:
Fruit Colour:
Orange, Yellow, Purple, Red, Dark-red, Black (Green-yellow then orange-red before maturing purple-black)
Fruiting Time:
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant
Bark Morphology:
Smooth
Bark or Stem Colour:
Green, Tan
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Optimal Temp.:
Medium
Light Level:
High
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Mites, Root rot, Scale insects
