Other Names:  Coquito Palm, Honey Palm, syn. Jubaea spectabilis

Description:

This impressive variety is used as an ornamental plant in warm temperate regions; flowers and fruit on mature trees only (50 years); trim away dead foliage; will slowly mature into a stately palm with a thick trunk; an excellent landscape focal point

Ornamental Features

Chilean Wine Palm has attractive grayish green evergreen foliage on a tree with the bulk of the canopy held atop a towering trunk or stem. The large narrow pinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter. It has panicles of yellow flowers with purple overtones hanging below the branches in mid summer. However, the fruit can be messy in the landscape and may require occasional clean-up. The smooth gray bark is extremely showy and adds significant winter interest.

Landscape Attributes

Chilean Wine Palm is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a towering form, with a high canopy of foliage concentrated at the top of the plant. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This tree will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Chilean Wine Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Chilean Wine Palm will grow to be about 60 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a high canopy of foliage that sits well above the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. As it matures, the lower branches of this tree can be strategically removed to create a high enough canopy to support unobstructed human traffic underneath. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live to a ripe old age of 200 years or more; think of this as a heritage tree for future generations!

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America.