Other Names:  Henry Palm

Description:

A small solitary palm that is spineless, with a trunk marked with leaf scars; large, arching leaves are shiny green above and silvery gray underneath, with pronounces ridges that split easily in wind; challenging to grow, but it is highly ornamental

Ornamental Features

Pelagodoxa Palm is primarily valued in the landscape for its canopy of attractive foliage which towers high above the ground. It has attractive green foliage with grayish green undersides and tinges of silver. The large textured fan-shaped palmate leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. The mottled gray bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Pelagodoxa 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 average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance tree that will require regular care and upkeep, and usually looks its best without pruning, although it will tolerate pruning. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Pelagodoxa Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Pelagodoxa Palm will grow to be about 30 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 feet. It has a high canopy of foliage that sits well above the ground, and is suitable for planting under 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 for 40 years or more.

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. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is quite intolerant of urban pollution, therefore inner city or urban streetside plantings are best avoided, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. This species is native to parts of North America.

Pelagodoxa Palm is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.