Cycas thouarsii

Cycas thouarsii (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Full sun to light shade

Flowering period: NA

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 2.5m (10m in the tropics)

Eventual Spread: 2.5m

Hardiness: 9b, 10a, 10b, 11, 12

Family: Cycadaceae

Cycas thouarsii is an evergreen tropical palm like shrub. Its shiny dark green leaves are feather like in appearance, contain up to 70 leaflets, are arranged in a rosettes, up to 2m long and 40cm across. Its leaflets are opposite and up to 20cm long. Its trunk has an unkempt appearance, may achieve a diameter of up to 40cm and may produce offsets along its length. Its flowers are dioecious and both the male and female flowers appear at the centre of the leaf rosette. Its seed is initially yellow, becoming bright orange when mature.

Cycas thouarsii Leaf (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Cycas thouarsii, commonly known as Madagascar Cycad or Madagascar Sago, is native to south east Africa, including Madagascar. In its native habitat this plant grows in open coastal forests. All parts of this plant are poisonous, some pets will eat its seeds, sometimes with fatal consequences.

The etymological root of the binomial name Cycas is derived from the Greek koikas, a name given to a palm by Theophrastus. Thouarsii is named after Louis-Marie Aubert Petit-Thours (1758-1831), a French botanist.

The landscape architect may find Cycas thouarsii useful as a palm like specimen houseplant. It is also suitable for planting in atriums and conservatories. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This plant is tolerant of maritime conditions.

Cycas thouarsii Trunk (28/02/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Cycas thouarsii flowers are pollinated by some insects.

Cycas thouarsii prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining Cycas thouarsii as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 24ºc, although it will tolerate a temperature as low as freezing. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season.



Landscape Architecture

Pinanga coronata

Pinanga coronata (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Partial shade

Flowering period: All year round

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 15m

Eventual Spread: 5m

Hardiness: 10a, 10b, 11, 12, 13

Family: Arecaceae

Pinanga coronata is a tropical evergreen palm with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves are palmate with up to 60 leaflets, up to 1.5m long and 1.5m across. Its leaflets are linear/ lanceolate, up to 90cm long and 6cm across. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 10cm. Its flowers appear as pendulous clusters, emerging from the leaf scars on its stem. Its obovoid fruit are green when young, maturing to red/ brown, up to 15mm long and 10mm across.

Pinanga coronata Leaf (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Pinanga coronata, commonly known as Kuhl’s Palm, Pinang palm or Ivory Cane Palm, is native to Indonesia. In its native habitat it grows in mountain forests as an understory plant.

The etymological root of the binomial name Pinanga is derived from the Malay vanacular name for this plant. Coronata is derived from the Latin corono meaning ‘crown’.

The landscape architect may find Pinanga coronata useful as an attractive evergreen palm tree. It is also suitable for use as a houseplant, suitable for bright to medium indirect light conditions. It should be noted this palm requires high humidity.

Pinanga coronata Stem (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Ecologically, Pinanga coronata is of little value to UK wildlife.

Pinanga coronata prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining Pinanga coronata as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 28ºc, it will tolerate a temperature as low as 4ºc. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. Regular spraying with water will help achieve a higher humidity.



Landscape Architecture

Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’

Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’ (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Position: Indirect bright to medium light

Flowering period: N/A

Soil: Moist, well drained

Eventual Height: 3m

Eventual Spread: 3m

Hardiness: 9b, 10a, 10b, 11, 12, 13

Family: Arecaceae

Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’ is an evergreen multi stemmed Fan Palm with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves have narrow stripes, are arranged radially, palmately, composed of up to 13 segments and up to 80cm across. Its leaflets are lanceolate with finely serrulate margins, up to 40cm long and 7cm across. Its stems are covered in a persistent sheath of brown fibre which appears to be woven in a square mesh pattern.

Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’ Leaf (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

The species Rhapis excelsa, commonly known as Slender Lady Palm or Lady Palm, is native to south China. In its native habitat it grows as an understory plant in tropical woodland.

The etymological root of the binomial name Rhapis is derived from the Greek rhapis meaning ‘needle’. Excelsa is derived from the Latin excelsior meaning ‘ever upward’.

The landscape architect may find Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’ useful conservatory or atrium palm with attractive foliage.

Ecologically, Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’ is of little value to UK wildlife.

The Royal Horticultural Society have given the species Rhapis excelsa their prestigious Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’ Stem (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)

Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’  prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.

When maintaining  Rhapis excelsa ‘Chiyodazuru’ as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 20ºc to 30ºc. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. Red Spider Mites and Scale Insects may attack this plant.



Landscape Architecture