Cyphophoenix elegans

This rare palm is endemic to New Caledonia and grows only in the North East of the main island (Grande Terre). It is a rain forest palm which gets a lot of water and will take substantial shade. In its native habitat it grows to up to 10 meters. It has a beautiful trunk is ringed by leaf scars and the Crown holds 7 to 10 leaves each of which are about 2 m. long and gracefully arched towards the tip. The crownshaft which is stunning, is 50 to 90 cm. long with olive green color covered with a greyish tomentum.

It is a surprisingly hardy palm in southern California and should do well along the coasts and certainly Florida as well. It is nearly impossible to find palms larger than one gallon, but even that size is already very hardy, not only to most cold, but also sun. Full, hot, blazing, summer, inland sun is pretty easy on one of these seedlings. But still, they seem to prefer some shade inland. This is one of the few 'tropical' palms that doesn't even brown tip, as long as given plenty of water. It appears to be wind resistant, as well. Hardiness: USDA zones, 9B-11. We sell these rare palms in 1 gallon pots and ship them bare root packed in moss.