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Areca vestiaria

Image of Areca vestiaria

Carol Cloud Bailey

Family

Arecaceae

Botanical Name

Areca vestiaria

Plant Common Name

Orange Crownshaft Palm

General Description

Prized for its bright hues, this small to medium-sized, typically multi-trunked palm is found in rain forests in eastern Indonesia.

The smooth trunks of this palm are greenish gray toward the base and olive-green toward the tip, with conspicuous pale, silvery, orange-tinged, bamboo-like bands. About a dozen enormous, rich green fronds arch from each trunk's apex, their clasping bases forming a "crownshaft" that in some selections is vibrant orange, yellow, or orange-red. The feather-shaped fronds have a central axis ("rachis") with two rows of slightly up-angled, lance-shaped leaflets. The rachis is sometimes also brightly colored, as are newly emerged leaves. In summer and sporadically at other seasons, fragrant yellowish white flowers appear in large, spreading clusters just below the crownshaft. The clusters contain both male and female flowers. The female flowers give rise to small, round, rust-orange to brilliant red fruits.

Grow this frost-tender palm in partial shade and moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic to neutral soil. In areas with mild summers it tolerates full sun. It fares poorly in parched, windy conditions. Place it near a walkway or window where its colors can be best appreciated. Single trunk plants make nice accents or small allees, while multi-stemmed clumps lend a lush tropical effect to a border or foundation planting. This palm also works well in large containers.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 9

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    10 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Palm or Cycad

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade

  • Height

    10'-20' / 3.0m - 6.1m

  • Width

    5'-15' / 1.5m - 4.6m

  • Bloom Time

    Summer, Indeterminate

  • Native To

    Southeastern Asia

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    Light Yellow, Ivory

  • Fruit Color

    Red, Orange, Gold

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Green, Dark Green

  • Bark Color

    Sandy Brown, Gray

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    No

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Bold

  • Foliage Sheen

    Glossy

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Bark Texture

    Smooth

  • Usage

    Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No