James Burghardt
Family
Arecaceae
Botanical Name
ARENGA engleri
Plant Common Name
Dwarf Sugar Palm, Formosa Palm
General Description
Valued for its large, lush, tropical leaves and its remarkable cold hardiness, this small clump-forming palm is native to moist forested slopes in Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. Its stems are monocarpic, each individual trunk dying after it flowers and fruits.
The enormous, feather-like, upright fronds are borne atop short slender trunks clothed with black hairy fibers. Each frond comprises numerous long narrow blade-shaped leaflets, paired along a midrib (or "rachis"). The stiff leaflets are rich green above and silver-green below, and their tips are often tattered. The fronds often tilt, revealing their silvery undersides. Older trunks may produce branching, pendent chains of fragrant yellow-orange flowers within their crowns. Inflorescences contain both male and female flowers, the latter giving rise to round purple fruits that resemble small grapes. The fruits contain caustic compounds that can cause skin damage. Trunks die after fruiting, but others grow to take their place.
Grow Formosa palm in partial shade in moist, humus-rich, slightly acidic soil. It will tolerate full sun if given adequate water and shelter from wind. It endures quite a few degrees of frost, surviving in protected niches in USDA Zone 8. Use it as a dense hedge or screen or as a lush backdrop for a tropicalesque mixed border. It is lovely clumped in a lawn, provided dead trunks and wayward shoots are removed. It also works well in a greenhouse or conservatory.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 7
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USDA Hardiness Zone
9 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Palm or Cycad
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
10'-15' / 3.0m - 4.6m
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Width
8'-15' / 2.4m - 4.6m
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Bloom Time
Indeterminate
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Native To
China, Japan
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Showy
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Flower Color
Yellow, Orange
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Fruit Color
Purple
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Gray Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Winter)
Green, Gray Green, Dark Green
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Fragrant Flowers
Yes
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Bold
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
Yes
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Hedges, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
Yes