Ravenala madagascariensis

RHS Plant Profile
traveller's palm

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traveller's palm visionspictures.com
traveller's palm visionspictures.com
traveller's palm RHS

Other common names

traveller's tree

Conservatory Greenhouse Trees
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A palm-like, evergreen tree eventually reaching up to 10m tall with an unbranched trunk topped with a fan-shaped crown of dark green leaves arranged in a single plane. The leaves are long-stalked, 3-6m long and have expaned, cup-shaped leaf bases. White-petaled flowers appear in summer from groups of boat-shaped spathes that emerge at the leaf axils

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

8-12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
wider than 8 metres
Max Height
8-12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1A

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Strelitziaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Madagascar

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based compost, in a large container or greenhouse bed, in full light with shade from hot sun. During growth, water freely and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 18-21°C in spring or division of rooted suckers in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Architectural
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free