A compact, bushy, suckering palm up to 2m high with one or more stems covered in leaf bases, spiny leafy stalks, stiff broad leaves divided into leaflets, bluish or greyish green above and silvery beneath, and flowers from spring to summer, the male flowers bright yellow and the female flowers yellow-green, followed by yellow to orange-brown fruit
1.5-2.5 metres
1-1.5 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow in a cool glasshouse or as a houseplant in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full bright indirect light - for more advice, see palm cultivation indoors; outside grow in well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade; will tolerate poor, dry soil - for more advice, see palm cultivation outdoors
Propagate by seed sown at 22°C or more in spring, or by division, by separating suckers from established plants in late spring
No pruning required
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, thrips and scale insects
May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)