Dioon edule

RHS Plant Profile
chestnut dioon

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chestnut dioon Dorling Kindersley 2003

Other common names

virgin's palm

Palms
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An evergreen, palm-like plant with a short, stout stem and erect or arching, pinnate leaves to 1.5m in length; rarely flowers

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
20–50 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

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

Position

Full sun
Aspect
East–facing or South–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)
H1B

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Zamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Tufted
Genus
Dioon are dioecious, evergreen, palm-like perennials with stout stems bearing a terminal rosette of large, leathery leaves pinnately divided into many narrow leaflets, and large woolly female flowering cones or smaller, cylindrical male cones
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass in indoors in a mix of equal parts fibrous loam, coarse bark and garden compost. Site in full sun with shade from hot sun. Water freely when in growth applying a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Water sparingly in winter

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown at 24 to 32°C in spring in a very sandy potting compost

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to scale insects under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free