Other Names:  Chrysalidocarpus

Description:

A magnificent, large palm with a robust, solitary trunk and a long crownshaft; red new leaves quickly turn green; huge, ascending leaves are strongly recurved at the tips; small yellow-orange fruits appear in fall

Ornamental Features

Dark Mealybug Madagascar Red Leaf Palm has attractive lime green evergreen foliage which emerges brick red in spring on a tree with the bulk of the canopy held atop a towering trunk or stem. The large glossy narrow pinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain lime green throughout the winter. It produces yellow berries with orange overtones in early fall, which fade to black over time.

Landscape Attributes

Dark Mealybug Madagascar Red Leaf Palm is a multi-stemmed evergreen tree with a towering form, with a high canopy of foliage concentrated at the top of the plant. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Dark Mealybug Madagascar Red Leaf Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Dark Mealybug Madagascar Red Leaf Palm will grow to be about 20 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This tree does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant does not require much in the way of fertilizing once established. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Dark Mealybug Madagascar Red Leaf Palm is a fine choice for the yard, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its height, it is often used as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.