Hyophorbe verschaffeltii 'Spindle Palm'

Product Details:

Ships bare rooted. 16-18 inches in height.

Hyophorbe verschaffeltii Spindle Palm- A great novelty for any landscape. Growing to about 20 feet tall, this palm slowly forms a gray trunk which becomes swollen in its center and narrows at both ends to form a "spindle" shape. It has a bright green, waxy crownshaft which is also swollen at the base creating a very interesting profile. The crown consists of 6 to 10 pinnate leaves which arch outward forming a V shape. The leaves are 9 to 10 feet long and have 100 to 150 leaflets that are bright green above and gray below.

Palms are not typical trees. Instead of branching out, they grow huge leaves from a giant bud at their apex. The palm grows taller as this bud keeps producing new leaves and the lowest leaves die and fall. Next to the grasses, the palm family is most important in its usefulness to man. In some tropical countries the entire economy is based on palms, with the trees supplying food, shelter, and clothing. Worldwide, palms are an important source of food, vegetable oil, and sugar. They also provide timber, fiber, rattan cane, carnauba wax, and button ivory. We use them for everything from fuel and shampoo to the coconut seasoning of cakes and curries. Palms are planted as ornamentals for indoor and outdoor use to provide a tropical atmosphere.