Dypsis "fine leaf"

[PalmatierMeg]

Last fall I bought a Dypsis "fine leaf" at the D'Asign Source sale and kept it potted thru winter. We will be doing a planting binge this weekend. I haven't been able to pin down specific info about this palm, such as

How tall does it get?

Is it understory, emergent or in-between?

Does it require rich soil with lots of compost?

Will it take sun or require deep shade?

I appreciate any input. I want to give this palm the happiest home I can.

Thanks to all

[cfkingfish]

Meg-

It is a very versatile plant. I have seen pictures of it clumping, but most likely it will stay solitary. It is fairly cold hardy, as I know Jack Sayers mentioned it took mid-20s in inland SoCal (Lake Elsinore I think). I have one planted from a 1 gallon in 2006, but here is the largest one I have ever seen in cultivation. They will take full sun at an early age, fairly drought tolerant, and cold tolerant as mentioned. Honestly I don't see why it wouldn't be used more in a landscape.

[Phil]

Meg,

I agree with the above. It likes sun in So Cal and is a pretty good grower. When you see them young, you'll think they are pencil thin. But, in the ground, this species picks up trunk diameter. Below are a couple shots of a 15g a customer got from us about 3 years ago.

Phil

[freakypalmguy]

I have about 6 of them at my home. They can take whatever sun you can throw at them. They seam to be a fairly fast growers. Almost all my plants burned almost 100? in a low this winter of 27F with many mornings of light frost and numerous temps at or below freezing. I think it is the frost and not the temp that burned them as last year I did not have as much frost and they came through basically unscathed. That being said, they are all pushing new spears and a few have allready opened. I did not mark the spears, but they appeared to grow right through winter. I think they will get more hardy as they get larger.

Matt

[MattyB]

These are great palms for close groupings. The fine, irregular leaves mesh well together and the trunks end up looking like a robust bamboo.

[Dan OKeeffe]

Is this the same palm as the Fakey Dypsis Ambositrae?

[joe_OC]

Is this the same palm as the Fakey Dypsis Ambositrae?

Yes, it is.

[Dan OKeeffe]

Thanks

[Walter John]

Meg-

It is a very versatile plant.

That's what I think too Meg. I've seen these in full sun and shade, quite a robust small palm. Not in the great looker class, average wardrobe and doesn't like to be on it's lonesome, likes to be in with the group, to be one of the guys, suggest you saddle some companion plants nearby. Hangs around small bars and minor league baseball clubs,

Here's mine.

[amazon exotics]

Meg, Your sandy soil should be fine. I found they don't like wet, dark organic soil, They seem to like it dry or well draining soil. Full sun is fine.

[DoomsDave]

Meg:

Do like I did and plant more than one.

Plant ten.

They're a bit skinny, but they're divine in groupings, about 1.5 - 3. feet apart.

Full sun, or part shade, don't know how they do in Florida, but you're about to find out . . ...

[oliver]

I have several in the ground and in pots in various locations. They seem to be very hardy and reasonably fast growing. I would suggest that you keep them out of high winds though. BTW Phil - what is that cycad to the right of the D. fine leaf in your customer's picture?

[tikitiki]

I put mine in the ground in 2004 from a 1 gallon. I put them in full sun with no additives to my florida soil. they have been through a few hurricanes and several freezes and frost with no problem. They may not be tall but the are fat from me putting them in the sun so early. Thats a size 10.5 shoe.

[gsn]

Finally some FAKEY love! In groups they can be very attractive.

Last time this palm was mentioned it was the ugliest Dypsis this side of Madagascar, and that was from Dypsis worshipers!

[Dan OKeeffe]

tikitiki,

I am new to palm taxonomy, but it seems your palms are flowering. Can someone now determine the proper name of the palm?

Dna

[joe_OC]

Hi Dan,

I don't think it has a name yet, but I believe one will be coming soon?

[LJG]

I thought it was stated it is Dypsis plumosa.

Hi Dan,

I don't think it has a name yet, but I believe one will be coming soon?

[LJG]

I was wondering the same thing. It looks like Microcycas calocoma doesn't it?

I have several in the ground and in pots in various locations. They seem to be very hardy and reasonably fast growing. I would suggest that you keep them out of high winds though. BTW Phil - what is that cycad to the right of the D. fine leaf in your customer's picture?

[DoomsDave]

Here are some of my darlings.

They're grouped together, and they rock.

I just treated myself to a good scream of delight!

[DoomsDave]

Here's one of my solitaries.

Don't you worry, my pet, soon the flowering will start and the orgy will begin, and seeds will span the globe to those who love them . . . .

They actually do seed here in California. I gave some to our beloved Palmazon . . . . . From Louis Hooper's place.

[elHoagie]

It is fairly cold hardy, as I know Jack Sayers mentioned it took mid-20s in inland SoCal (Lake Elsinore I think).

Damn Christian, nice memory! Yeah, I think Kevin Weaver in Lake Elsinore said it's the only Dypsis he can grow outside...

[DoomsDave]

It is fairly cold hardy, as I know Jack Sayers mentioned it took mid-20s in inland SoCal (Lake Elsinore I think).

Damn Christian, nice memory! Yeah, I think Kevin Weaver in Lake Elsinore said it's the only Dypsis he can grow outside...

WHOA!

Lake Smell-Some-More is the real frozen tundra!

[Phil]

I think it is a Microcycas. This particular customer is more of a cycad person than a palm collector and tries to put in a few palms here and there. He's been buying cycads from us for a decade and I think the Microcycas he got started out as a 5g plant quite a few years ago.

Phil

[oliver]

I think it is a Microcycas. This particular customer is more of a cycad person than a palm collector and tries to put in a few palms here and there. He's been buying cycads from us for a decade and I think the Microcycas he got started out as a 5g plant quite a few years ago.

Phil

Great Phil - I'll give you $50 to tell me his address, and give me his vacation schedule. I'll fuel up the Citation and grab a couple of shovels, and I can be there in 3 hrs!

[Palm Hound]

Dypsis "fine leaf" "Australian seed", "Australian Source" once known as the real ambositrae, has a nice trunk in So Cal. In So Cal it has wider spaced rings of leaf sheath scars. It looks different in Florida?

David

[Tyrone]

I really like this one. I actually feel it looks better in a shadier sort of grove that it emerges from into fullsun. Like an area that gets full morning sun until 11am and then dappled after that. I think if it's grown right it looks beautiful.

Due to it's mix up with the real Dypsis ambositrae which comes from the high mountain plateau in Dypsis decipien territory, I think many have tortured this species believing it should handle similar conditions, which in many cases it seems to handle OK. When speaking to Bill Beattie about Dypsis fineleaf's wild origins, although it can not be confirmed yet without a scientific research permit, he felt that Dypsis fineleaf came from the NW tip of Madagascar in a restricted access zone at low altitude. This area looks like low land hilly rainforest from Google Earth and apparently is guarded by the military. This area is where Dypsis madagascariensis comes from too. So Dypsis fineleaf's ability to handle cold weather probably indicates it's adaptability, not it's wild habitat, and it most likely likes to grow in a semi-shady rainforest environment, and then finally emerge above the canopy. My ones here seem to like the "semishady rainforest" I've put them in to as seedlings, but as they get to 8ft plus height can handle more and more fullsun and still look good. They can handle fullsun from an early age too, but I don't know if they would in habitat. That's my thoughts anyway.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Walter John]

Take a look at the size (height) of this Dypsis fine leaf at the Mt Cootha BGs, with Daryl for perspective, just another sec Daz then you can breathe again.

[Central Floridave]

I have a little bit of experience with these.

As seedlings in shade they are very drought tolerant. However planted out in full sun, they are not.

East Coast Central Florida can see a couple month drought (like now). I've got a triple planted that were surviving for a couple years just croak in full sun with no water and mild freeze (30F) this winter. One bigger one (~4 feet) in full sun, height survived. A bunch of seedlings in a container that get no water in shade...still alive. some bigger ones (~2 feet) in shade/container do get regular water, look good.

Nice looking palm, I like them. (sorry for the broken english-Becks Dark speaking)