Nannorrhops ritchiana

Common names

Mazari Palm.

Curiosities

Trunks and leaves are used as firewood, the trunks in construction, and the leaves to make roofs, baskets and ropes. Apical buds, fruits and young leaves are edible. Named after D. Ritchie, the first collector of this palm.

Origin

Dry areas in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Habitat

Native to semi desert areas with rocky soils.

Morphology

A clumping palm. The trunk is sometimes prostrate and covered with a thick, orange, woolly fibre. Leaves are fan-shaped, costapalmate, rigid and grey-blue in colour. There’s a variety with deep grey leaves. Inflorescences 2 m long, which remain long time after falling the fruits. Fruits reddish brown when ripe, containing each one a single seed. 

Climate

One of the most cold hardy palms, frost tolerant. Tropical to temperate. This palm has tolerated temperatures down to –12.2ºC (10ºF, USDA Zone 8a).

Germination

Seeds germination is seen as difficult, but keep the seeds warm and they will germinate in a few months. Can be propagated by suckers.

Growing

A highly resistant desert palm. Requires a sunny position and good drainage. Drought tolerant. Rarely seen in cultivation although not very demanding.