Latania loddigesii

Common names

Blue Latan Palm.

Curiosities

Dedicated to the English Conrad Loddiges, who established a very famous nursery.

Origin

Mascarene Islands.

Habitat

Coastal savannah.

Morphology

Young leaves have a greenish blue margin on their base, and are covered with a tomentum that persists in the underside as adult leaves. Leaves are 2-3 m long and 1 m in diameter. The inflorescence, around 2 m long, remains hanging on trunk for a long time after drying. Fruit ovoid or pear-like, with smooth seeds.

Climate

Tropical to warm temperate. This palm has tolerated temperatures down to –1.9ºC (28.7ºF, USDA Zone 9b).

Germination

Seeds germinate quickly, in 2 to 4 months.

Growing

A really fast grower. Young plants have a very attractive blue shade. Tolerates full sun from young, prefers good drainage.