Bismarckia nobilis

Common names

Bismarck Palm.

Curiosities

Natives use trunks and leaves to built huts.

Origin

Madagascar.

Habitat

Forest and savannah.

Morphology

A massive, grey, smooth trunk. Huge costapalmate leaves. Interfoliar inflorescence. Rounded fruit. Can have different colours: Mayotte Island is green while the Silver form is glaucous, silvery-blue.

Climate

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

Germination

Seeds germinate easily, 2 to 3 months after sowing. The first leaves already have the typical colour of adult plants.

Growing

A beautiful palm that adapts to dry climates and is now being successively cultivated in the south of Europe. A fast-growing palm.