Other Names:  Dwarf Sugar Palm, Philippine Arenga Palm

Description:

A dwarf clustering palm that is dense and compact; long, narrow leaflets are green above and silver blue underneath; green ringed trunks are covered in coarse fibers; an impressive landscape accent

Ornamental Features

Philippine Sugar Palm features showy clusters of orange flowers hanging below the branches from late winter to early spring. It has attractive green foliage with silvery blue undersides. The narrow pinnately compound leaves are highly ornamental and remain green throughout the winter. The red fruits which fade to brown over time are held in clusters from early to late summer.

Landscape Attributes

Philippine Sugar Palm is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a towering form, with a high canopy of foliage concentrated at the top of the plant. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Insects
• Disease

Philippine Sugar Palm is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening

Planting & Growing

Philippine Sugar Palm will grow to be about 10 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 15 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets.