Arenga micrantha
Family: Arecaceae Palm Tree
Common Name: Tibetan Sugar Palm
Scientific Synonymy:
Arenga pinnata
Common Synonymy:
Sugar Palm. German: Tibetanische Zuckerpalme. French: Palmier à sucre tibétain
Cold Hardiness Zone: 9a View the UK and US zone maps
Arenga micrantha Information
A clump-forming, medium sized, water-loving, moderately fast growing, monoecious palm. Rare in cultivation and locally common in the wild. It has hairy, black trunks, 6 m. (20 ft.) tall, 17.8 cm. (7 inch) diameter with no obvious leaf scars, and large segmented, pinnate (feather) leaves, 2 m. (7 ft.) long, 0.9 m. (3 ft.) wide, dark green above and brilliant white beneath.
A multi-stemmed Arenga with elegant, large, flat, evenly pinnate leaves with brilliant white undersides. Found at an incredible 2000-2150 m (6500-7000 ft) above sea level in its habitat in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas, Tibet, Bhutan and N.E. India. It endures winter snow and heavy frost. This plant is suitable, while young as a houseplant or conservatory plant.
Arenga micrantha can tolerate freezing temperatures to about -6.5°C (20.3°F). It naturally occurs in open woodland or grassland in sun exposed, montane locations, and should be planted to maximise sunshine exposure. Under extreme freezing conditions we recommend you keep this palm as dry as possible. It should be noted that in its natural habitat the temperature swings between extreme heat and extreme cold occur within 12 hours (night & day) of a single day, and have little to do with Summer/Winter seasons. Therefore, this palm dislikes long durations of cold weather and may require additional heat or protection during the coldest weather.
Identification
General Information
Distribution
Distribution information currently being revised.