Very Rare Caryota ophiopellis Live Palm Tree Seedling

Caryota ophiopellis

"Snake Skin Palm"

Natural Habitat:  Naturally found throughout the lowland and costal rainforest of Vanuatu, Tanna and Aneityum.

Description:  A small solitary understory palm that can reach heights around 20 feet tall.  The leaf branches are what give the palm its common name, Snake-skin, since they are covered with a amazing pattern combination of white, black, or gray stripes.  The stripes are all random, changing with each new leaf that emerges.  The pattern on this palm closely resembles a South Pacific python know locally as “In-reg-jay”.  The leaves can also be somewhat variegated, with light green stripes on top of a dark green background. 

Environment:  This palm enjoys a moist shady area both as a seedling and as an adult.  It can handle full sun, but prefers the shade.  It is somewhat cold hardy and can handle temps down into the low 30’s. Zones 9-11  There is a in ground specimen at a local botanical garden here in Orlando, Florida.

Seedling:  The seedlings are 2-4 inches tall with one leaf.  They have newly emerged from their 4" pots and should be left to grow in them for a while before being stepped up, even though they are rooted to the bottom of their pots.  These seedlings were grown from fresh seeds imported from Vanuatu