SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dictyosperma album

COMMON NAME(S): Hurricane palm; Princess palm
SUB FAMILY: Arecoideae
TRIBE: Areceae
ORIGIN: Mascarene Islands
HARDINESS ZONES: 10B-11 (severely damaged or killed at 26 degrees F)
TYPICAL MAXIMUM HEIGHT: 30'
GROWTH RATE: Moderate
HABIT: Solitary; canopy of 10-20 leaves
SALT TOLERANCE: Moderate
DROUGHT TOLERANCE: Moderate
SOIL REQUIREMENTS: Widely adaptable
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS: High
NUTRITION REQUIREMENTS: Moderate
POPULAR USES: Specimen tree
HUMAN HAZARDS: None
POPULAR OR RECOMMENDED CULTIVARS: Var. rubrum: reddish leaves on young plants; reddish-brown wax on crownshaft; var. furfuraceum: wooly, white hairs on crownshaft; var. aureum: shorter trunk, orange-yellow leaves on young plants.

COMMENTS: This beautiful palm, somewhat similar in appearance to Archontophoenix (see comments on that species for distinguishing characteristics), earns one of its common names by an alleged resistance to hurricane-force winds. Drying winds can burn the foliage, however, and a protective exposure is advisable in areas with low humidity. During periods of prolonged drought, supplementary irrigation is advantageous. Considered close to extinction in its native habitat, the princess palm is widely cultivated as an elegant vertical accent in tropical and subtropical landscapes.