Hyophorbe lagenicaulis - Bottle Palm - Buy 5 Seeds?

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis also known as bottle palm is a very striking feature in the palm world. The trunk is unusually thickened to narrow very abruptly before the growing point.

This gives the palm a bottle shape that remains distinct as this palm rarely grows taller than 6 metres even in nature.

The original range of this palm is restricted to 'Round island' a small rocky island 22.5 kilometres northeast of Mauritius.

Here, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis is an important part of the native vegetation and can be found both in open grassland and in forests.

Unfortunately, the introduction of rabbits and goats to the island in the 19th century left its mark.

Overgrazing combined with an increase in hurricanes by the mid-20th century had decimated the number of palms on the island.

When it was realised that for the survival of many unique plants and animals on the island, the rabbits and goats had to be removed from the island, an intensive removal programme was initiated.

By 1986, the island had been cleared of all introduced grazers and since then, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis has regained significant numbers.

The bottle palm is still quite rare in cultivation but is already being increasingly planted in frost-free climates around the world.

They have poor cold tolerance and even brief exposure to sub-zero temperatures can spell the end of the palm.

For more northern climates, this can be an exceptional houseplant or as a planting for a commercial space.

Especially as a solitary where the special trunk is clearly visible, this palm makes a special eye-catcher.

Sowing description

Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 2-3 days, changing the water every half day to prevent mould.

Use a light seed mix without added fertiliser. A mix of perlite, coco peat and coarse-grained sand in the ratio 1/1/1 is fine.

Preferably sow in a tray or pot at least 10 cm deep so that the long taproot that first emerges from the seed can develop properly.

Keep the soil slightly moist but certainly not too wet and put the seedling away in a warm place.

25˚C to 30˚C is perfect.

Most seeds will germinate between 1 and 6 months.

Origin Round island, Mascarene archipelago
Minimum temperature 0˚C