We depend on donations from users of our database of over 8000 edible and useful plants to keep making it available free of charge and to further extend and improve it. In recent months donations are down, and we are spending more than we receive. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Dictyosperma album - (Bory) Scheff.

Common Name Hurricane Palm, Princess Palm, Red Palm
Family Arecaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Coastal forests[ 314 ]. Grows at low elevations generally up to 600 metres[ 299 ].
Range Africa - Mauritius, Réunion.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Dictyosperma album Hurricane Palm, Princess Palm, Red Palm


https://edibleplants.org/
Dictyosperma album Hurricane Palm, Princess Palm, Red Palm
https://edibleplants.org/

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Hurricane Palm (Dictyosperma album), otherwise known as Princess Palm or Red Palm, is a single-stemmed, slender, evergreen feather palm that reaches a height of up to 20 m and up to 16 cm in diameter. The crown is composed of 10 to 20 leaves with each leaf measuring up to 3 m long. Hurricane Palm is very attractive hence it is also grown as an ornamental in the tropics and subtropics. It is commonly found in Africa specifically in Mauritius and Reunion. Root decoction is a diuretic. The leaves and apical bud can both be cooked and consumed.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of cone
Dictyosperma album is an evergreen Tree growing to 15 m (49ft) by 8 m (26ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Areca alba Bory Areca aurea Van Houtte Areca borbonica Kunth Areca furfuracea H.Wendl. Areca lactea

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Apical bud  Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked[ 299 ]. The apical bud of this plant is highly valued as a food[ 299 ]. This palm is single-stemmed and unable to form sideshoots - harvesting the apical bud leads to the death of the plant[ K ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diuretic

A root decoction is used as a diuretic[ 299 ].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Read More

FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Other Uses: None known

Special Uses

Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Plants are able to tolerate occasional light frosts with temperatures down to -1°c[ 423 ]. Prefers a position in light shade or full sun[ 299 , 314 ]. Grows best in a well-drained soil. Tolerant of saline conditions[ 299 , 314 ]. Usually growing near the coast, the plant can withstand the strongest of winds, including salt-laden hurricanes[ 299 , 314 ]. A moderately fast growing plant[ 299 ]. Blooms repeatedly

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed - sown fresh, it germinates within 60 - 120 days[ 423 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Mauritius; Réunion

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Print Friendly and PDF

Expert comment

Author

(Bory) Scheff.

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Dictyosperma album  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.