Chrysalidocarpus tokoravina

Chrysalidocarpus tokoravina is a gigantic single-trunked feather palm of the rainforests of eastern and northern Madagascar, reaching about 20 m with a trunk some 60 cm thick.

Its most distinctive feature is the enormous swollen leaf base, up to a metre long, which stays split open instead of forming a closed crownshaft. Stiff, grey-backed leaflets stand in curled clusters pointing in several directions, giving the 3 m leaves a plumed look. True plants are rare in cultivation.

Formerly known as Dypsis tokoravina.

At a glance

• Native range: eastern and northern Madagascar
• Mature size: about 20 m
• Indoors / outdoors: an outdoor palm for large, warm gardens

Care

Young plants form a raised, curved root base, or heel, as many related Madagascan palms do; when planting, set it so that the upper third of the heel stays above soil level.

Why Palmpedia: Raised in our Almeirim greenhouse in Portugal and supplied in 15 L to 35 L pots.