Geonoma interrupta

Geonoma interrupta is a slender understorey palm of wet tropical forest, ranging from southern Mexico through Central America to Venezuela and down the Andes to Bolivia. Normally single-stemmed, it carries big leaves divided irregularly into a mix of broad and narrow segments.

It is known in Kew's list as the monkeytail shadowpalm. Growers may also meet it as Geonoma magnifica or Geonoma rivalis, now treated as subspecies.

At a glance

• Native range: southern Mexico and Central America to Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
• Mature size: 1–8 m
• Growth rate: fast in suitable conditions
• Light: shade beneath taller trees
• Cold hardiness: a palm of wet tropical forest; keep frost-free
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in shaded tropical gardens; elsewhere a pot plant for a heated glasshouse

Care

Grow it in shade with steady warmth and humidity. It dislikes climates with strong seasonal swings, so a heated glasshouse is the safest home outside the tropics.

Why Palmpedia: Every plant is grown in our greenhouse in Almeirim, Portugal, and leaves us in a 15 L to 35 L pot.