Ptychosperma microcarpum

Ptychosperma microcarpum is a clump-forming feather palm from the lowland rainforests around Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. Several slender, ringed stems rise from each clump, topped by a pale, often silvery crownshaft and leaves whose narrow leaflets stand out in several planes, giving a soft, slightly plumose look.

Its small orange to red fruits gave the species its name. It is grown as a clumping palm in warm gardens and as a pot plant indoors.

At a glance

• Native range: south-eastern Papua New Guinea
• Mature size: stems 3–9 m
• Growth rate: easy and quick
• Light: shade or partial shade under taller trees
• Cold hardiness: rated for USDA zone 10a (about −1 °C)
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in tropical and subtropical gardens; indoors in containers

Care

Plant it in the shaded understorey of taller trees or grow it in a container indoors. It grows easily and quickly given warmth.

Why Palmpedia: Greenhouse-grown by us in Almeirim, Portugal, and supplied in 15 L to 35 L pots.