Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Arecaceae

Genus:

Lodoicea

Species:

Lodoicea maldivica

USDA Symbol:

LOMA8

Growth Characteristics

Height:

3400 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Colors:

yellow, cream

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

native to granitic islands with deep soils

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

None required

Germination Time:

180–730 days

Notes:

Seeds are the largest in the plant kingdom and germinate extremely slowly, often taking 1-2 years. Requires warm, humid conditions and should not be buried deeply.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI