Veitchia merrillii
Christmas palm, Manila palm
Also known as Adonidia merrillii
- Height × spread
- 6.5m × 3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a small palm. It has a slender grey trunk marked by dark grey leaf scars. The crown shaft (the section at the top beneath the leaves) is thicker than the other varieties of Veitchia. It is olive-green and may be noticeably swollen. This palm tree's fronds have a happy, luxurious, quality, arching in a fulsome manner. Its leaflets are frothy and often attractively twisted. There are large clusters of green fruits ripening to red. This useful palm generally reaches around 6.5m (22ft) height with 3m (10ft) spread.
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Round
- Height
- 6.5m
- Spread
- 3m
- Height in 10 years
- 3m
- Spread in 10 years
- 2m
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- full light at all times
- Indoor temperature
- 15C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Winter
Winter-Spring · Indoors
Water lightly in winter
The soil should remain just moist during the cold months when the plant is not in growth. Trickle a little water onto the soil surface every couple of weeks if the soil is dry. Do nothing if it is moist.
The roots remain active in winter and benefit from small amounts of moisture so they don't become completely desiccated.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality standard compost.
Alternatively prepare a special compost that is best suited to the plant's needs: mix equal amounts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3), leaf mould, bark and grit.
Indoor temperature · Planting
15C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 15 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a sunny spot, close to window
Give this plant a position where there is as much light and sunlight as possible, within 2-3 metres of a sunny or bright window (one that is south, east, or west facing).