186 / 476
GENERAL
Origin
:
sub-tropical,
tropical
Vigour
:
normal growth
rate
Humidity
:
semi-humid, very
humid, extremely
humid
Propagation :
sowing and
pricking out
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
vulnerable
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
high
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (1500
ppm)
Hardiness
:
-3°C
SHAPE
Type
:
palms
Height
:
8 m-10 m
Spread
:
3 m-4.5 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
pale yellow
Size
:
180 cm
Period
:
July - August
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
drupe(fleshy/
juicy)
Fruit size
:
12 cm
The Blue Latan Palm is a striking fan palm adapted to the seasonally dry climate of its native
Mauritius, where it grows on cliffs and in canyons. This is a palm tree with potential for greater
use in Arriyadh, where to date it has been seen only in private gardens. Slow-growing, L. loddi-
gesii reaches a height of 10 metres and has coarse-textured, spirally arranged leaf blades up to 2
metres in diameter, held erect on long petioles. A white down on the surface of the leaves lends
the tree a silvery appearance. The trunk has a thick, swollen base. Its cream-coloured flowers on
stalks up to 1.8 metres long are not very showy, and the oval fruits up to 12 cm in size are green-
brown. Blue Latan palms require full sun to partial shade. They prefer fertile soils but tolerate
clayey, sandy and loam soils, which are slightly alkaline and well drained; drought tolerance is
high, salt tolerance is moderate. This palm requires regular irrigation until established and deep
watering in summer. Propagated by seed, it is sensitive to pests and diseases, and is particularly
susceptible to lethal yellowing disease. The pruning requirement is very low, but fruit and leaves
may cause a litter problem. Three other species of Latan Palm can be told apart only by their leaf
colour. Latan Palm makes a very good specimen palm tree for attracting attention, and can be
planted on decks or patios in large gardens, as a specimen in a park or in containers.
185
Latania loddigesii,
Arecaceae
Blue Latan Palm