About
Adonidia merrillii is a tropical palm known for its tidy growth pattern, typically attaining heights of up to 3.5 meters in the wild, though it remains smaller when cultivated indoors. The trunk, which is smooth and grey, exhibits a slight bulge at the base as it matures. At the crown, gracefully arching pinnate leaves extend outward. During the Christmas season, this palm produces clusters of vibrant red fruit. It serves well as a houseplant, fitting comfortably in smaller pots and containers, adding a lush, tropical ambiance to indoor spaces.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Partial shade
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H1A
Plant details
- Plant type
- Palms
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1-1.5 metres
- Suggested uses
- Houseplants, Patio and container plants
- Native to
- Borneo to Philippines
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in peat-free houseplant compost in bright, filtered light or partial shade and keep at an optimal temperature of 18-28°C or minimum of 15°C. Water regularly, allowing the top inch or so of soil to dry out between waterings. Dislikes being waterlogged. Mist regularly to provide humidity and provide a houseplant feed in spring and summer. See palm cultivation indoors for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required - removed dead or dying leaves as required
- Propagation
- Grow from seed only, soaking prior to planting. See sowing seed indoors for further advice
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to aphids, glasshouse red spidermite and mealybugs
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free