The Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) is a delicate plant from the Palm family. The name rhapis means ‘needle’ in Greek while excelsa is Latin for ‘tall’, referring to the needle-like segments of the leaves and the plant’s tall stature (1). 5. The lady palm does well in sandy soil. Nowadays they are mainly cultivated as indoor plants are found adorning many households and establishments around the world. Rhapis Gardens. Lady palm or Rhapis is a plant that is native to Asia, Japan and China. Rhapis excelsa, Lady Palm, "The Air Cleaner" Habitat and Distribution: Rhapis excelsa is endemic to South-Central China and surrounding areas. They were first collected by the Japanese for Tokugawa shogunatepalaces, then popularity spread to Europe, and later to America where its low light and humidity requirements make it a common feature in malls and offices. degree in Agriculture specializing in Ornamental Horticulture. What is a Lady Palm Plant? Originally cultivated by the Japanese for use in shogunate palaces, Lady Palms are still one of the most elegant choices for an indoor specimen. The first and most noticeable difference is that Rhapis humilis is a much taller plant. They do well in warm conditions, though, you can also be careful to take care of conditions that will support it even in cold areas. Maybe it is the easy and forgiving nature of it. It needs well-drained potting soil and regular watering except in the winter when watering can be reduced. It is a good specimen to use near doors because of cool air tolerance in winter. (online) http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx. The fronds are split into fan-like segments, as might be used by ladies in olden times. It is also essential to ensure that they have sufficient shade to protect the direct sunlight from fading the leaves. The hydroculture version of Rhapis excelsa is a delightful fan palm, with large, thick leaves, that are wider than many other palms and blunt tipped. Rotating the plants can help in distributing light in partial shade preventing asymmetric growth. The lady palm plants thrive well in temperatures that don’t exceed 80 Fahrenheit’s, though it must not come below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. If you love indoor plants, then you can be sure to like the lady palm. Fertilize using a special fertilizer formulated for palm plants such as a 12-4-12-4 fertilizer with micronutrients. The critical feature that confirms the Butterball is the number of canes. There are three types of Lady Palms available in garden centers, green form, variegated form, and dwarf form (3). Rhapis Species, Bamboo Palm, Lady Palm, Miniature Fan Palm, Slender Lady Palm Rhapis excelsa. The Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) is a delicate plant from the Palm family. Below I will compare it in many ways to the much more familiar and seen Rhapis excelsa, The Lady Palm. The lady palm care does display a great pattern that looks quite appealing to the eye. In a bright light placement, water when the potting media has dried down about 1/2 of its total depth. While repotting, it is essential to protect the roots ball. In very cold zones a containerized palm can be brought inside for the winter months. During the winter seasons, you need to reduce the amount of water that you apply. Lady Palms adapt to a wide range of climates, soils, and environments. They have varying leaf shape and growth habits. The other famous type of lady palm is the open type, which appears to be thinner and more upright. Now that your lady palm is growing, you need to follow certain specific tips to ensure your lady palms get proper growth. The Rhapis excelsa can be an outdoor or an indoor plant. It is believed to have originated in South China and Taiwan and is the most popular species of Rhapis used in tropical landscaping. When repotting, make sure to keep the soil density firm and the water slowly seeping through. Maybe it is the delicate leaves. Transfer it while it is intact without unnecessarily disturbing the roots. An African violet mix is perfect for potting Lady Palms grown indoors. You can opt to cut the whole trunk when all the leaves begin to discolor since it may sign a disease. No matter the reason, a Lady Palm is a worthy addition to any home or garden. You have entered an incorrect email address! Furthermore, the Butterball lady palms will have dense foliage that runs from the top to the bottom. Rhapis excelsa, the lady palm, is an outstanding, small clustering palm for shady landscape or interiorscape use (Figure 1). Rhapis Excelsa, also known as the Bamboo Palm or the Broadleaf Lady Palm is a very popular indoor pot plant. There's over a hundred different leaf configurations! Genus Rhapis are small evergreen palms forming clumps of slender stems bearing leaves divided into linear or oblong segments, with panicles of small yellow flowers among the leaves, followed by small ovoid fruits . The plant can do well under certain conditions, therefore necessitating the need to understand what it takes for it to grow well. You only need to keep in mind that a well-drained soil will favor the growth of your lady palm. Cool Springs Press. 4. Family Arecaceae . As an indoor plant, it needs indirect light, withstands deep shade and has low humidity requirements. 6. Feed it well during summer and adequately water it when there is a water shortage while paying proper drainage. How To Grow and Care For Sedum rubrotinctum ‘Pork and Beans’... How To Grow and Care For Sedum Morganianum ‘Burrito’ (Donkey tail), How To Grow and Care For Crassula muscosa ‘Watch Chain’. Kalanchoe luciae is an excellent flowering plant type that belongs to the family of Crassulaceae. Rhapis Excelsa Basic Facts Generally speaking, the “Lady Palm” plant can grow to more than 14’ feet in height. Its clumps can sometimes reach enormous width, so the plant’s width can match its height. When repotting, you should increase the pot’s size every time until it reaches the best size for you. You only need to provide suitable conditions for it to thrive well. It is considered cold hardy down to USDA zone 9A (see http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/). A palm variety Rhapis Excelsa was listed as one of the best plants for removing toxins in the air by NASA. They are often called as fan palms or broadleaf lady palms because the leaves with bare petioles terminate in … Lady palm grows in light to heavy shade and makes an elegant houseplant. MINIATURE LADY PALMS (dwarf varieties of Rhapis excelsa): Smaller forms of the Large Lady Palm (standard Rhapis excelsa).. When your lady palm is two years old, you should think of repotting it. Rhapis excelsa ‘Lady Palm’ $ 32.00 – $ 135.00 Provide medium to bright light for the plant to look its best, although pretty low light tolerant; a north, east, or west facing window is best. House plant care for Rhapis excelsa palm, or Lady Palm. For potted Lady palms, drenching the soil once a year can get rid of many impurities and excess salt in the soil (4). You can use proportionate amounts of nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen when you are not sure of the soil’s fertility. Cool Springs Press. Feed two or three times throughout the year (2). This plant can also be called a broadleaf lady palm, rhapis palm or bamboo palm. Rhapis Palms are great as indoor plants and like most good indoor plants they come from a sub-tropical to tropical rainforest in south-east China where there isn’t much natural light. Lady Palm Rhapis Excelsa An easy-to-grow, tree-like species, Rhapis Excelsa -also known as Lady Palm- is an ideal indoor houseplant. View gallery. 2002. The plant can do well under certain conditions, therefore necessitating the need to understand what it takes for it to grow well. The common pests that will damage the lady palm includes. However, every variety has its own culture and environmental conditions to grow. Always trim off the brown leaves, while keeping those who can still survive. Butterball grows from a seed and will possess many canes, which are about 3″ to 4″ tall. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa) Posted on April 6, 2013 by Leonard Goldstein July 26, 2013 Almost everyone, whether a plant lover or not, knows the Lady Palm — if not by name, at least by sight — for it is one of the most successful indoor palms in use. Propagating can be easy during pruning since you will divide more mature plants. The Lady Palm is a versatile slow growing palm that adapts extremely well to being grown indoors in a container. EXAMPLES VARIEGATED RHAPIS EXCELSA WITH NO CULTIVAR NAME On many occasions you will see variegated Rhapis without a given Japanese or English cultivar name. What is the Best Growing/Potting Media for Lady Palms? “Rhapis excelsa”. Despite their easy-going nature, Lady Palms cannot tolerate drought conditions. This plant can also be called a broadleaf lady palm, rhapis palm or bamboo palm. Make sure that all roots and the base of the canes are covered to retain moisture and to allow growth of new offshoots. These plants prefer a humid climate. Zones 9-11 This well-known, oriental looking, small palm is much loved and valuable as a house plant due to its legendary tolerance of low light and abuse. Keep it at temperatures exceeding 70 Fahrenheit in summer, but you should be careful to keep it below 55 Fahrenheit during winter. A Lady Palm or Rhapis Palm is an elegant durable plant that can adapt to almost all conditions. These plants grow in almost all soil that is well-draining. Water is essential during summers, though it will be wise to be careful with drainage. Each leaf is about 20 in. Lady palm can do well under all seasons provided that you strictly adhere to conditions necessary for their growth. Best results can be seen in high organic, slightly acidic soil (6). This is a beautiful indoor plant which not only looks good but also known for its excellent air purifying properties. Rhapis excelsa may be the most diverse species of palm in regards to variety and variegation types. Rhapis excelsa is the most widely grown species of lady palm. The Rhapis excelsa does well in relatively humid conditions. The open types are often tall, and they will be available in pot sizes ranging from 14 inches to 28 inches. However, you will need to stick to the specific requirements to enhance its growth, especially when you decide to grow it inside your house. Lady palm scientifically known as Rhapis excelsa belongs to family Palmae. In lower to medium light, water when the potting soil has dried almost completely to the bottom. Common Name: Lady Palm. A landscape horticulturist by profession, she has been designing, installing, and maintaining various landscapes and gardens for residential and commercial use. It traces its origin to the Native regions of... 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