Licuala, a beautiful palm tree to decorate your home

La Licuala is a tropical palm tree

Image - Wikimedia / Mokkie

Palm trees are a type of plants that attract a lot of attention. Most have a single trunk that seems to rise as if it wanted to touch the sky with its leaves; leaves that are long and thin, which seem to have to break easily, but have nevertheless proved to be very resistant.

They have a high ornamental value, so much so that, as long as the weather is good, it is very difficult to find a single garden that does not have even one specimen. The one that I am going to present to you on this occasion, rather than to have outside, is more suitable for the interior of the home. His name is Blend it. Discover it.

Origin and characteristics of Licuala

The Licuala is a genus of palm trees native to the tropical jungles of South Asia, New Guinea from some islands in the Pacific Ocean, such as Vanuatu. There are a total of 167 different species, although in cultivation only a few are known. They grow to a height of about 6-8 meters at most.

Its trunk remains thin throughout its life, reaching only 6-7 centimeters thick. Its leaves are webbed, up to a meter in diameter, and green. The flowers appear distributed in inflorescences during the summer, and shortly after, in autumn-winter, the fruits, which measure up to one centimeter in diameter, when they finish maturing.

Main species of Licuala

Due to its tropical origin, in Europe it is difficult to find more than two for sale. In fact, only collectors have any more in their garden or in a greenhouse. They are very sensitive to cold, which is why they should not be exposed to temperatures below 15 degrees Celsius.

Even so, even out of curiosity, we think it is very interesting to know some species of Licuala, like these:

Licuala cordata

It is a species native to the jungles of Sarawak, Borneo. It develops round, bright green leaves, which are up to 1 meter in diameter. It is very, very appreciated, since it is also ideal for growing in pots for many years, since it grows slowly and does not exceed 4 meters in height.

Licuala dasyantha (is now lanonia dasyantha)

Licuala dasyantha is very delicate

Image - aucview.com

Although it has ceased to be part of the Licuala genus to pass to that of the Lanonia, we include it since it can be easily confused with them. It is a small palm tree, which reaches 2 meters in height, native to northern Vietnam. Its leaves, on the other hand, are quite large compared to the rest of the plant, since they measure 1 meter in diameter. They are green with green-yellow spots. Unlike the Licuala, it is somewhat resistant to cold (but not frost).

licuala grandis

The Licuala grandis is a single trunk palm tree

Image - Flickr / Forest and Kim Starr

La licuala grandis is the best known. It is native to the island of New Britain, which belongs to Papua New Guinea. It grows up to 3 meters in height at most, and features round blades up to 1 meter in diameter.

Licuala mattanensis

Licuala mattanensis is a very rare palm tree

Image – Flickr/Scott Zone

This is a very rare species, which grows on Mount Matang in Sarawak (Borneo). It reaches a height of 3 meters, with a thin trunk from which round leaves sprout and divided into 8-12 leaflets. These are green, although they can be variegated as is the case with the Licuala mattanensis »Mapu» or the »Tigrina». Its cultivation is possible only in humid tropical climates, with minimum temperatures of 20ºC.

Licuala peltata

The Licuala peltata is a palm tree with green leaves

Image – Flickr/Scott Zone

La Licuala peltata It is a palm that grows in tropical Asia, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Burma. Reaches a height of 3 meters, and has a fifteen large fan-shaped leaves which measure about 2 meters in diameter. The normal thing is that these are divided into segments, but there is a variety, the Licuala peltata varsumawongii, which has them undivided.

licuala spinosa

The Licuala spinosa is a palm tree

Image - Wikimedia / David J. Stang

La licuala spinosa It is a plant native to Asia, where it grows in Hainan, Indochina and even the Philippines. Reaches 6 meters in height, and has leaves up to 1 meter in diameter divided into green segments.

How are they cared for?

Licuala are very delicate plants, which need frost-free climates to be able to be outdoors all year round. But that does not mean that they cannot be grown inside a house. Let's see how they are cared for:

Location

Regardless of whether they are kept outside or inside a home, They must be in an area where the sun does not hit them directly. They need a lot of light, but their leaves do not support direct sun.

Therefore, if they are going to be indoors, they must be placed in a room with windows, but not next to them, otherwise they could burn.

Earth

Licuala can be grown in tropical gardens

Image - Flickr / Bernard DUPONT

If it is going to be in a pot, look for a terracotta or plastic one with holes, fill it with light substrate (50% black peat + 30% perlite + 20% earthworm humus, for example), and plant your Licuala in it.

And if you are lucky enough to live in an area where there is no frost, you can have it in the garden as long as the soil is fertile, that is, rich in organic matter, and has good drainage.

Irrigation and humidity

Water it regularly, about 2 times a week in summer and every seven days the rest of the year. In this way, you will have optimal growth and development.

With regard to humidity, it must be high. In dry environments it dehydrates, and that makes the leaves dry. To avoid this, first you have to see what degree of humidity is in your area (you can find this out quickly by consulting any meteorology website, such as the AEMET website if you are in Spain, or by buying one home weather station). If it is low, you simply have to spray its leaves with rain or distilled water once a day.

Subscriber

It is important that you do not run out of compost during spring and summer. You can use a specific one for palm trees (on sale here), or guano (for sale here).

A correct location, bright and where there are no drafts, and a regular fertilizer throughout the growing season are the keys so that the palm does not have any health problems.

Transplant

The Licuala beccariana is a small palm tree

Image - Flickr / Scott Zona // Licaula Beccariana.

Licuala are slow-growing palms, so you will only have to change the pot every 3 or 4 years. Do it in spring, when the temperatures are warm, so they will recover better.

If you are going to plant it in the garden, you must also do it in that season. In case you live in a tropical area, you can do it at any time, except while it is blooming.

Multiplication

If you want to get new copies, you have to sow the seeds in spring or summer. You can do it in transparent plastic bags with hermetic closure that you will have filled with coconut fiber (for sale here) or vermiculite. Then, you only have to put them near a heat source, since it is important that the temperature inside the bag is around 20-25ºC.

They will germinate in a month or two.

Rusticity

They cannot stand cold or frost. The lowest temperature they resist is 18-20ºC.

Enjoy your Licuala.


8 comments, leave yours

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Miguel Ángel Gatón
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.

  1.   Carolina said

    Hello, how can I prune the leaves that are already dry from my licuala?

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Caroline.
      If it is young (1m or less), you can cut them with pruning shears, if it is larger I would recommend doing it with a serrated knife. Of course, in both cases the tools you use have to be very clean, for example, with a dishwasher, and dry.
      a greeting

  2.   FRANCIS SANCHEZ said

    Good afternoon, I have a Licuala palm tree. I just changed the pot and strangely its leaves were completely sawed off. It is the second time that the pot change please I need your help some advice please the only thing that changed was the pot everything else is the same. For your attention thanks.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Francisco.
      Give it time. It is normal for the leaves to close after transplanting.
      Keep taking care of it as always, avoiding direct sunlight.
      A greeting.

  3.   Leyda Erazo said

    Good night Monica

    I congratulate you on your blog, very good. I found it because I am looking to know well what the flower and / or fruit of this beautiful plant is. My mother has it in her garden, we had never seen her a flower or something similar until one day we saw a kind of green cob or jojoto something like that, a few days later she had a kind of corn silk (like a corn beard) then that The green layer that covered it was opening and dropping it, allowing a spectacular orange color to appear, it measures approximately 20 to 25 cm and the question is that I cannot find it or cannot find it by this means and I would like to know it a little more: I would appreciate a lot if you can help me. Thanks

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hi Leyda.

      Look, I give you links: flowers y fruits.

      a greeting

  4.   Caroline C. said

    Hello, I would like to know if Licuala's palm is suitable to leave in my matrimonial room. Thank you.

    1.    Monica Sanchez said

      Hello Caroline.

      If the bedroom has windows through which a lot of light comes in from outside, it can grow well.

      Regards!