Palm trees, in general, are plants that want a lot of water, but not puddled. Still, there are exceptions, such as Nypa fruticans, which literally grows in the sea and can also grow in the saltwater ponds of tropical and subtropical gardens.
It is not a very well known species, but she is really very pretty and that is why it is worth introducing it to you. 😉
Origin and characteristics of Nypa fruticans
Our protagonist is a palm that grows in the mangroves of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, formed by a creeping trunk that branches dichotomously (that is, two palm trees emerge from the same growth point. Its leaves are pinnate, up to 2 meters long.
The flowers appear in inflorescences on the lower branches. And the fruit is a woody nut that appears in compressed clusters up to 25cm wide that have the ability to float on water, which means that the species can colonize other coasts with relative ease. Seeds sometimes germinate in water, but that is not a problem for them.
How do you take care of yourself?
La Nypa fruticans It is a palm tree that can only be grown in tropical climates, where the temperature never drops below 15 degrees Celsius. If that is your case, we recommend that you provide the following care:
- Location: abroad.
- Earth: growing in the sea, it needs a sandy soil with good drainage
- Irrigation: very frequent. The soil must always remain completely moist.
- Subscriber: it can be paid with specific fertilizers for palm trees, following the indications specified on the product packaging.
- Planting time: in spring.
- Multiplication: by seeds, in spring. Direct sowing in a zip-lock bag with vermiculite. The first ones will germinate after 1-2 months at a temperature of 20ºC.
Did you know that water palms existed? What do you think of Nypa fruticans?