The Vietnamese Paradise Palm is a rare palm species that is endangered in the wilde and has beautiful spotted fan-shaped leaves that can grow up to 1 m wide. The palm can reach a height of 1.5 m in the wild. The species originates from the tropics of northern Vietnam, where it grows at an altitude of 100 to 1000 m. Until recently, the palm was included in the Licuala genus. Unlike the Mapu species (L. mattanensis var. Paucisecta), which this palm resembles, this species can cope with more variable temperatures between 0 and 43 degrees C. This makes this species easier to maintain. It is a slow grower.
The Vietnamese Paradise Palm can be kept as a houseplant or in a tub in a place with lots of indirect light. Direct sunlight can burn the leaves. A pot with well-drained soil is important. Make sure the soil is constantly slightly moist. Feed the plant with plant food a few times during the growing season to stimulate the growth of new leaves. Although the species can handle relatively low temperatures, the ideal temperature is between 20 and 30 grC.
Sowing description: You can sow the germinated seed immediately upon receipt in a pot with well-drained soil, e.g. sowing soil and possibly spaghnum moss. For initial development, a temperature of 20 to 30 grC is optimal.
Photo 1&2: By Scott Zona via Flickr
