A rare palm species that occurs naturally only in the Seychelles. It is the only species within the genus Nephrosperma. The palm can also be found in the Vallée de Mai on the island of Praslin, one of the smallest UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world, where several palm species occur that are found nowhere else naturally.
In its natural habitat, the palm grows in fairly moist areas and can reach a height of around 15 metres, although it often remains considerably smaller in open locations and when grown in a pot. The palm forms a large crown of pinnate leaves that can grow up to around 3 metres long. Young plants have conspicuous spines on the trunk and leaf sheaths, which largely disappear as the palm matures. These may have provided protection against browsing by the giant tortoises that originally occurred in the Seychelles. Newly emerging leaves are also noticeably red, gradually turning green as they develop. The palm also produces small, round fruits that turn red when ripe and grow to around 1 to 1.5 cm in size. The seeds inside these fruits are somewhat kidney-shaped, which is where the genus name Nephrosperma comes from.
In temperate climates, the species can be grown as a houseplant or container plant. Provide a warm position with plenty of indirect light and high humidity. Keep the soil constantly slightly moist and do not allow it to dry out completely. Due to its tropical origin, the palm is not frost hardy.
Sowing description: The germinated seed can be sown directly on receipt in soil for sowing. Keep the soil constantly slightly moist and place in a sunny spot.
