skip to main content

Northwestern Gardening

What type of 'palm' (if any ) is this?

18 years ago

My neighbor here in north Edmonds has this plant and wonders what it is--is it a "palm"?

I need the expertise of the the PNW gardeners.

I had to post the picture on garden gallery one picture at a time. I do have close ups of the flower and the trunk if you need to see them.

garden gallery link

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Ron_B
18 years ago
For others clicking on this part, it's Cordyline australis.
eric_in_west_seattle
18 years ago
Not a true palm. I understand it's also called Cabbage Palm, and Dracaena 'spike'.

Definitely not a weed. Many are flowering this year. That's a really tall one.
Related Discussions
what type of palm is this? it it even a palm?
Q
Comments (4)
I believe it's Philodendron bipinnatifidum Here is a link that might be useful: Philodendron
...See More
What type of Palm tree could these seeds be from?
Q
Comments (1)
Plain old Sabal palmetto. The FL and SC state tree.
...See More
What type of palm is this?
Q
Comments (10)
The Bangalows don't usually have that swelling at the base of the trunk like Alexanders do. I doubt it would happen in Melbourne, but if you get flowering the Bangalows are a purple and the Alexanders a white/cream colour. Many people would assume the Bangalow to be more cold tolerant and therefore more likely where you are, and that's probably what happened with the nursery.
...See More
Any Idea what is wrong with my windmill palm?
Q
Comments (8)
Are the top and bottom the same plant? It doesn't look dead quite yet, but if you keep it in the same conditions, I am confident it will be dead in no time. If you want your palm to do well, try outside for a change (assuming you didn't just bring it inside for the picture). That soil also looks a bit iffy; I think it would like new soil (possibly a better mix?). As Andy said, if it is outside, and you let the rain water it (granted it has good drainage), I think it will do fine. Put it in a sunny spot, but acclimate it to avoid sunburn. Good luck! ~palmsandsnow
...See More
plantknitter
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks for the positive ID. I wondered about Cordyline, but only because I'd heard about them so it was a guess and not because I really knew much about them.

So is Dracaena a common name or another genus altogether?
Are all Dracaenas Cordylines?

And I have a correction on the height.
I think it is only ~12 feet tall.
My daughter's husband who took the picture gave the first estimate of height and he reminded me today after I disagreed after walking by it that guys always estimate long. :-Q
Las_Palmas_Norte
18 years ago
Cordyline and Dracaena are two distinct genus. Quite often people, and even nurserymen, will intermix the names and treat them as one. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's from the floral industry where the "spikes" are used in baskets.

Cheers, Barrie.
Ron_B
18 years ago
Confusing naming of this (and a related species) starts with botanical naming history. I have to include authority citations for this to work. Synonyms of Cordyline australis (Forst. fil.) Hook. fil. are

Dracaena australis Forst. fil.
Dracaena indivisa hort., p.p.

Collectors seek related C. indivisa (Forst. fil.) Steud. It's synonym is

Dracaena indivisa Forst. fil.

I see C. australis offered as C. indivisa, probably a variation on D. indivisa hort., p.p. Nurserymen trying to offer C. indivisa usually find they got stuck with C. australis after ordering seeds listed as C. indivisa, growing them on.

Abbreviations

fil. (filius) son; used to distinguish the two, when there is both a father and a son who have authored plant names

hort. (hortulanorum) of gardens or horticulture, rather than botany

p.p. (pro parte) in part

Related Stories

COASTAL STYLE Dive Into Palm Beach Style

By Becky Harris

Part preppy, part splashy and all fun, this sunny Florida look will wash any room in eclectic cheer

DECORATING GUIDES Palm Trees Take Interiors on a Tropical Vacation

By Samantha Schoech

Conjure a sultry vibe or bring welcome life to modern rooms. Whatever your interior design style, palm trees are the ticket to enhancing it

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Seattle Remodel Channels Palm Springs

By Lawrence Karol

Indoor and outdoor living merge atypically in this Pacific Northwest home, thanks to California-style updates

DECORATING GUIDES How to Turn Almost Any Space Into a Guest Room

By Laura Gaskill

The Hardworking Home: Murphy beds, bunk compartments and more can provide sleeping quarters for visitors in rooms you use every day

HOUSEPLANTS Meet a Palm That's Fine With Fluorescent Light

By creative jewish mom.com

Get the look of the tropics without the full-on sun and high humidity — parlor palm tolerates regular indoor conditions with aplomb

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Celebrate a Sunny Climate With the Right Leafy Palm for Your Site

By Steve Asbell

So you get freezes or floods. So your garden is small. These palms send excuses riding off into the tropical sunset

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Ways to Bring Palm Beach Fun to Your Pad

By Laura Gaskill

Kick it up at home with palm-leaf motifs, splashes of aqua and citrus hues, and decorating touches with a little wink

EVENTS What to See and Do During Modernism Week in Palm Springs

Get your midcentury modern fix with a side of Palm Springs sunshine. This guide will steer you to the noteworthy events

HOUZZ TOURS Rare Modernist Home Uncovered in Palm Springs

By Nora Burba Trulsson

A custom home by modernist William Krisel gets restored and updated

MIDCENTURY HOMES Houzz Tour: Pools and Martinis Inspire a Palm Springs Remodel

By Mitchell Parker

Weighed down by black-heavy ’80s style, a California desert home gets a fun and lighthearted look just right for its midcentury roots

Sponsored

More Discussions

Arctic blast - NW Edition

27

Helleborus 'Garnet Frills'

4

My favorite plant in my garden, right now.

12

Time for Winter to Go!

5

We wants it! (But will it rule them all?)

10