Canterbury, Umbrella, or Big Mountain Palm
Hedyscepe canterburyana. ARECACEAE (PALMAE).
Planting and Growing Canterbury Palm Trees
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow Canterbury, umbrella, or big mountain palm trees in the accompanying table’s tabs:
-
- Flowers, foliage, fruit, and seeds of Canterbury, umbrella, or big mountain palm trees
- Growing conditions for Canterbury palm trees
- When to plant Canterbury palm trees
- How to plant Canterbury palm trees
- How to prune Canterbury palm trees
- Watering, fertilizing, and care of Canterbury palm trees
- Landscape uses of Canterbury palm trees
- Pest and disease control for Canterbury palm trees
Growing Canterbury Palm Trees
Sole member of a single-species genus of slow-growing, erect, round-crowned, evergreen palms, to 30 ft. (9 m) tall, with shiny, light green, stiff leaves, to 14 in. (36 cm) long, radiating from both sides of long, woody, arched, raylike stalks, 20–24 in. (50–60 cm) long. Develops offsets.
Sentry or Kentia palm, Howea forsterana, is a closely related species with similar care needs.
Canterbury Palm Planting and Care Guide
Flowers and Seeds
Showy, small white flowers on clustered bracts in the foliage crown, in spring–summer, form fleshy, datelike fruit containing, oval, hard-shelled seed, 1-1/2 in. (38 mm) long, in autumn.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 9–11. Tender. Best in subtropical and tropical climates.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus. Fertility: Rich–average. 7.0–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Full to filtered sun. Space 8–10 ft. (2.4–3 m) apart.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize quarterly. Prune to remove dried leafstalks at trunk. Wind tolerant. Propagate by seed, suckers.
About This Species
Good choice for accents, containers, fencelines, groups, screens in seaside, turfgrass gardens. Good for tropical effects. Pest and disease resistant.