Bottle Palm

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis

Bottle palm.

The Bottle palm is interesting in that its trunk has a smooth gray surface and a shape that makes it look like an arrangement of palm fronds in a vase. At least that's what it looks like to me.

The trunk starts out fat when the tree is young and slims as it increases in height. Atop the concrete colored trunk sits a smooth green crown shaft from which grows 4-8 upward arching fronds. In a mature specimen, these fronds are about 10 feet long. In the summer, when it blooms, the flower stalks emerge from the point where the crown shaft meets the trunk.

Bottle palm growing amid the ruins of a sugar plantation.

You can really see how vase-like the trunk can be on this specimen which is growing amongst the ruins of a 19th century sugar plantation on St. Croix.


Hyophorbe lagenicaulis can grow to a height of 12 feet in sun to part day shade. This is a tender tree that thrives in zones 10 -11. I do know that there are some growing in the ground as far north as Kissimmee, FL which is zone 9b.

They are grown on the coast of southern CA, but suffer inland. H. lagenicaulis is common in Hawaii and the tropics. If you live in a colder area, you'll be happy to know that this palm can be grown in a pot. It's a slow grower.


Bottle Palm Care

You can plant this tree in any well drained soil. Feed with a palm fertilizer in spring, summer and fall. If the soil is rich, you can feed less frequently.

Provide supplemental water if growing the tree in full sun.

Its unique and sculptural appearance makes this palm a popular landscape accent where it is hardy.




Spindle Palm The spindle palm, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii is closely related to the bottle palm, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis.

Pony Tail Palm Tree The pony tail palm tree is often collected because of its “elephant foot” base in which it can store water for as long as a year!

Bismark Palm Tree The Bismark palm tree (Bismarck palm tree), with its huge blue/grey fans (there is a plain green variety also, and one with silver leaves)is one of the worlds most striking palms.

Go from Bottle Palm to Plant Guides Home Page



footer for bottle palm page