Pinanga coronata (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Position: Partial shade
Flowering period: All year round
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 15m
Eventual Spread: 5m
Hardiness: 10a, 10b, 11, 12, 13
Family: Arecaceae
Pinanga coronata is a tropical evergreen palm with a clump forming habit. Its dark green leaves are palmate with up to 60 leaflets, up to 1.5m long and 1.5m across. Its leaflets are linear/ lanceolate, up to 90cm long and 6cm across. Its trunk may achieve a diameter of up to 10cm. Its flowers appear as pendulous clusters, emerging from the leaf scars on its stem. Its obovoid fruit are green when young, maturing to red/ brown, up to 15mm long and 10mm across.
Pinanga coronata Leaf (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Pinanga coronata, commonly known as Kuhl’s Palm, Pinang palm or Ivory Cane Palm, is native to Indonesia. In its native habitat it grows in mountain forests as an understory plant.
The etymological root of the binomial name Pinanga is derived from the Malay vanacular name for this plant. Coronata is derived from the Latin corono meaning ‘crown’.
The landscape architect may find Pinanga coronata useful as an attractive evergreen palm tree. It is also suitable for use as a houseplant, suitable for bright to medium indirect light conditions. It should be noted this palm requires high humidity.
Pinanga coronata Stem (16/01/2016, Kew Gardens, London)
Ecologically, Pinanga coronata is of little value to UK wildlife.
Pinanga coronata prefers moist, fertile, humus rich, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
When maintaining Pinanga coronata as a houseplant its soil should be watered regularly. Watering should be reduced during the winter months. Its preferred active growing temperature rages from between 18ºc to 28ºc, it will tolerate a temperature as low as 4ºc. Feeding with weak fertiliser solution should be carried out once a month during the growing season. Regular spraying with water will help achieve a higher humidity.
Landscape Architecture
