In a bright outdoor location, the Chinese hemp palm can also often bloom in this country. Amidst green palm fronds, the yellow flowers are strikingly staged. A beautiful sight that can be admired for a long time. Or the flower comes away for a "good cause".

Usually the hemp palm only blooms when it is outdoors

When to expect flowers

Hemp palms that are cultivated in pots indoors bloom extremely rarely. Planted outdoors, they regularly show their yellow flowers from April to June if the following conditions are met:

  • the palm tree is doing well, it gets optimal care
  • it is already "grown up" with a trunk height of at least 1 m
  • the location is very bright

Individual flowers form inflorescences

What looks like a flower from a distance is actually an inflorescence composed of many individual flowers. The panicle is branched several times and hangs down on a thick stalk. It can grow to be 70 to 90 cm. A palm tree can bear several inflorescences at the same time. After flowering, the panicles wither and dry up, but remain attached to the palm until cut off by the palm owner.

Male and female palms

Externally not noticeable at first, but there are actually only male and female hemp palms. Both bloom, but not exactly the same. While the flowers of a male palm are bright yellow, those of the female palm are more greenish. Female flowers also appear bushier overall.

pollination and seed collection

In order for flowers to be pollinated, you need a female and a male palm. You also have to take care of the pollination yourself. To do this, first stroke a fully opened male flower several times with a brush and then a female flower.

Fruit can only form on female flowers. It is unlikely that you can actually harvest purple-blue, fully mature specimens in our latitudes. They would be edible.

Cut off for more leaf sprouting

Blossom and seed formation bind a lot of energy. If you want to win seeds in order to dare to propagate the hemp palm at home, you should still leave the flower. Also, of course, if you find the palm tree with the inflorescence enchanting.

If you prefer growth and want more green leaves, you should cut the flower early.

Category:

Trees