Ravenala madagascariensis - Traveller's Palm - 10 seeds
The Traveller's Palm is another of the highly distinctive species from Madagascar and gets its name from the water source for travellers that accumulates in many parts of the plant such as leaf folds, flower bracts and inside each of the hollow leaf bases.
This is not a true palm, it is actually from the Streliziaceae (Bird of Paradise) family and has been described as being part banana tree and part palm tree. Its long and multiple petioles (stems) and deep green leaves resemble those of the banana and extend distinctively out from the trunk like large slats of a hand fan. The leaves range up to 10m long and from 30 to 50cm in width.
Young plants have a subterranean trunk which, in the adult plant, emerges above ground to elevate the symmetrical fan assembly to heights ranging from 10 to 20m, the green palm-like trunk grows up to 30cm in diameter and displays showy trunk rings.
Multitudes of small creamy white flowers grow from an inflorescence up to 15cm long and a mature Ravenala may flower year round, producing brown fruits in Winter that contain black seeds coated with a light blue waxy film.
The Traveller's Palm tolerates sandy and clayey soils with good drainage, and thrives in rich, moist and loamy soils, they should be moist and have good drainage to yield optimal growth. It responds well to fertiliser and is considered quite a heavy feeder so feed monthly with a light application of commercial tropical plant food, a plant food specifically formulated for palms or use a slow release fertiliser during the Summer growing season.
This vigorous plant is considered very disease and pest resistant.
It thrives best in full sun but also grows well in part sun/shade - small plants should be shaded until well established.
It can be grown indoors while young but requires a high light position.
Mature Traveller's Palms are considered cold hardy in frost-free locations but this is not a species for frost-prone locations.
Propagation from seed is easy and straightforward and be sure to deadhead the flowers or big seed pods if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season. It may also be grown by division and replanting of the attractive suckers that form at the base of the plant.
10 premium quality seeds shipped on receipt of cleared funds.