The Princess palm, also known as the Hurricane palm is an elegant Florida palm tree. It is very similar to the Alexander palm in appearance. The Princess palm is cultivated as an accent specimen in landscapes in the Sunshine State. The Dictyosperma Album can be grown as a container plant when young.

Additional Information:

Scientific name:  Dictyosperma Album

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Dictyosperma

Origin: It is native to Mascarene Islands. In its native habitat the Dictyosperma album is endangered and close to extinction because the palm heart is used as food.

Names: It is called the Hurricane palm due its ability to withstand hurricane force winds.

Growth rate: Moderate

Trunk: The Princess palm develops a self-cleaning, swollen at the base, grey trunk that is topped with prominent, pale crownshaft. The trunk grows 30 feet tall.

Leaves: There are 10-20 leaves in crown. They are pinnate, arching, green, covered in white wax. Young palms have redish leaves.

Indoor/Outdoor Use: Both

Maintenance: Low

Light exposure: It prefers full sun.

Water requirements: The Dictyosperma album requires adequate water.

Drought toleration: Fairly drought resistant 

Cold toleration: It is cold hardy down to 29 F.

Flowers: The flower stalk of cream to yellow flowers come below the leaves. Male and female flowers occur on the same inflorescence.

Fruits: The palm bears oval, purple to black drupes.

Propagation: It is propagated from seed. Germination occurs in 2-4 months.

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