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| Travellers
Palm / Travellers Tree |
| Ravenala
'madagascariensis' |
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 Ravenala
- Monotypic genus
(ie, a genus containing only one species) |
| Family:
Strelitziaceae (Bird of paradise) |
| Common
Names: Travellers Tree, Travellers
Palm, Nepal Laburnum, Arbol del viajero. |
| Habit: Tree |
| Growth
Rate: Very, very fast. |
| Height:
18m (restricted in containers).
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| Propagation:
Seeds, suckers, rhizome division. |
| Germination
level: Moderate to difficult See below). |
| Light:
The traveller's palm thrives and grows best in
full sun but also grows well in part sun/shade.
Small plants should be shaded until well
established. The traveler's palm requires a lot of
light, especially when grown indoors. |
| Hardiness:
Tender |
| Soil:
Grows well on moist and rich sandy loam and clay
soils. Dry in winter.
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| Origin:
Madagascar |
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| In my
opinion Ravenala - the traveller's palm is one of
the most beautiful and architectural plants on the
planet. It is not a true palm but a member of the
bird-of-paradise family (Strelitziaceae). Its
called the travellers palm because the stems hold
water that can be used by thirsty travellers. |
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| The
truly massive paddle shaped leaves span out in a distinctive
fan shape aligned on a single plane. The leaves
range up to 3m long and from 50cm in width. Young
traveller's palms have a subterranean trunk which,
in the adult plant, emerges above ground elevating
the symmetrical crown to heights ranging from 9 to
18m. The palm like trunk grows up to 0.3 m in
diameter and displays distinctive trunk leaf scar
rings. |
| This
plant needs plenty of water and fertiliser in the
summer months. |
| The
plant is widely cultivated for its distinctive
foliage in tropical and subtropical regions. |
| In the
UK winter protection is required, grow in containers
or use a Plastic
Greenhouse over
the winter period. A thermostatic heater may be
required on frosty nights. Makes a good conservatory
plant (if you have the space). |
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| Seed
Germination: Scrape off loose blue coating. Soak seeds
for 2 days in warm boiled water with Cheshunt Compound
or similar fungicide. Place in a sealed plastic bag with
slightly moist vermiculite or similar sterile growing
media. Place seeds in a well lit spot but out of direct
sunlight, at a constant 25°C and 30°C (75 to 90°F).
Small plants should be shaded until well
established. Pot size: Bigger the better. |
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| Seeds
available from: Chiltern
Seeds |
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| Links:
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