Plant Profile

Veitchia merrillii (Christmas Palm, Manila Palm)

An erect palm with single trunk. It has a very showy feather look like canopy with a glossy, bright red fruit. It has a very neat appearance and well suited as a patio, terrace or speciment tree. Unfortunately very sensitive to the lethal yellowing disease.

Landscape Information
Botanical Description
Horticulture Management

Forest & Kim Starr [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By R. BENEZET (Vietnam 2002) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Mmcknight4 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By R. BENEZET (Vietnam 2002) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Forest & Kim Starr [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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French Name: Palmier de Noël,

Pronunciation: VEE-chee-uh mer-RILL-ee-eye
Plant type: Palm
Origin: Philippines
Heat Zones: 10 to 12

Hardiness Zones: 10 to 12
Uses: Specimen, Indoor
Size/Shape

Growth Rate: Moderate

Tree Shape: Upright, Palm

Canopy Symmetry: Symmetrical

Canopy Density: Open

Canopy Texture: Medium

Height at Maturity: 3 to 5 m

Spread at Maturity: 1.5 to 3 meters

Time to Ultimate Height: 10 to 20 Years
Notes
Unfortunately, the palm is very susceptible to lethal yellowing disease. There are other Veitchia resistant to the disease, such as Veitchia macdanialsi and Veitchia montgumeryana.

Forest & Kim Starr [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By R. BENEZET (Vietnam 2002) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Mmcknight4 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By R. BENEZET (Vietnam 2002) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Forest & Kim Starr [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Foliage

Leaf Arrangement : Alternate

Leaf Venation: Parallel

Leaf Persistance: Evergreen

Leaf Type: Odd Pinnately compund

Leaf Blade: 30 - 50

Leaf Shape: Linear

Leaf Margins: Entire

Leaf Texture: Medium

Leaf Scent: No Fragance

Color(growing season): Green

Color(changing season): Green
Flower

Flower Showiness: No

Flower Size Range: 0 - 1.5

Flower Type: Panicle

Flower Sexuality: Diecious (Monosexual)

Flower Scent: No Fragance

Flower Color: Green, Yellow

Seasons: Summer
Trunk

Trunk has Crownshaft: Yes

Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Generally resists breakage

Number of Trunks: Single Trunk

Trunk esthetic Values: Showy, Smooth, Colored
Fruit

Fruit Type: Drupe

Fruit Showiness: Yes

Fruit Size Range: 1.5 - 3

Fruit Color: Red

Seasons: Summer

Forest & Kim Starr [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
By R. BENEZET (Vietnam 2002) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
By Mmcknight4 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
By R. BENEZET (Vietnam 2002) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Forest & Kim Starr [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Tolerance

Frost Tolerant: No

Heat Tolerance: Yes

Drought Tolerance: No

Salt Tolerance: Poor
Requirements

Soil Requirements: Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil Ph Requirements: Acidic, Neutral

Water Requirements: Moderate

Light Requirements: Full, Part
Management

Toxicity: No

Invasive Potential: No

Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: No

Pruning Requirements: Little needed, to develop a strong structure

Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: Yes

Surface Rooting: No

Life Span: 25-50 years

Plant Propagation: Seed