What is a blue palm
A bismarckia nobilisalso known as blue palm, is an ornamental plant that can reach up to 15 meters high. She got this name due to her bluish leaves, which are fan-shaped.
The species originates from Madagascar and is very tolerant of intense heat – but it also does well in the different Brazilian biomes and is able to withstand reasonable cold temperatures of up to 10ºC. In its homeland, the plant develops perfectly and reaches an incredible 20 meters in height. Its crown (that is, the set of leaves in its crown), in turn, can reach 6 meters in diameter.
Blue palm can also be grown indoors. apartmentsas long as you are in a suitable vase and get lots of light. In the first years of life, it presents a slow growth, but then accelerates. Its fruits come in large quantities and in a rounded shape and its flowering occurs in spring.
To understand more about this exuberant palm tree, how to cultivate it and how to apply it in landscaping projects, continue in our article:
Care of cultivation and planting of the blue palm tree
How to make a blue palm seedling
It is only possible to make blue palm seedlings with fertile seeds. Because it is dioecious, the plant has female and male specimens with similar blooms. If you want to make seedlings, you must have the plants of both sexes close together for pollination to occur.
As mentioned, growth in the first years of life can be slow. For the seedlings to grow beautiful and healthy, guarantee a good light, irrigation and fertilization.
During the first few months of transplanting, you may need to water it every day. But, according to its growth and root formation, this interval increases.
How to plant blue palm
The blue palm is a rustic plant that can be planted directly into the soil and grows in soil of low fertility – but appreciates those that are fertile, with organic matter and well drained.
The incidence of sunlight on the plant must be constant and intense, respecting its origins and needs. As for watering, it must be regular in order to keep the soil moist, but not soaked, as this can rot the roots. Once a week should be enough.
In areas where summer rains occur, its growth can be faster. On the other hand, in places where it rains more in winter, growth is slower.
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What precautions are needed in cultivation?
If you choose to grow the blue palm indoors, remember to choose an appropriate pot. Once mature, the plant does not tolerate many transplantsso prefer to transplant the young seedlings and avoid messing with the roots.
In addition, it is a species sensitive to burning for fertilizers. A pruning should occur only for the removal of yellow or dry leaves.
How long does the blue palm tree take to grow and how big can the blue palm tree grow
In its first years of life, growth will be 30 to 60 cm per year. But, once established, this rhythm increases and it can reach up to 15 meters here in Brazil.
Already in Africa, under ideal conditions of climate and where it originates, the height can reach more than 20 meters. In intense heat, it develops better and has a stronger color.
How to recover a blue palm tree
If you notice that your blue palm tree is unhealthy and may be dying, don’t despair. There’s a way!
First, dig around the plant and carefully pull it out of the ground. check for rotten roots, black or gray. If so, cut them out. Then leave the plant in direct contact with the sun for two hours so that it can dry the rest of the roots.
After that, just prepare the place where the plant will be placed again and insert the necessary nutrients through a organic compost.
Blue palm landscaping designs
The blue palm tree can be used both in contemporary and tropical gardens. The plant is widely used in landscaping projects due to its sculptural beauty, wide canopy and large, erect leaves. Dead leaves fall easily and there is no skirt formed by old leaves, as can be seen in other species.
Landscaping with the species is common in condominiums, facades and business areas, in addition to passages to a more pleasant appearance and milder climate. But it also serves to decorate buildings, as their size and beauty accentuate them.
If you want to use it in your project, consider scaling the space, as it is a big palm tree. It is important to provide a minimum clear diameter of 6 meters for the canopy and a distance of 10 meters for the observation point (where people will spend most of their time). Due to its monumental scale, it needs to be seen from afar.
Liked? Check out the gallery below for some inspiration: