Bismarckia nobilis
Hildebrandt & Wendland

Blue/silver form

Male (blue)	Female (blue)

Juvenile (blue)	Seedling (blue)

Green form

Bismarckia nobilis comes from Madagascar. The fronds on this palm can get up to 10 feet across; because of its size, this palm needs lots of room to be seen at it's best. Bismarckia can tolerate drought and frost and is a relatively fast grower. The two forms of this palm, blue/silver and green, differ in color and purportedly also in environmental preference/tolerance. The green form seems to do better along the coastal areas of southern California (cooler climate) and the blue form takes the inland heat better. Very few of the green form are planted in south Florida, perhaps because of their inability to withstand heat, or perhaps because the blue form is so much more stunning.

"Juvenile (blue)" and bottom photos courtesy and copyright © 1998, Mike Maxson, Palms of the World. Top three and "Seedling (blue)" photos copyright © 1998, Jody Haynes; top three taken at Fairchild Tropical Garden.

Click here for cold-hardiness
information on this palm.

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