Description

The Caranday Palm or Copernicia alba (aka Wax Palm) is not well known in cultivation and is considered rare.

The origin of the Caranday Palm is Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina.

The Caranday Palm has a fan shaped leaf growing from the top of the trunk and is about 2 feet long. The leaves of the Caranday range from light green to silver to light blue. The Caranday leaves produce wax that is used today for candles, lipstick, and some car polishes. Another interesting fact is that the trunk is very hard and is used for dividers for farmer’s fields, fences, walls, floors, and telephone poles.

The Copernicia alba is a slow grower. This palm can grow up to 40 feet tall and in the wild the Caranday Palm has been known to reach heights of 60 to 70 feet. The spread on this palm is about 10 to 15 feet wide so this should be taken into consideration when planting in a group or near a structure, sidewalk, or driveway. Also an important fact to keep in mind about this palm is it does produce spines or sharp edges so use extreme caution when handling.

The Caranday is fairly cold hardy withstanding temperatures of 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. It requires full to partial sun. It does best in moist well drained soil. The Caranday palm is easy to grow and maintain. To prevent any deficiency you should apply a good quality palm fertilizer that has a continual release formula twice a year.

The Caranday Palm is a stunning palm that could be used as a standalone focal point or can be grouped together using two to three for a stand out specimen. This palm is gaining popularity in many regions.

Call Palmco today at 239-283-1329 and ask us about these stunning rare palms.