Jubaea Chilensis (Chilean Wine Palm)

Plant Description
It is especially slow growing when young eventually attaining a very thick trunk.

Unusually for a palm it is monoecious and produces edible fruit called coquito’s which resemble and taste like a miniature coconut. It is becoming uncommon in its native habitat as it is cut down for its sugary sap which is distilled to make the delicacy known as ‘palm honey’ hence it is now a protected species.

Nevertheless, Jubaea chilensis is a very impressive palm but because of its rarity and slow growing disposition we presently only offer one size and stock is limited.

Suitability
Considered to be one of the hardiest of the ‘feather leaf’ palms, it grows up to 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) above sea level in its natural habitat. In the wild, the tree lives almost exclusively on the steep slopes of ravines.

A magnificent specimen can be seen in Kew’s Temperate House. Raised from seed in 1846, it is widely believed to be the world’s tallest glasshouse plant and is certainly the largest palm under glass.

Origin
An unusual collectors’ palm that is native to South America, where it is endemic to a small area of central Chile. It is now a protected species in its native habitat.