|
Flower
Flower color:
white/cream/gray
Cocos nucifera 'Malayan Dwarf': 'Malayan Dwarf' Coconut
Palm 2
Figure 1.
Middle-aged Cocos nucifera 'Malayan Dwarf':
'Malayan Dwarf' Coconut Palm
Cocos nucifera 'Malayan Dwarf': 'Malayan Dwarf' Coconut
Palm 3
Figure 2.
Range
Flower characteristics: not
showy
Fruit
Fruit shape:
oval,
round
Fruit length:
6 to 12 inches
Fruit covering:
dry or hard
Fruit color:
green, yellow, brown
Fruit characteristics:
does not attract wildlife;showy;
fruit/leaves a litter problem
Trunk
Trunk/bark/branches:
branches don't droop; not showy;
typically one trunk; thorns
Pruning requirement: little
required
Breakage:
resistant
Current year twig color:
not applicable
Current year twig thickness:
Wood specific gravity: unknown
Culture
Light requirement:
full sun
Soil tolerances: clay; sand;
loam; alkaline; acidic;well-drained
Drought tolerance:
high
Aerosol salt tolerance:
high
Other
Roots:
not a
problem
Winter interest:
no
Outstanding tree:
no
Invasive potential:
little invasive potential
Ozone sensitivity:
unknown
Verticillium wilt
susceptibility: resistant
Pest resistance:
resistant to pests/diseases
Use
and Management
Due to the widespread devastation of lethal
yellowing disease, use the resistant Malayan strains,
often called dwarf or pygmy coconuts, and labelled
yellow, golden, red, and green, according to the color
Cocos nucifera 'Malayan Dwarf': 'Malayan Dwarf' Coconut
Palm 4
Figure 3.
Fruit
of their
fruits, such as `Golden Malayan Dwarf'. The Malayan
palms are very similar to the Jamaican Tall except for
having straight trunks. The red strain is the most
rugged of the three (more resistant to lethal yellowing)
but has the least attractive foliage. Fronds have a
distinct yellow cast to them and many people prefer the
green frond types. Unfortunately, the green frond types
are less resistant to lethal yellowing disease. The
variety `Maypan', a hybrid of Malayan x Panama Tall, has
the most robust and rapid growth yet retains its
resistance to lethal yellowing disease.It also grows
well on poor sites. All Coconut Palms are highly
salt-tolerant and make nice street trees if planted when
they are tall enough. Be aware that falling fruit can
damage vehicles or hit pedestrians and the flower stalks
(in spring) or developing fruit (summer) may need to be
removed.
Coconut Palms grow in full sun on any well-drained
soils. Plants respond well to being fertilized. Malayan
Dwarf selections require more fertilizer and may be more
susceptible to palm aphids than Jamaican Tall coconut
palms.
Propagation is by seed. The large coconuts, with outer
husk, should be half-buried on their side in soil.
Germination can take many months.
Pests
Nematodes may infest this palm.
Diseases
Lethal
yellowing disease, virus diseases, and fungi all affect
Coconut Palms. Be sure to only plant selections which
are resistant to lethal yellowing disease. Ganoderma
butt rot can infect the lower trunk and roots, and can
kill the palm. Avoid injury to the palm in this area.
There is no control for butt rot, only prevention. |
