Reed Palm, Bamboo Palm

Chamaedorea seifrizii Burrett

cam-ah-DOOR-ee-ah  seh-FRIZ-ee-eye

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: For Chamaedorea see C. cataractarum. German botanist William Seifriz was the original collector of C. seifrizii (JON).

Synonym: Chamaedorea erumpens H. E. Moore is traditionally regarded in horticultural contexts as a separate “species” with broader leaflets. Contemporary palm taxonomists regard it as synonymous with C. seifrizii.

Natural range: Mesoamerica (JON)

Recognition: Small (12’), clumping, pinnate-leaved palm with the leaves growing along the stem, and having very narrow stems resembling a bamboo. On females the black fruits are sessile on an orange stalk.

            Cultivars (as featured in ELL) include:

‘Bernecker’ (compact growth, thick stems, and broad leaflets, suitable for interiorscaping)

‘Florida Broadleaf’ (fast-growing, tolerant of especially low light and agreeable to indoor culture)

‘Nana’ (dwarf, clumping, with fine leaflets, uncommon in cultivation)

Landscape uses: Used like a bamboo, generally in the shade (with sun tolerance).

Notes: The palm sold as “Florida Hybrid” is allegedly a hybrid with C. sefrizii and “C. erumpens” as the two parents. Since these are the same species, Florida Hybrid is not really a hybrid, but really more an intermediate point of variation within C. seifrizii. All three names represent the intraspecific variation within C. seifrizii. Florida Hybrid could be regarded as a cultivar. ELL gives 3-6 months for germination.