Teddybear Palm, Redneck Palm

Dypsis leptocheilos (Hodel) Beentje & J. Dransf. Palms of Madagascar: 176. 1995. (With comments on Dypsis lastelliana (Baill.) Beentje & J .Dransf.)

DIP-sis lept-oh-KYE-los

Arecaceae

Explanation of name: Dypsis is of unclear origins. Lepto-cheilos means narrow-lipped (JON). De Lastelle is a personal name (JON).

Synonymy and closely related species: Dypsis leptocheilos and the similar Dypsis lastelliana are both from Madagascar and are confusingly similar. Trees properly belonging to the former are often sold erroneously as D. lastelliana. Both were previously named as species of Neodypsis (Neodypsis leptocheilos Hodel, Neodypsis lastelliana Baill.), and were interpreted as belonging to Dypsis in 1995.

Natural range: (D. leptocheilos and D. lastelliana): Probably Madagascar (but ELL notes absence of wild populations there).  Moist forest (JON for D. lastelliana), Rainforest (PAL for D. leptocheilos)

Recognition: Tall, single-trunked, white-trunked, pinnate-leaved palms having distinctive more or less reddish wool on the crownshafts. Dypsis lastelliana is slower-growing and ultimately taller. Its leaflets are oriented downward and have a drooping, near-vertical, wilted aspect (vs. not drooping in D. leptocheilos). (Compare the photos in ELL.)  The crownshafts are darker-toned (rust to even darker). Dypsis leptocheilos is faster-growing, ultimately shorter, stiffer (some leaflets oriented downward yet angled and stiff-looking), and has more reddish, or lighter-toned crownshaft. Most of the “Teddybear Palms” in Palm Beach County are probably D. leptocheilos. According to RA2, D. leptocheilos is more cold-tolerant, is more tolerant of poor soils, and demands less moisture. ELL gives 2-4 months for germination.

Landscape uses: These specimen palms are best where their colorful crownshafts are displayed.