Adonidia merrilliiManila Palm

Slender enough for a narrow bed and clean enough to plant over paving, Adonidia merrillii is what specifiers reach for when a royal palm would be too much. The Manila Palm carries a smooth grey ringed trunk topped by a bright green crownshaft and a symmetrical crown of arching pinnate fronds, reaching 4.5 to 7.5 metres in cultivation.

Its modest footprint and clean habit make it one of the most specified palms for entrance courts, poolside settings and narrow avenue beds where a larger palm would overwhelm the space.

Specifications

• Height4.5 to 7.5 metres
• Width2.5 to 3.5 metres (crown spread)
• Native toThe Philippines
• FoliageArching pinnate fronds, bright glossy green, held in a symmetrical crown above a green crownshaft; evergreen
• Growth rateModerate

Conditions

• SoilPrefers fertile, well-drained sandy or loamy soils
• LightFull sun to partial shade
• WaterModerate; regular irrigation in hot, dry conditions
• ClimateThrives in tropical and warm subtropical regions; frost sensitive

Additional Features

• FormSlender grey ringed trunk with a green crownshaft and a neat, symmetrical crown
• FlowersBranched sprays of small creamy white flowers emerging below the crownshaft
• FruitDense clusters of oval fruit ripening bright red, at their best in winter
• UsesIdeal for entrance courts, poolside planting, narrow avenue beds and grouped resort planting
• SpacingPlant 3 to 4 metres apart for groups or avenue rhythm
• Low MaintenanceSelf-cleaning; old fronds drop cleanly and pruning is rarely needed
• Pest ResistanceGenerally resilient, though susceptible to lethal yellowing where that disease is present
• Frost SensitivityDamaged by frost; suited only to frost-free positions

The Manila Palm is a refined, well-mannered palm that delivers tropical structure without the scale or upkeep of the larger avenue species.