Rhapis excelsa

RHAPIS PALM

Rhapis Excelsa: The Lady Palm

Rhapis excelsa, the Lady Palm, is grown in the garden and used indoors in a house and offices. Rhapis adapts to a wide range of climates, soils, and environments, making the “lady Palm” popular for many interior spaces as it works as a natural air cleaner.

They have large thick leaves with blunt tips and wide segments which gives Rhapis excelsa its occasional name “broadleaf lady palm”.

Sturdy canes or stems find themselves covered with a fibrous sheath or coarse, dark brown fiber. Exclesa is fairly cold hardy and can tolerate tropical and subtropical temperatures from 20 to 100 degrees F and handles both humid and dry climates.

A prolific producer of rhizome offshoots adds fullness and provides an easy method to increase numbers by division. In addition, seed is occasionally available.

Rhapis is a slow grower. A typical 6 – 8″ potted plant has been growing in the nursery for minimum of 2 years.If you desire a larger Rhapis for an immediate decorative effect, age, size and species will determine its price.

It is not unusual for the larger sizes to be nursery grown for 4 – 7 years. This is one reason you find Rhapis being more expensive then other ornamental plants and palms. Believe me, they are worth the expense.

Rhapis are some of the easiest palms to grow and care for, but each species has its own particular environment and culture requirements. This makes Rhapis very versatile. Wherever you may live, Rhapis is one plant that will thrive in your house.

Outstanding for container culture.
Bamboo-like canes and fan-shaped leaves.
Partial sunlight to shade.

Rhapis & Light

As with most indoor plants getting the right amount of light is a key factor in your plants health. Indoors, Rhapis grow best in bright, indirect light near a window or skylight but is very adaptable to low light areas.

Watering Rhapis

Rhapis should be thoroughly watered by soaking or drenching the entire root system. They like their soil to stay moist. Drying the soil severely can cause the foliage to turn gray, and tips to burn.

If the soil becomes too moist, the soil can encourage root rot and damage will eventually show up in the foliage with browning tips, or spotting on the new growth.