Double coconut palm (Lodoicea maldivica)
The rare Lodoicea maldivica (Double coconut palm) is famed for its massive seeds and majestic form. Grow in tropical Zones 10-12.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Lodoicea maldivica, universally recognized as the Double coconut palm or coco-de-mer, is arguably the most famous palm specimen worldwide due to its extraordinary biology. This giant endemic to the Seychelles possesses the largest seed of any known plant, making any mature specimen a true horticultural marvel. Gardeners interested in the rarest of species will find the Lodoicea maldivica captivating, though its massive size and slow growth restrict it primarily to premier botanical collections.
Mature Double coconut palm trees quickly reach heights between 90 and 100 feet, topping out with a dense crown of gigantic, fan-shaped fronds. Despite its size potential, the plant requires surprisingly low maintenance once established in the correct environment. It thrives in consistent warmth, representing the pinnacle of exotic, tropical grandeur in the ornamental palm world.
Its unique features extend beyond its fruit; the plant is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers appear on separate trunks, adding complexity to its propagation and life cycle. While largely inaccessible to typical home gardens, appreciating the slow majesty of the Lodoicea maldivica elevates any dedicated tropical landscape setting.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Arecaceae
- Plant Type: Palm or Cycad
- Native Range: Seychelles
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-12
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 90-100 ft
- Spread: 50-60 ft
- Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
- Bloom Description: Catkin-like, purple (male) green-brown (female)
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
To successfully nurture the Double coconut palm, mimic its native environment as closely as possible. Planting is best attempted in tropical or near-tropical regions within USDA Zones 10b and above, where temperatures rarely dip below 35°F. This palm demands placement in full, unfiltered sun, which fuels its substantial growth rate over decades.
Soil preparation is crucial; the Lodoicea maldivica requires evenly moist conditions balanced with excellent drainage. Heavy, waterlogged soil must be avoided, as this leads to root issues common to many palms. While designated as low maintenance, young palms benefit from regular, deep watering to establish their slow-growing root systems, transitioning to a medium watering schedule as they mature.
Due to the extremely slow growth rate—taking 20 years or more merely to achieve reproductive maturity—fertilization should be consistent but conservative, focusing on balanced micronutrients necessary for palm health. Pruning is minimal, usually limited to removing only completely dead fronds to maintain a clean silhouette beneath the towering canopy of the Lodoicea maldivica.
Landscape Uses
Although the Double coconut palm is generally listed as a suggested annual due to its prohibitive demands outside of tropical refuges, its true value lies as a spectacular specimen planting. Its immense size and historical significance mean it commands attention wherever it is sited, making it unparalleled for centerpieces in large estates or meticulously curated botanical gardens.
This palm contributes a sense of powerful, ancient majesty, often paired with low-growing, colorful tropical underplanting that won’t compete visually with the trunk or the base of the massive fronds overhead. In its native habitat within the Seychelles, it forms essential canopy structure for endemic wildlife, including several species of gecko and the Seychelles black parrot.
Acquiring the Lodoicea maldivica legally is extremely challenging due to its protected status, highlighting that its primary recommended use today is appreciation within its native islands or specialized conservation collections, rather than general landscape installation outside Zone 11.
Standout Features
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lodoicea maldivica, commonly called double coconut palm or coco-de-mer, is a large palm endemic to Praslin Island and Curieuse Island of the Seychelles. Mature specimens can reach over 100’ tall with a straight, grey trunk topped with a crown of large, fan-shaped fronds that can reach up to 30’ long and 15’ wide. The double coconut palm is perhaps most well-known for having the heaviest seed of any living plant, which takes up to 7 years to mature. This species holds immense cultural significance, though poaching threatens wild populations, emphasizing its rarity outside of protected areas.
Tolerances
No specific tolerances were listed for this entry.
Potential Problems
The Double coconut palm enjoys a reputation for resilience, showing no major pest or disease problems of note in its environment. Gardeners should focus their preventative efforts primarily on ensuring its cultural needs—specifically warmth and drainage—are perfectly met, as stress from improper soil moisture is the most likely contributor to decline, rather than specific external pathogens.
Given the slow nature of the Lodoicea maldivica, recovering from any significant insult takes excessive time, making proactive cultural management far more effective than reactive treatment. Ensure the soil drains freely, as standing water will rapidly compromise the health of this magnificent palm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Double coconut palm suitable for?
The Double coconut palm is hardy in USDA Zones 10 through 12, requiring protection if temperatures are predicted to fall below approximately 35°F.
How large does Double coconut palm grow?
This truly colossal palm achieves heights reaching 90 to 100 feet, spreading 50 to 60 feet wide at the crown.
What sun exposure does Lodoicea maldivica need?
The Lodoicea maldivica requires full sun exposure to develop strongly and thrive in its tropical climate.
When does Double coconut palm bloom?
It is a seasonal bloomer, producing catkin-like inflorescences; the male flowers are purple, while the female flowers are green-brown.
Conclusion
The Lodoicea maldivica remains an iconic emblem of botanical rarity, celebrated for its colossal seed and powerful, slow-growing stature. While the magnificent Double coconut palm is largely reserved for expert growers or botanical gardens due to its strict tropical requirements, understanding its needs—full sun, medium water, and excellent drainage—is key to appreciating its existence. If you are gardening within Zones 10-12, research local propagation efforts to potentially support the conservation and study of this unique species.
Companion Planting Considerations
When designing a landscape where the Lodoicea maldivica might thrive (Zones 10-12), focus on species that tolerate high heat and humidity while complementing its massive scale. Low-growing, colorful tropical groundcovers or mass plantings of bromeliads work beautifully beneath the canopy line, as they do not compete for vertical space. Consider large-leafed tropicals like Elephant Ears (Colocasia esculeata) or Heliconias to enhance the jungle aesthetic without overwhelming the palm’s footprint near the base.
Since companion plants must tolerate full sun exposure similar to the palm, plants requiring significant afternoon shade should be avoided unless planting far outside the drip line. The primary goal beneath a mature specimen is to use plants that highlight the gray trunk and vast spread of the fronds, allowing the Double coconut palm to remain the undisputed focal point.
Wildlife Benefits of Lodoicea maldivica
The Lodoicea maldivica plays a fundamental ecological role within its native Seychelles habitat, providing crucial shelter and sustenance for endemic species. Several animals rely directly on this palm for survival, including the Seychelles bulbul, the Seychelles black parrot, and various species of endemic gecko.
Beyond immediate food and shelter, the giant fronds offer substantial protection from weather elements, creating microclimates for smaller organisms underneath. Historically, islanders have made significant use of the materials derived from the palm, from roofing thatch to baskets woven from utilized leaves, showcasing a deep symbiotic relationship.
This vital ecological significance underlines why protecting wild populations of the Double coconut palm is paramount, especially considering unsustainable harvesting of the massive nuts has historically threatened its survival in the wild.
