Veitchia merrillii

The Adonidia merrillii, formerly known as Veitchia merrillii, is better known as the Manila Palm. It is a very pretty plant whose silhouette perfectly evokes the image of a palm tree as it is commonly imagined: on a single and straight stipe blooms a bouquet of large fern-like leaves, of an intense green colour and gracefully arched. Susceptible to frost, this species is grown in a container or a large pot, which allows it to be sheltered from the cold in winter. With a modest growth and slow development, the Manila Palm is an excellent candidate for decorating the veranda or a very bright interior that is not too warm in winter.

The Veitchia merrillii belongs to the family of Arecaceae. It is native to the Philippines, Malaysia, and Borneo, naturalized in the Caribbean. English speakers call it the 'Christmas Palm' because it fruits during that time of the year. This species from a humid tropical climate cannot tolerate frost, but adapts well to indoor cultivation as long as winter temperatures do not drop below 10°C and the atmosphere remains somewhat humid. Young plants take some time to establish themselves, then growth accelerates. When planted in the ground, the Manila Palm can reach over 4.50 m in height, but it will not exceed 2 m in all directions if grown in a container indoors or in a greenhouse.

This Adonidia merrillii slowly develops a single trunk, called a stipe, of a grey colour, strongly ringed with prominent leaf scars. At the top of this stipe, a beautiful foliage crown develops, elegantly drooping. It is composed of 12 to 15 large pinnate leaves, reaching 2 m in length, curved downwards. The leaf is divided into 40 to 62 lanceolate leaflets, regularly arranged in a single plane, slightly drooping. Their colour is a dark green on both sides. Once dead, the leaf detaches from the stipe and falls to the ground. Flowering occurs in summer, on mature plants aged 10 to 11 years, and under favourable growing conditions. It takes the form of arched and branched inflorescences, reaching 40-50 cm in length, emerging under the leaves. Each one bears white flowers that will produce ovoid fruits, with a beak, measuring 2 cm in length and displaying a decorative bright red colour.

The Veitchia merrillii is an architectural plant that will make a statement in the veranda, greenhouse, or a very bright and lightly heated room. It thrives well in container culture and can be taken out onto the terrace or balcony from May to September, after an acclimatization period. Like all palm trees, it is challenging to associate due to its strong personality: reserve a corner by a pool or a good spot on the terrace, initially exposing it to partial shade so it gradually gets used to the sun. Surround it with  New Zealand Flax, graphic, sober, and colourful, agaves precise and geometric, or Cordyline for example.