Rhapis humilis Thunb., A. Henry

Common name(s): Slender Lady Palm, Broadleaf Lady, Bamboo Palm Palm

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae) Synonym(s): Rhapis javanica Blume 1839, Chamaerops excelsa var. humilior Thunb. 1784, Licuala waraguh Blume 1830, Chamaerops sirotsik H. Wendl. 1854, Raphis sirotsik H.Wendl 1878
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark
Bark
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf
Leaves
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Pinna
Pinna
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
China
  • Hainan: Indigenous
  • Yunnan: Indigenous
  • Guangxi: Indigenous
  • Guizhou: Indigenous
  • Chongqing: Indigenous
  • Sichuan: Indigenous
  • Guangdong: Indigenous
  • Fujian: Indigenous
  • Jiangxi: Indigenous
  • Hunan: Indigenous
Indonesia
  • Java: Indigenous
Japan
  • Japan: Indigenous
Plant Type
Clumping, Frond Self Cleaning, Palm Fan-leaved
Clumping,
Frond Self Cleaning,
Palm Fan-leaved
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Cool, Temperate Warm, Tropical-Sub, Tropical
Temperate Cool,
Temperate Warm,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Morning, Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light, Shade - Medium, Shade - Heavy
Sun - Morning,
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light,
Shade - Medium,
Shade - Heavy
Habitat Range(s)
Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical, Rainforest - Monsoonal
Rainforest - Sub-tropical,
Rainforest - Tropical,
Rainforest - Monsoonal
Habitat Zone(s)
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Hill Sides, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Understory, Well drained
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Hill Sides,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Understory,
Well drained
Mature Height
3-4m, 4-5m
3-4m,
4-5m
Mature Width
750mm-1m, 1-2m, 2-3m
750mm-1m,
1-2m,
2-3m
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Plant Shape
Clump - Upright
Clump - Upright
Clump - Upright Clump - Upright
Life Span
50-100yrs
50-100yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Green Dark
Green Dark
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Green Dark
Green Dark
Frond Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Ribbed
Ribbed
Glabrous Glabrous,
Ribbed Ribbed
Frond Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Ribbed
Ribbed
Tomentose
Tomentose
Glabrous Glabrous,
Ribbed Ribbed,
Tomentose Tomentose
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Frond Length
300-400mm
300-400mm
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Palmate Divided
Palmate Divided
Palmate Divided Palmate Divided
Frond Arrangement
Alternate
Alternate
Alternate Alternate
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Brown Dark, Green Dark
Brown Dark,
Green Dark
Colour(s) (Base)
Brown Dark, Green Dark
Brown Dark,
Green Dark
Texture (Upper)
Coarse , Fibrous , Hairs-stiff , Hairy
Coarse,
Fibrous,
Hairs-stiff,
Hairy
Texture (Base)
Hairs-stiff / Hirsute
Hairs-stiff / Hirsute
Hairs-stiff / Hirsute Hairs-stiff / Hirsute
Coarse , Fibrous , Hairy
Coarse,
Fibrous,
Hairy
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Male
Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Male Non-staminate Flower
Male Non-staminate Flower
Obtriangular
Obtriangular
Male Non-staminate Flower Male Non-staminate Flower,
Obtriangular Obtriangular
Flower Size(s) Length
5-7.5mm
5-7.5mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
Pannicle Pannicle
Erect
Erect
Pollinator(s)
Insects
Insects
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Gender: Female
Colour(s)
Yellow
Yellow
Flower Shape(s)
Female or Pistillate Flower
Female or Pistillate Flower
Clavate
Clavate
Female or Pistillate Flower Female or Pistillate Flower,
Clavate Clavate
Flower Size(s) Length
1.5-2mm
1.5-2mm
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Pannicle
Pannicle
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
Pannicle Pannicle
Erect
Erect
Pollinator(s)
Insects
Insects
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Bacca
Bacca
Bacca Bacca
Shape(s)
Ovoid
Ovoid
Ovoid Ovoid
Length
5-10mm
5-10mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous
Rhizome Stoloniferous Rhizome Stoloniferous
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Dry
Dry
Moist Moist,
Dry Dry
Fertile , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
None
None
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
None
None
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Smog Tolerance
Good
Good
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Special Purpose(s)
Garden-Container, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Formal, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Japanese, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Interesting Trunk, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Shade Tolerant, Shady Dry, Shady Moist, Specimen, Suckering, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Garden-Container,
Foliage-Interesting,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Formal,
Garden-Indoors,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Japanese,
Garden-Rainforest,
Garden-Tropical,
Interesting Trunk,
Pond Edge,
Pool Side,
Shade Tolerant,
Shady Dry,
Shady Moist,
Specimen,
Suckering,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

General Notes

Rhapis palms have been cultivated for centuries, as early as 17th century in China and Japan then slowly spread to Europe and America. Like its close relative Rhapis excelsa there really is no known wild specimens of the palm. Rhapis humilis does well indoors and gardens with plenty of shade and shelter from winds. Tolerating a fair amount of cold it still does best outdoors in the tropics with shade. Forming dense bamboo-like clumps with the trunks covered with dark, fibrous square net and leaf sheaths looking like hairy bamboo canes. Being slow growing it can take 10 years or more to reach maturity. 

It should be noted  that most R. humilis in cultivation are male plants and do not set seed.                                                                                                                        

The fronds are a similar size to Rhapis excelsa but are divided into more segments, from 8-22 pinnae with 16-36 folds in the pinnae and droop, giving a slight weeping, graceful affect.

Gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.