Bismarckia nobilis Hildebrandt & H. Wendl.

Common name(s): Bismarck Palm, Silver Bismarck Palm

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae) Synonym(s): Medemia nobilis 'Silver' Hildebrandt & H. Wendl., Bismarckia nobilis 'Silver Select'
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark_lower
Bark (Lower)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Bark_upper
Bark (Upper)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Frond
Frond
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Palm / Palm Ally Properties
Origin(s)
Madagascar
  • Madagascar: Indigenous
Plant Type
Frond Self Cleaning, Palm Fan-leaved, Solitary
Frond Self Cleaning,
Palm Fan-leaved,
Solitary
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Oceanic, Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna
Oceanic,
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical,
Tropical Wet & Dry / Savanna
Aspect Range(s)
Sun - Full, Shade - Light
Sun - Full,
Shade - Light
Habitat Range(s)
Forest - Grassy, Grasslands
Forest - Grassy,
Grasslands
Habitat Zone(s)
Dry Slopes, Exposed, Garden, Hill Sides, Landscape, Moist Slopes, Plains, Rocky, Scattered, Well drained
Dry Slopes,
Exposed,
Garden,
Hill Sides,
Landscape,
Moist Slopes,
Plains,
Rocky,
Scattered,
Well drained
Mature Height
10-15m, 20-25m
10-15m,
20-25m
Mature Width
5-6m, 6-7m
5-6m,
6-7m
Growth Rate
Slow, Moderate
Slow,
Moderate
Plant Shape
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense
Standard Crown - Dense Standard Crown - Dense
Life Span
50-100yrs
50-100yrs
Frond Properties
Frond Colour(s) (front)
Grey, Silver-grey
Grey,
Silver-grey
Frond Colour(s) (back)
Grey, Silver-grey
Grey,
Silver-grey
Frond Texture (front)
Canescent
Canescent
Glabrous
Glabrous
Canescent Canescent,
Glabrous Glabrous
Frond Texture (back)
Canescent
Canescent
Glabrous
Glabrous
Canescent Canescent,
Glabrous Glabrous
Frond Length
3-3.5m
3-3.5m
Frond Width
2.5-3m
2.5-3m
Frond Aroma
None
None
Frond Shapes
Costapalmate
Costapalmate
Costapalmate Costapalmate
Frond Arrangement
Whorled
Whorled
Whorled Whorled
Fan Frond Margin
Entire
Entire
Entire Entire
Trunk / Stem Properties
Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)
Grey
Grey
Colour(s) (Base)
Brown Light, Grey, Grey-brown
Brown Light,
Grey,
Grey-brown
Texture (Upper)
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous
Coarse , Fibrous
Coarse,
Fibrous
Texture (Base)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Waxy
Waxy
Glabrous Glabrous,
Waxy Waxy
Inflorescence (Flower) Properties
Gender: Male
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Late
Summer Late
Colour(s)
Brown
Brown
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Raceme
Raceme
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
Raceme Raceme
Pendulous
Pendulous
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Gender: Female
Flowering Time (start)
Spring Early
Spring Early
Flowering Time (end)
Summer Late
Summer Late
Colour(s)
Brown
Brown
Aroma(s)
None
None
Arrangements
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Axillary, Interfoliar Short
Raceme
Raceme
Axillary, Interfoliar Short Axillary, Interfoliar Short,
Raceme Raceme
Pendulous
Pendulous
Male and Female Flowers Borne
On Separate Plant
On Separate Plant
Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties
Type
Drupe
Drupe
Drupe Drupe
Shape(s)
Ovoid
Ovoid
Ovoid Ovoid
Length
25-30mm
25-30mm
Aroma
None
None
Root Properties
Type
Surface Adventitious Root
Surface Adventitious Root
Surface Adventitious Root Surface Adventitious Root
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay, Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Sand, Lateritic, Organic Matter
Clay,
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Sand,
Lateritic,
Organic Matter
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral, Slightly Alkaline, Alkaline
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral,
Slightly Alkaline,
Alkaline
Condition(s)
Moist
Moist
Moist Moist
Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained
Fertile,
Poor,
Shallow,
Deep,
Well Drained
Salinities
Slight - Moderate
Slight - Moderate
Slight - Moderate Slight - Moderate
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Other Properties / Uses
Bird Attraction
None
None
Butterfly Attraction
None
None
Frog Habitat
None
None
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
None
None
Fire Retarding
None
None
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Frost Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Smog Tolerance
Moderate
Moderate
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Very Good
Very Good
Special Purpose(s)
Fire Resistant, Foliage-Interesting, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Mediterranean, Garden-Tropical, Interesting Trunk, Litter Issue - Fruit, Screen, Shade tree-Light, Specimen, Sunny Dry, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Fire Resistant,
Foliage-Interesting,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Mediterranean,
Garden-Tropical,
Interesting Trunk,
Litter Issue - Fruit,
Screen,
Shade tree-Light,
Specimen,
Sunny Dry,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares

General Notes

The only palm in the Genus. A large, very striking palm with large silvery-grey leaves. It makes a stunning display in the garden but does require a fair amount of space, especially when young. The large agressive root system can be a problem close to buildings and pipe work. A green leaf form is available but it isn't as hardy and doesn't like low temperatures. Unfortunately the palm does not do well when dug up and relocated.

Named after General Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), first Chancellor of the German Empire.

In its natural environment the indigenous people use the trunk for planks, leaves for roofing and basketry, with the pith used as a slightly bitter sago.