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'

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Lower)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Bark (Upper)

Taken by Ken Harrington

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

Life Span

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

Glabrous

Canescent,

Glabrous

Frond Texture (back)

Canescent

Glabrous

Canescent,

Glabrous

Frond Length

3-3.5m

Frond Width

2.5-3m

Frond Aroma

None

Frond Shapes

Costapalmate

Frond Arrangement

Whorled

Frond Attachment

Split Sheath

Fan Frond Margin

Entire

Fan Frond Cross Section

Pleated / Folded

Fan Frond Apice(s)

Acute Narrowly

Pronged

Acute Narrowly,

Pronged

Fan Frond Base

Obtuse

Fan Frond Venation

Palmate

Pinnae Arrangement

Fan

Pinnule Apice(s) (Leaflet)

Pronged

Pinnule Margin(s) (Leaflet)

Entire

Pinnule Cross Section(s) (Leaflet)

Induplicate

Pinnule Venation (Leaflet)

Parallel

Sheath Length(s)

900mm-1m

Petiole Length

2.5-3m, 3-3.5m

2.5-3m,

3-3.5m

Petiole Texture

Hairs-short

Scaly

Waxy

Woolly / Lanate

Hairs-short,

Scaly,

Waxy,

Woolly / Lanate

Spines-sharp , Spines-short

Spines-sharp,

Spines-short

Trunk / Stem Properties

Colour(s) (Upper/Crown Shaft)

Grey

Colour(s) (Base)

Brown Light, Grey, Grey-brown

Brown Light,

Grey,

Grey-brown

Texture (Upper)

Rough / Scabrous

Coarse , Fibrous

Coarse,

Fibrous

Texture (Base)

Glabrous

Waxy

Glabrous,

Waxy

Cross Section

Terete

Diameter

250-300mm, 300-350mm, 350-400mm, 400-450mm

250-300mm,

300-350mm,

350-400mm,

400-450mm

Length

10-11m, 11-12m, 12-13m, 13-14m

10-11m,

11-12m,

12-13m,

13-14m

Features

Distinct Growth Rings, Smooth Trunk

Persistent Split Leaf Bases

Distinct Growth Rings, Smooth Trunk,

Persistent Split Leaf Bases

Construction

Pith Continuous

Inflorescence (Flower) Properties

Gender: Male

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Brown

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Raceme

Axillary, Interfoliar Short,

Raceme

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

1-1.25m

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Gender: Female

Flowering Time (start)

Spring Early

Flowering Time (end)

Summer Late

Colour(s)

Brown

Aroma(s)

None

Arrangements

Axillary, Interfoliar Short

Raceme

Axillary, Interfoliar Short,

Raceme

Pendulous

Arrangement Size(s)

1-1.25m

Male and Female Flowers Borne

On Separate Plant

Indusia (Fruiting Body) Properties

Type

Drupe

Shape(s)

Ovoid

Outer Colour(s)

Brown

Outer Texture

Smooth

Wrinkled

Smooth,

Wrinkled

Length

25-30mm

Aroma

None

Seed Properties

Type

Nutlet

Shape(s)

Ovoid

Texture(s)

Ridged

Size

30-40mm

Seed Dispersal

Animals, Birds, Gravity

Animals,

Birds,

Gravity

Seed Number

Root Properties

Type

Surface Adventitious Root

Texture

Coarse , Cord-like , Pliable , Stiff

Coarse,

Cord-like,

Pliable,

Stiff

Colour(s)

Brown Light, Grey-brown

Brown Light,

Grey-brown

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

Fertile , Poor , Shallow , Deep , Well Drained

Fertile,

Poor,

Shallow,

Deep,

Well Drained

Salinities

Slight - Moderate

Waterlogging Class

W0 – Low tolerance

Other Properties / Uses

Bird Attraction

None

Butterfly Attraction

None

Frog Habitat

None

Carbon Sequestration Potential

Low

Wood Density

Low < 600kg/c.m.

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

None

Fire Regeneration(s)

Seed

Fire Retarding

None

Drought Tolerance

Moderate

Frost Tolerance

Moderate

Smog Tolerance

Moderate

Snow Tolerance

None

Indigenous Use(s)

Leaves - Roofing, Thatching, Leaves - Weaving, Basketry, Pith - Eaten cooked, Wood - Construction

Leaves - Roofing, Thatching,

Leaves - Weaving, Basketry,

Pith - Eaten cooked,

Wood - Construction

Landscape Use

Very Good

Street Use

Moderate

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

Dead Fronding

Pests/Diseases

Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus spp.), Scale

Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus spp.),

Scale

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

Dormancy

Winter

Altitude Range - Habitat

100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m,

800-900m,

900-1,000m

Annual Precipitation Range

500mm, 950mm

500mm,

950mm

Propagation

Hot Water Stratified Seed

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.

Propagation Notes

Hot Water Stratified Seed

Flowering

Sep, Oct, Nov

Seed Collecting

Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul

Sowing

Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

Material Preparation

The fruit takes quite a few months to ripen. Pick the fruit when it is brown, off the tree or from off the ground. Peel off the outer flesh or if too hard, soak the nuts in warm water for 48 - 72 hours to loosen the outer flesh. Change the water daily. Discard any nuts that float to the top, keep the ones that sink. Floating nuts won't germinate as they lack an endosperm. Wash the nuts thoroughly with Solvol soap to remove any remaining pulp. Allow to dry. Store in a cool, dark place. It is best to sow the nuts as soon as possible for best results.

Viability:- 6 - 12 months

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

2 parts Premium Seed Raising Mix + 1 part Isolite

Treatment

Soak the seeds in thermos of off the boil hot water for 2 days. Fill the 100mm pots with mix. Push the fresh nuts into 100mm pot till just the top is exposed, water in well with Previcur fungicide mix. Place in hothouse on 32°C heated bed with misters. Maintain hothouse environment between 75-95% humidity and temperature between 30-35° C. Spray fortnightly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect sun light.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:- 3 - 12 months 4 – 6 months before first frond opens

Pricking out:- N.A.

140mm Pot Mix:- Premium Potting Mix