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Products > Rhapis excelsa   Rhapis excelsa - Lady Palm Note: This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.   [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Palm Family: Arecaceae (Palmae) (Palms) Origin: China (Asia) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Insignificant Bloomtime: Not Significant Height: 6-10 feet Width: 8-12 feet Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F Rhapis excelsa (Lady Palm) - This is a unique palm that forms dense clumps of slender stems upwards to 12 feet tall that carry neat palmate leaves. These leaves are deeply divided towards the tips with wide ribbed leaflets that are openly spaced with the tips of the divisions haveing a saw tooth edge. The trunks are covered with old leaf bases that are dark brown but if removed can reveal a very thin green ringed trunk. Best in light shade but tolerant of some direct coastal sun. Irrigate regularly to occasionally - pretty tough once established, particularly in coastal garden. Sometimes listed as hardy to the low 20s°F but we have had this plant go undamaged through our 1990 freeze with temperatures down to 18°F. Because of its tolerance to low light and low humidity it is often used as an indoor plant. Though not known in the wild Rhapis excelsa is thought to have originated from southern China and Taiwan. The name for the genus is from the Greek word 'rhapis' meaning "needle". The specific epithet is from the Latin word meaning "tall" for its tall stems, though it is not the tallest of the genus. It is also commonly called Broadleaf Lady Palm.  Information displayed on this page about  Rhapis excelsa is based on the research conducted about it in our library and from reliable online resources. We also note those observations we have made of this plant as it grows in the nursery's garden and in other gardens, as well how crops have performed in our nursery field. We will incorporate comments we receive from others, and welcome to hear from anyone who may have additional information, particularly if they share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.     [MORE INFO]