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Products > Trevesia palmata 'Micholitzii'
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| Category: Tree |
| Family: Araliaceae (Ginsengs) |
| Origin: Viet Nam (Asia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 15-20 feet |
| Width: 8-12 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Trevesia palmata 'Micholitzii' (Snowflake Aralia) - This plant is a particularly nice horticultural selection of Trevesia palmata, a species indigenous to northern India, southern China, Vietnam and Thailand. In its native habitat this plant can be found growing to 30 feet tall but likely no more than 20 feet in cultivation and more often it is grown as a large shrub. It is sparsely branched with white pubescent stems and a loose broad canopy of oddly shaped leaves with small yellow flowers that are followed by 1/2 inch fruit in tight ball-like clusters. Plant in coastal full sun, filtered light or part day sun and irrigate regularly to occasionally. Established plants are suprisingly drought resistant considering this plant's tropical origins but grows best with at least occasional irrigation. Hardy to 28° F and tolerated our 3 nights at 25° F in the January 2007 freeze but plants were in the understory of an avocado tree. The most attractive aspect of this plant is its 2 to 2 1/2 foot wide, rounded in outline, leaves of a type called pseudocompound, meaning that they look compound but actually are not. The lobes (false leaflets) are attached to a rounded plate-like area at the base of the leaf that attaches to the 2 to 3 foot long prickly petioles. These lobes themselves are so intricately and deeply lobed that they individually look like pinnately compound leaves. When these leaves first emerge they are whitish grey and downy; in the cultivar 'Micholitzii' this coloration lingers longer than on the species, which combined with the intricate leaf shape has given rise the common name 'Snowflake Aralia or Snowflake Plant.
This description is based on research and observations of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in our nursery garden and in other gardens that we visit. We also incorporate comments received and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have any additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Trevesia palmata 'Micholitzii'.
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