Teddy bear palm

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; young plants benefit from light shade and gradual exposure to stronger sun.

Water

Keep the root zone evenly moist during warm weather, allowing the surface to dry slightly between waterings. Water less in cool weather, but do not let the root ball dry out completely.

Soil

Fertile, well-drained soil with organic matter; slightly acidic to neutral soil is best. Avoid persistently waterlogged ground.

Height

20-30 ft (6-9 m)

Spread

12-18 ft (3.7-5.5 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Long, arching, dark green, feather-shaped fronds above a pale trunk and a conspicuous rusty-brown, velvety crownshaft.

Growth

Moderate in warm, humid conditions; slow in cool climates or containers.

Care needed

Medium

• Heat tolerant

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   7 ft (2.2 m)

3. After 2 years

   8 ft (2.4 m)

4. After 3 years

   9 ft (2.6 m)

5. After 5 years

   10 ft (3.1 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Water deeply during warm, dry spells, keeping the soil moist but not saturated.
• Apply a slow-release palm fertiliser with magnesium and micronutrients during active growth, following the label.
• Spread organic mulch over the root zone, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Plant where the mature crown has room to spread and is sheltered from strong, drying winds.
• Keep container plants in bright light under frost-free cover before cold weather arrives; provide good drainage and reduce winter watering.

Pruning. Remove fully brown fronds when needed, cutting the leaf stalk without damaging the trunk or fuzzy crownshaft. Leave green and partly green fronds in place, and never cut the central growing spear.

Spring

Feed as active growth resumes and check older leaves for signs of nutrient deficiency.

Late spring

Plant or repot once conditions are consistently warm, keeping the palm at its previous planting depth.

Summer

Water deeply during dry weather and check that container drainage holes remain clear.

Late summer

Remove fully dead fronds and inspect leaf undersides for scale insects.

Autumn

Move container-grown palms into bright, frost-free shelter before nights become cold.

Winter

Reduce watering under cover, avoid standing water and inspect for spider mites.

• Use as a specimen in a sheltered lawn or broad planting bed where the fuzzy crownshaft can be seen.
• Frame a wide entrance with a pair, allowing enough room for the mature crowns.
• Combine with broad-leaved tropical plants for contrasting foliage shapes.
• Place behind low planting near a terrace to provide height without hiding the trunk.

Garden styles it suits: Modern tropical, Tropical, Luxury resort, Architectural minimal, Balinese and Florida subtropical.

Plant it with: Philodendrons, Gingers, Bromeliads, Bird of paradise and Cast-iron plant.

Wildlife: Flowers can attract visiting insects, and ripe fruits may attract birds in warm climates.

• Cold damage: frost can scorch fronds or kill the growing point. Choose a frost-free site and move potted plants under heated cover.
• Root rot: poor drainage and prolonged saturation can cause decline. Improve drainage and avoid leaving containers in water-filled saucers.
• Nutrient deficiency: yellowing or spotting on older fronds may indicate potassium or magnesium shortage. Use a balanced palm fertiliser rather than lawn fertiliser.
• Scale insects and spider mites: inspect fronds regularly, especially under glass. Wash off mites and treat persistent infestations with a labelled insecticidal soap or horticultural oil.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses, but species-specific safety information is limited. Do not treat the fruit or other parts as edible; swallowed fruits or seeds may also pose a choking risk.

• Red neck palm (Dypsis lastelliana)

  Also has reddish-brown crownshaft hairs, but usually has a more upright crown and less strongly arching leaves; young plants can be difficult to distinguish.

• Triangle palm (Dypsis decaryi)

  Its leaf bases form a conspicuous three-sided arrangement, and its leaves are generally greyer and more upright.

The common name refers to the teddy-bear-like reddish-brown fuzz covering the crownshaft.

Propagation. Grow from fresh seed, removing the fruit pulp first and sowing in a warm, moist, free-draining medium. Germination can be slow and uneven; this single-trunked palm cannot be divided.

Accepted botanical name

Dypsis leptocheilos

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.