Bismarckia nobilis: Country Or Region Of Origin
Madagascar
Plant Profile: Bismarckia nobilis
Names
Bismark Palm, Satra, Satrabe
Phonetic Spelling:biz-mark-ee-ah noh-BILL-ihs
Genus:Bismarckia
Species:nobilis
Family:Arecaceae
This palm tree, indigenous to Madagascar, thrives in full sunlight and well-drained soil, although it also adapts well to clay soils. Its striking silver-blue foliage stands out beautifully in the landscape, especially when positioned alongside plants with dark green leaves.
Bismarckia nobilis Feature Summary
Bismarckia nobilis Image Gallery
Tags
#heat tolerant
#silver leaves
#palm
#silver
#tropical feel
Similar Plants
Bismarckia nobilis Feature Summary
Attributes
Madagascar
Woody
Fruit
Dark brown, ovoid, obtuse bi- or tri-lobed drupe with a single seed
Drupe
Brown/Copper
Flowers
Separate male and female trees Small brown flowers
Brown/Copper
Panicle
Leaves
Waxy coating gives a gray-silver appearance on large palmate fan-shaped leaves that fall off naturally as they age.
Green
Gray/Silver
Blue
Simple
Whorled
> 6 inches
Rough
> 6 inches
Bark
Smooth grey-brown very straight trunk marked with spiral twists and ringed indentations from old leaf bases
Light Gray
Light Brown
Smooth
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Slow
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Clay
Stem
Landscape
Bismarckia nobilis Image Gallery
Bismarckia nobilis Attributes
Bismarckia nobilis: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Bismarckia nobilis Fruit
Bismarckia nobilis: Fruit Description
Dark brown, ovoid, obtuse bi- or tri-lobed drupe with a single seed
Bismarckia nobilis: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Bismarckia nobilis: Fruit Color
Brown/Copper
Bismarckia nobilis Flowers
Bismarckia nobilis: Flower Description
Separate male and female trees Small brown flowers
Bismarckia nobilis: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Bismarckia nobilis: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Bismarckia nobilis Leaves
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Description
Waxy coating gives a gray-silver appearance on large palmate fan-shaped leaves that fall off naturally as they age.
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Color
Blue
Gray/Silver
Green
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Bismarckia nobilis: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Bismarckia nobilis: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Bismarckia nobilis Bark
Bismarckia nobilis: Bark Description
Smooth grey-brown very straight trunk marked with spiral twists and ringed indentations from old leaf bases
Bismarckia nobilis: Bark Color
Light Brown
Light Gray
Bismarckia nobilis: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Bismarckia nobilis Whole Plant Traits
Bismarckia nobilis: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Bismarckia nobilis: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Bismarckia nobilis Cultural Conditions
Bismarckia nobilis: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Bismarckia nobilis: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Bismarckia nobilis: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Bismarckia nobilis Stem
Bismarckia nobilis: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Bismarckia nobilis Landscape
Bismarckia nobilis: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
