• Photo of Dypsis lutescens (Dypsis lutescenss)

Plant Profile: Dypsis lutescens

Taxonomy: Dypsis lutescens

Names

Areca Palm, Bamboo Palm, Butterfly Palm, Cane Palm, Golden Butterfly Palm, Golden Feather Palm, Yellow Palm

  • Photo of Dypsis lutescens (Dypsis lutescenss)

Phonetic Spelling:DIP-sis loo-TESS-enz

Genus:Dypsis

Species:lutescens

Family:Arecaceae

This tropical plant is commonly cultivated as a houseplant in temperate regions. It thrives in bright areas of the home, ideally in warm to moderate temperatures with high humidity levels. Characterized by multiple stems that emerge from a single base, it features large, arching green fronds that are pinnately compound. During the summer months, clusters of yellow flowers bloom. One of its popular nicknames, "butterfly palm," is derived from the upward-curving leaves on its multiple stems, resembling the shape of a butterfly. This plant is known for its ability to improve indoor air quality and ranks among the most favored indoor palms.

To cultivate this plant successfully, use well-draining potting soil and maintain moisture without allowing it to become waterlogged during the growing season.

Family: Arecaceae (Palmae)

Quick Identification Tips:
This subtropical plant can grow up to 30 feet tall and has a vase-like, tree-like appearance. It serves well as a large floor specimen and prefers medium light, moist soil, and moderate humidity. It is sensitive to cold temperatures, and over-fertilization can lead to yellowing leaves, along with potential pest issues.

Dypsis lutescens Feature Summary

Dypsis lutescens Image Gallery

Tags

#houseplant
#green
#bright light
#interiorscape
#palm
#impressive
#Grand
#fan shaped
#fantz
#tropical palm
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats
#tropical feel

Similar Plants

Dypsis lutescens is often confused with:

Dypsis lutescens Feature Summary

Fruit
1/2 inch long yellow-orange fruits that mature to nearly black.
Gold/Yellow
Black
Orange
Flowers
2 feet long panicles of yellow flowers in summer
Gold/Yellow
> 6 inches
Leaves
3-6 feet compound light green upward curving leaves with yellow midribs. Leaflets are lance-shaped, 0.5 to 0.75 inches long and there are 40-60 per side of rachis, linear to lanceolate; petioles yellow-green, waxy, base maculate. Evenly pinnately compound
Green
Gold/Yellow
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Linear
Lanceolate
> 6 inches
Stem
Bamboo like stems, erect, clustered, smooth and ringed.
Gold/Yellow
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Arching
Erect
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Landscape

Dypsis lutescens Attributes

Dypsis lutescens: Country Or Region Of Origin

Madagascar

Dypsis lutescens: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Dypsis lutescens: Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Dypsis lutescens Fruit

Dypsis lutescens: Fruit Description

1/2 inch long yellow-orange fruits that mature to nearly black.

Dypsis lutescens: Fruit Color

grass
Black
grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
Orange

Dypsis lutescens: Display/Harvest Time

Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter

Dypsis lutescens: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Dypsis lutescens Flowers

Dypsis lutescens: Flower Description

2 feet long panicles of yellow flowers in summer

Dypsis lutescens: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow

Dypsis lutescens: Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Dypsis lutescens: Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Dypsis lutescens: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Dypsis lutescens Leaves

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Description

3-6 feet compound light green upward curving leaves with yellow midribs. Leaflets are lance-shaped, 0.5 to 0.75 inches long and there are 40-60 per side of rachis, linear to lanceolate; petioles yellow-green, waxy, base maculate. Evenly pinnately compound

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Dypsis lutescens: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Dypsis lutescens: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Dypsis lutescens Stem

Dypsis lutescens: Stem Description

Bamboo like stems, erect, clustered, smooth and ringed.

Dypsis lutescens: Stem Color

grass
Gold/Yellow

Dypsis lutescens: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Dypsis lutescens Whole Plant Traits

Dypsis lutescens: 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

Dypsis lutescens: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Dypsis lutescens Cultural Conditions

Dypsis lutescens: 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)

Dypsis lutescens: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Dypsis lutescens: NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Dypsis lutescens: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b

Dypsis lutescens Landscape

Dypsis lutescens: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland