PlantFiles: Orange Crownshaft Palm, Pinang Merah
Areca vestiaria

Areca vestiaria is a most beautiful palm, indeed. I've had moderate success in South Florida, where it grows well during our long hot and humid summers. However, it is extremely cold sensitive, and I cannot imagine it doing well anywhere when there is not a lot of heat and humidity. Growth under any conditions other than tropical would yield the slowest imaginable growth, and most likely, eventual death. This palm is perfect for a tropical conservatory, and would be the delight of any greenhouse hobbyist.

One of the primary mistakes I find many enthusiasts make when considering an exotic specimen for their landscape, is that most only consider the minimum temperature a palm can supposedly withstand. Of course minimum low temperatures are a consideration, but in order to succeed, one must be able to approximate the conditions in which a certain species originates- including high temperatures, humidity, and of course, soil type, pH, etc. If you want to know whether or not a palm like Areca vestiaria will survive in your climate, simply look to the climatologial data on it's country of origin. If you live in a climate that cannot or does not offer at least similar conditions, then your chances of success, at least in the long term, are slim at best. I agree with the first review. Experimentation is great, but don't be fooled- it is a real shame to lose an expensive plant to misinformation.

THeir are multiple specimens of this palm growing in some shade in Southern California.There is an 8 foot specimen in Vista CA. They prefer the cool coast more than the inland temperatures where their can be an occasional frost. If you protect it from frost though, this palm is a good one to try. It is somewhat cool tolerant. Reguardless what someone else says, it can if you live along the coast in a place that has good air drainage.

This is considered one of the most beautifully colored palms in the world. Alas, it won't grow here in Southern California, though it has been tried over and over. It can grow in a slightly warmer climate, and loves Hawaii. It has one of the most strikingly colored petioles and crownshafts- brilliant orange-red. And the fruits and flowers are pretty brightly colored, too. The trunk is an attractive deep green ringed stem. There are some varieties that have maroon leaves, too, though I haven't seen these with much trunk.

PS regardless of what others may claim, this palm does not grow in southern CAlifornia. But try all you want. Maybe you will be one to succeed! I am pretty familiar with who is growing what here and this palm is not on my radar at this time (2006)... but if I find one growing (surviving more than 2 winters) then I will happily report that. I would heed the warning given by jungleboy_fl below, as he is correct.