Dictyosperma album
 
Common Names: Hurricane Palm, Princess Palm
 
Zones: 10B–11
 
A graceful and wind-tolerant palm native to the Mascarene Islands, Dictyosperma album features a slender, ringed trunk and a smooth, pale crownshaft. Its arching fronds display silvery undersides and finely spaced leaflets, creating a soft, feathery canopy. Well adapted to coastal exposure and tropical climates, this species is prized for its elegance and resilience in hurricane-prone landscapes.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Solitary; moderate speed
Height: 20–30 ft (6–9 m); trunk diameter ~10 in (25 cm)
Trunk: Smooth; ringed; gray to tan; powdery petiole bases
Crownshaft: Pale green to whitish; slender and smooth
Leaves: Pinnate; arching; silvery undersides; leaflets evenly spaced
Inflorescence: Reddish buds maturing to brown; borne below crownshaft
Fruit: Small; round; white to bluish-white when ripe
Ecology: Native to Mauritius and Réunion; thrives in humid, coastal, and tropical lowland environments
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Full sun to part shade
Watering: Moderate; drought-tolerant once established
Soil: Well-drained; tolerates sandy and limestone substrates
Temperature: Hardy to ~30°F (–1°C); frost-sensitive
Humidity: Moderate to high
Propagation: By seed; moderate germination speed
Tolerance: High wind and coastal exposure; moderate drought tolerance
 
Landscape Use Ideal for coastal gardens, hurricane zones, and tropical collectors. Pairs well with Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Latania lontaroides, and Acanthophoenix rubra.