Pelagodoxa mesocarpa
 
Common Names None widely established.
 
Zones 10b–11
 
A critically endangered palm endemic to Vanuatu, Pelagodoxa mesocarpa is one of the most visually arresting species in cultivation. It features a moderately tall, smooth trunk topped by a spreading crown of massive, mostly undivided leaves with silvery undersides. Once considered synonymous with Pelagodoxa henryana of the Marquesas, it was reinstated as a distinct species in 2019 based on morphological and molecular data2.
 
Key Features
Growth Habit: Solitary; slow-growing
Height: 20–40 ft (6–12 m); trunk slender and smooth
Trunk: Pale gray; clean; slightly swollen at base
Leaves: Undivided or shallowly split; circular; up to 10 ft (3 m) wide; glossy green above, silvery-white below; orange to tan midrib in juveniles
Inflorescence: Short; emerges below leaf bases; white turning olive green
Fruit: Large; up to 3 in (7 cm) diameter; warty surface; fragrant orange pulp; ovoid seed sinks in water
Ecology: Native to Banks Islands, Erromango, and Malakula; now extinct in the wild, surviving only in cultivation around human settlements2
 
Growing Conditions
Light: Partial shade to filtered sun
Watering: High; prefers consistently moist, well-drained soil
Soil: Rich, loamy; high organic content
Temperature: Prefers 75–88°F (24–31°C); cold sensitive below 35°F (1.5°C)
Humidity: Very high
Propagation: By seed; slow and erratic germination
Tolerance: Sensitive to drought, wind, and low humidity; requires protected tropical conditions
 
Landscape Use Best suited for tropical conservatories, botanical collections, and protected rainforest gardens. Pairs well with Carpoxylon macrospermum, Neoveitchia storckii, and Chambeyronia macrocarpa.