See also, Date Palm Tree

The Gebang palm is one of few monocarpic species of palm trees. It produces flowers only once in its life, set seeds and then die.

The Gebang palm is a large palm with great economic and industrial importance. The leaves are used for thatching and or as weaving material to make baskets, fans, hats, jewelry boxes and bags. The leaf stalks are used for making ropes, nets and cloth. Sap from inflorescence is used to make wine, vinegar and sugar. Fruits and the palm heart are edible.

Additional Information:

Scientific name: Corypha Utan, Corypha elata

Family: Arecaceae

Genus: Corypha

Origin: It is native to southeast Asia and Australia. In wild it grows in large colonies along riversides.

Other names: Cabbage palm, Buri palm

Growth rate: Moderate to fast

Trunk: The massive, gray trunk grows to 60-80 feet tall.

Leaves: The leaves are very large, stiff, fan-shaped. The stems are very stout, covered with saw-like thorns.

Indoor/Outdoor Use: Outdoor

Maintenance: Low

Light exposure: It has high light requerements.The palm prefers full sun.

Water requirements: The Gebald palm requires plenty of water.

Drought toleration: It is highy drought tolerant.

Cold toleration: The Corypha Utan is moderately cold tolerant. It shouldn’t be exposed to temperature below 22 F.

Flowers: It takes about 40-70 years for the Corypha Utan to start flowering. The palm produces the largest inflorescence of any plant on earth, with millions of pale yellow flowers. The absolutely stuning umbrella like inflorescences emerge from above the crown. Male and female flowers occur on same plant. It takes about a year to complete the bloom. The Gebald palm dies after flowering.

Fruits: The fruits are massive, round, fleshy, greenish brown.

Propagation: It is propagated by seeds. The seeds germinate in 3 months.

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