Pritchardia

( prich - AHR - dee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of palms, commonly called Loulu Palm, needs full sun and moderate water to perform well, and is native to Hawai'i and other tropical Pacific Islands. They have straight trunks and a regular palm form. Younger plants can be grown in pots on patios, in entryways, or indoors, but as they mature, they will need to be grown in an outdoor environment. Use these tropical fan palms to add lush greenery to landscapes, to line driveways and pool areas, or simply as specimen plants in the garden.

pritchardia Species and Varietals

The genus Pritchardia is a member of the plant family Arecaceae and includes between 24 and 49 species. The genus was named to honor William Thomas Pritchard, British consul at Fiji. The best growing zones for Loulu Palms vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Pritchardia hillebrandii (Loulu Lelo)
This species grows in zones 23, 24, H1 and H2 and is native to Hawai'i. These trees slowly reach 20 feet tall and around 8 feet wide, and in full sun leaves take on a blue-silvery hue.

Pritchardia minor (Alakai Swamp Pritchardia, Loulu)
This Hawaiian native grows well in zones 17, 23, 24, H! and H2. It slowly reaches between 20-30 feet tall and has deep green leaves with silver undersides. When these trees are establishing themselves, protect from hot sun. 

​Pritchardia pacifica (Fuji Fan Palm)
This species of Loulu Palm is native to Fiji (as the common name suggests) and reaches 30 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It has a bit quicker growth than other species. Leaves are green. These trees will need protection from drying winds and have a moderate salt tolerance.

Caring for and pruning Pritchardia Trees

Plant Pritchardia palms in full sun; they typically prefer to receive between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun exposure each day, but can also get by on partial or filtered shade. They need well-draining fertile soil that retains moisture. Loamy soils are ideal, though they can also tolerate sand and clayey substrates. Apply a thick layer of mulch around the base of trees to suppress weed growth, increase soil moisture retention, and help to regulate soil temperatures. After installing, water newly planted trees regularly, keeping soil consistently moist. Mature trees should be deep watered consistently, ensuring that soil does not completely dry out. Irrigation can be lessened over the winter months.

Pruning is simple for these palms; simply remove any spent fronds as they appear, taking care to not cut into the trunk itself. Prunings can be carried out throughout the year as needed. Apply a layer of organic compost around the base of trees each year in springtime to support the season's growth, flowering and fruiting. If trees seem to be struggling, or if they are grown in particularly poor soils, they may benefit from an additional feeding with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer applied in springtime. A fertilizer specifically made for palms is ideal.

Propagation

Pritchardia palms are best propagated from seed. They grow rather slowly, and take a while (about 15 years) to reach a mature age when they begin producing viable seeds. These palms do not produce offshoots that can be propagated through division, and only produce new leaves from the top of the trunk. To propagate your palm tree, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Pritchardia by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. Seeds of Loulu Palms are produced within fruits. They are harvested when they develop a blue-black exterior skin color, and are produced from summertime to early wintertime, depending on the climate in which the trees are grown. Remove fruits from their attachments (or pick them off the ground once they have been released), and cut them open to remove the seeds. There is one seed inside each drupe fruit. Remove the fleshy covering and rinse off any flesh.
  3. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes between a few weeks to over a year from sowing (be patient!). Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  4. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Pritchardia tree in bloom.
Pritchardia seeds are round and reddish-brown.

Problems and Pests

Pritchardia palm trees are susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases:
  • Spider Mites
  • Scale Insects
  • Leaf Spot
  • Root Rot
  • Lethal Yellowing Disease

Gallery

The foliage of these palm trees looks like wide green fans.
Pritchardia palms are popular specimens in tropical botanical gardens.
If spent fronds are not removed, they remain on the tree for a long while.

Videos

Learn about these popular landscape trees.
These trees are very popular landscape plants on the Hawaiian Islands, USA.

Resources

How to Grow and Care for Pritchardia
​Pritchardia pacifica (Fiji Fan Palm)
Wikipedia: Pritchardia
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 529, Pritchardia (Loulu Palm)
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