The Caranday Palm Tree, scientific name Copernicia alba or Trithrinax campestris, is not well known in cultivation and is considered rare. It is a cold-hardy palm that is perfect for landscapes in USDA zones 9-11.  The stunning Caranday Palm is great for a focal point or can be used in groupings of three. The Caranday Palm Tree can also grow indoors.

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Caranday Palm Tree Info

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Scientific name: Copernicia alba 

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Common names: The Caranday Palm is also known as Wax Palm and Caranday Wax Palm.

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Family: Arecaceae

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Origin: It is native to the humid parts of the Gran Chaco eco-region in Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina.

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Appearance: The Caranday Palm has a single, gray, very hard trunk around 7-10 inches in diameter. Younger palm trees retain spiny old leaf bases that eventually fall off as the tree matures. The trunk is gray and has a cylindrical shape.

Palmate, or fan-shaped, leaves grow from the top of the trunk and are 2ft long. The attractive leaves are round, held by very rigid and spiny petioles, and range in color from light green to silver to light blue. They produce wax that is used today for lipstick, candles, and some car polishes. Leaves of the adult Trithrinax campestris have the surface covered on both sides with small red points or dots.

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Flowers/Fruits: During fall, the Caranday Palm produces small white flowers 10-12 mm wide. Flowers are hermaphrodite, and develop on a branched inflorescence that grows below the leaves. In the summer, flowers are followed by berry-looking yellow fruits that turn black when ripe. Fruits are around 1 inch wide with a single oval seed inside. They are edible, juicy, and succulent, have a sweet taste, that is followed by an astringent taste that is hard to get rid of.

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Growth Rate: Slow. Copernicia alba is a slow-growing palm that can get up to 40 ft tall and 10-15 ft wide. In the wild the

Caranday Palm is known to reach 60-70 ft, but in cultivation usually doesn’t grow taller than 30-40ft.

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Outdoor/Indoor Use: Both.

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Cold Tolerance: The minimum temperature Caranday Palm can tolerate is 20-25 F when mature enough. It is great for USDA zones 9a (20 to 25 F) to 11 (above 40 F).

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Light Req: Full sun to partial shade.

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Water Req: It does best in moist well-drained soil.

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Maintenance: Easy. The Caranday Palm Tree is easy to grow and maintain. To prevent nutritional deficiency, apply good quality palm fertilizer that has continuous release formula twice a year during the growing season.

Insects and Diseases: Generally healthy palm.

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Propagation: Propagated by seed.

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Top Reasons To Own The Caranday Palm Tree

The Caranday palm tree, often found in South America, offers a diverse range of benefits:

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1. Edible Fruits: The fruits of the Caranday palm are edible and offer nutritional benefits.

2. Livestock Feed: The palm leaves can serve as feed for livestock.

3. Production of Honey: This plant is a significant nectar source for honey production.

4. Construction Material: The robust trunks of the Caranday palm tree provide excellent material for construction.

5. Landscaping: Due to its aesthetics, the Caranday palm tree is often used for landscaping purposes.

6. Oil Production: The fruits of the Caranday palm can be used to produce oil, often used in cooking and beauty products.

7. Medicinal Uses: Some parts of the Caranday palm are used in traditional medicine.

8. Erosion Control: The roots of the Caranday palm help hold soil together, preventing erosion.

9. Habitat for Wildlife: The Caranday palm tree provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, supporting biodiversity.

10. Carbon Sequestration: Like all trees, the Caranday palm plays a role in carbon sequestration, aiding in the fight against climate change.