Dypsis plumosa - Queen Palm

Dypsis plumosa is a palm tree which is rare in cultivation, first described around 1990, probably native to Madagascar. It is a particularly graceful, airy species, to the point that English speakers nickname it "ballerina palm" as if the plant is ready to dance. Its slender trunk carries a bouquet of thin palm fronds arranged in a V shape, beautifully curved, often twisted, feathery in appearance and bright green with very light reflections. Its graceful vegetation hides a robust temperament, allowing it to adapt to both full sun and partial shade, in any soil that is not too compact, not too chalky, and not too dry. Not very hardy, this plant can only be grown in open ground in warm climates, but it performs very well in containers where it becomes a charming focal point.

Dypsis plumosa belongs to the family of Arecaceae. Often confused with the Dypsis ambositae, it can be distinguished by its less vividly coloured young shoots and leaf bases, and less curved fronds. This plumosa species shows fairly rapid growth. It develops a single trunk, called a stipe, covered in green rings which are the remnants of old petioles, slightly swollen at their ends due to the presence of papery leaf bracts. It can reach 7 m (23 ft) in height and 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in spread, but will remain much smaller in containers. At the top of this trunk, a crown composed of a few large leaves called fronds develops, arched and divided into a large number of tough and glossy, trailing, green leaflets or pinnae, more or less vibrant or greyish depending on the lighting. Each leaf, which can reach 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) in length, is slightly pendulous and borne by a long arched petiole. This species rarely blooms in our climates, only on plants several years old. The hardiness of this palm tree does not exceed -2 or -3°C (28.4 or 26.6 °F) when mature.

The Fine-leaved Palm is a very beautiful orangery plant, which will benefit from being planted in groups of 3. It tolerates container cultivation, allowing it to be sheltered in a conservatory or in a heated greenhouse during winter. It can sometimes be difficult to pair with other plants due to its strong personality: reserve a corner by the pool or a prominent spot on the terrace for it. Surround it with  Phormium,  with agaves that are precise and geometric or with Hakonechloa.