Adonidia merrillii (Manila Palm)

Common Names: Manila Palm, Christmas Palm, Merrill’s Palm, Adonidia Palm, Dwarf Royal Palm

Botanical Name: Adonidia merrillii (Becc.) Becc.

Synonyms: Normanbya merrillii Becc., Veitchia merrillii (Becc.) H.E.Moore

Distribution: Borneo to Philippines.

Uses:

Commonly used as an ornamental palm for tropical and subtropical landscapes
Ideal for residential and commercial garden designs
Frequently planted in parks and along avenues for aesthetic appeal
Popular as a focal point in indoor and outdoor decorative settings
Used in container gardening for patios and balconies
Suitable for creating elegant poolside and resort-style landscapes
Adds visual interest with its graceful, arching fronds
Acts as a natural screen or privacy barrier in landscape designs
Enhances modern and minimalist garden themes with its sleek appearance
Planted in coastal areas for its salt-tolerance and ornamental value

Adonidia merrillii (Manila Palm)

A medium-sized palm. Trunk 4.5-6 m high, smooth, tapering to crown shaft, faintly ringed. Leaves pinnate, up to 1.8 m long, rigidly arched; leaflets ca. 50 pairs, sword shaped, 45-76 cm long. Flower stalk much branched, almost white. Flowers yellow-green and white. Fruit egg-shaped, ca. 3 cm long, smooth, bright-red when ripe.

Cultivation: Thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers well-drained, moist soils. It can tolerate short periods of drought and has moderate tolerance to salt. However, it is susceptible to Lethal Yellowing disease and scale. For propagation, seeds germinate in 1 to 3 months.

Etymology: The genus name “Adonidia” is derived from Adonis, the Greek god of beauty and desire, symbolizing its beauty and attractive appearance. The specific epithet “merillii” honours American botanist Elmer Drew Merrill (1876–1956), known for his contributions to botany in the Asia-Pacific region.