Dypsis lutescens

Aka: Areca Palm, Butterfly Palm, Golden Cane Palm

This is one of the most colorful palms that grows well with little care and is very under rated for such a colorful and hearty palm.  It has a great color contrast from other green palms.  The colors range from silver-yellow-green-lime-orange-red.  The banded leaf scars add a nice tropical feel as well.

The plant produces clusters of reed-like stems that carry arching fronds on 2 feet long stalks.  The fronds of a 5 feet high area palm can be 3-4 feet long and could be divided into many stiff, glossy, yellowish green segments up to 2 feet long and 1/2 inch wide.  Older stems are marked, like bamboo canes, with notches where fronds were attached to them.

The plant can be grown as an ascent plant; It can also act as an excellent screening plant.

This palm is cold hardy and can take temperatures down to the low 20s.  Preferably grows in shade to filtered sun, but can eventually acclimate to grow in full sun.