Silver Bismarck Palm

Bismarchia nobilius

 

The "nobilis" in the name means noble - which is a perfect description of this formal and massive palm. 

 

A silver bismarck needs plenty of space where its bright color and sheer size won't overwhelm a house or landscape. It's too much palm for a smaller property or home.  It’s size and bulk can literally make a small house appear even smaller.

 

Genetics causes the silvery color to differ on each bismarck ranging from a steel-gray to blue-gray to silver-white.  Sometimes a very young bismarck can have an almost purple hue.

 

Specifications

 

Grow slowly and can reach to 30 feet or more.  Each thick, fan-shaped frond can reach 10 feet in diameter.

 

Thrive in warmer areas of Zone 9B and anywhere in Zone 10. Once established, bismarcks can handle some cold damage.

 

Will grow in full sun to part shade but do best in sunny areas.

 

Moderately salt-tolerant palms, and drought-tolerant once established. 

 

Spacing

 

Bismarcks get BIG so you need a planting area at least 15 to 20 feet in diameter.  A young bismarck palm may look "small" now, but if planted too close to the house, drive, or walkways, and you may lose it eventually.

 

Bismarcks do not like their root systems disturbed and so they sometimes won't survive transplanting.

 

Bismarck Palms are generally too big to be a good container plant.

 

Care

 

Use top soil or organic peat moss as a soil enhancement when you plant.

 

Bismarcks are not a self-cleaning palm, but they grow slowly so trimming off old fronds won't be necessary very often.

 

If the palm sustains some winter cold damage, prune off affected fronds in spring, leaving on as many as possible for the health of the palm.

 

Apply a granular palm fertilizer 3 times a year - once each in spring, summer and fall.

 

Landscaping with bismarcks

 

• use as a very large dominating specimen