Hurricane Palm (Dictyosperma album)

Family: Arecaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Hurricane Palm (Dictyosperma album), otherwise known as Princess Palm or Red Palm, is a single-stemmed, slender, evergreen feather palm that reaches a height of up to 20 m and up to 16 cm in diameter. The crown is composed of 10 to 20 leaves with each leaf measuring up to 3 m long. Hurricane Palm is very attractive hence it is also grown as an ornamental in the tropics and subtropics.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Leaves - cooked. The apical bud of this plant is highly valued as a food. This palm is single-stemmed and unable to form sideshoots - harvesting the apical bud leads to the death of the plant. — The apical bud of this plant is highly valued as a food.; This palm is single-stemmed and unable to form sideshoots - harvesting the apical bud leads to the death of the plant.

Habitat & North American Range

Coastal forests. Grows at low elevations generally up to 600 metres. (Zone 10)