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Arecaceae FAMILY

Nannorrhops ritchieana

Nannorrhops ritchieana

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Shrub
GrowthSlow

Nannorrhops ritchieana is a plant of arid and semi-arid regions often with very hot summers. It can experience very cold winters in its native habitat, with temperatures falling as low as -15°c, possibly a bit lower, though this is often accompanied by heavy snow which acts to insulate the plant from the extremes of cold. The plant is far less tolerant of cold in moister climates, where it can be killed by just a few degrees of frost. In moist, almost frost-free climates such as southern Florida, however, the plant will often thrive.[1]. Requires a sunny position in a very free-draining soil. Tolerant of poor, dry, infertile soils. Established plants are very drought tolerant. Prefers a pH in the range 6.1 - 8.5. Growth is usually very slow, though it can be sped up considerably with good cultivation and some feeding. This is one of the very few species of palm that can produce aerial branches. Palms usually have deep penetrating root systems and generally establish best when planted out at a young stage. However, older plants are substantially more cold tolerant than juvenile plants[1]. In areas at the limit of their cold tolerance, therefore, it is prudent to grow the plants in containers for some years, giving them winter protection, and only planting them into their permanent positions when sheer size dictates[1]. Palms can also often be transplanted even when very large. Although the thick fleshy roots are easily damaged and/or desiccated, new roots are generally freely produced. It is important to stake the plant very firmly to prevent rock, and also to give it plenty of water until re-established - removing many of the leaves can also help[1].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a warm greenhouse at not less than 24°c[2]. Stored seed germinates very slowly and sporadically. Pre-soaking the seed for 24 hours in warm water prior to sowing may shorten the germination time. Plants form a long tap-root some time before forming a shoot and so should be sown in fairly deep pots. Germination of fresh seed usually takes place in 3 - 4 months at 25°c[3]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of a clump can be successful. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-21. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Nannorrhops+ritchieana>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Palms for Cooler Climates. — McMillan-Browse. P. · Trebah Enterprises. · 1993 · ISBN 0 9521952 0 8 ↩︎An excellent little booklet on the subject, though it does not mention many plant uses.
  2. [2]The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers — Brickell. C. · Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. · 1990 · ISBN 0-86318-386-7 ↩︎Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.
  3. [3]Growing from Seed. Volume 3. — Bird. R. (Editor) · Thompson and Morgan. · 1989 · ISBN - ↩︎Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
  4. [4]Palms of Southern Asia — Henderson A. · Princeton University Press, New York · 2009 · ISBN 978-0-691-13449-9 ↩︎An excellent concise guide
  5. [5]Mazri (Nannorrhops ritchiana (Griff) Aitch.): a remarkable source of manufacturing traditional handicrafts, goods an — Abdullah et al · 2020 · https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-00394-0 ↩︎
  6. [6]Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. — Hedrick. U. P. · Dover Publications · 1972 · ISBN 0-486-20459-6 ↩︎Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
  7. [7]Ethnobotanical Studies of Shrubs and Trees of Agra Valley, Parachinar, Upper Kurram Agency, Pakistan — Ajaib M. et al · 2014 ↩︎
  8. [8]Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). — Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. · Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. · 1986 · ISBN - ↩︎Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.
  9. [9]Economic Products of India. Volume 1. — Watt. G. · Government of India: Calcutta. · 1883 ↩︎Although over 100 years old, it still contains a wealth of information on useful plants. Many of the botanical names have been changed since then, so you have to check for up to date names. The book can be downloaded from the Internet.
  10. [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎