Latania loddigesii, Latania glaucophylla
Family: Arecaceae / Palmae
Blue Latan Palm
Origin: Mauritius Island
The Blue Latan Palm is one of the best ornamental fan palms. While young plants have beautiful red petioles and leaf margins, mature plants produce a compact crown of very leathery, stiff, blue fan leaves with leafstalks covered in thick, white wool. They grow a slender trunk over the years. It is the most vigorous and robust of the three species in the genus and will thrive in a position in full sun in most tropical and frost-free subtropical areas. Seeds need up to several months to sprout. Clean seeds, carefully scratch hard layer with a knife or similar and presoak in warm water for 1-3 days. Put each seed in a mid-sized to large pot (6″ minimum). Latania likes deep soil. When they germinate, they create a thick sinker, that often appears on the soil surface first. After a few days the sinker turns into the soil again and checks the soil. If it is too narrow, germination stops. 1-2 weeks after the sinker the seedlings appears (usually close to the sinker) on the surface. sinker appears usually after 1-3 weeks, seedling after 2-5 weeks. Plants creates very thick roots that grow fast deep into the soil.
