Areca Palm - Areca triandra

The Areca Palm, scientific name Dypsis lutescens (synonym: Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens) is a beautiful palm tree from Madagascar. This plant is also known as Butterfly Palm, Yellow Palm, Golden Cane Palm, Madagascar palm and Areca Lutescens. It is a common ornamental in subtropical and tropical regions around the world found in humid tropical forests from Malaysia to the Solomon Islands. Probably it is the most cultivated nursery palm tree. However, it is  endangered and very rare in its natural habitat Madagascar.

Areca Palm (Full grown tree)

The Areca palm is a low maintenance plant and a fast grower. You can grow this exotic plant as a house plant. It will bring a tropical touch into your home and purify the air. The Areca is consistently rated among the best houseplants for removing all indoor air toxins. It can remove Xylene (654 micrograms per hour) and  Formaldehyde (938 micrograms per hour).

The graceful Areca Palm tends to grow in clumps. The adult plant looks like a large bush that can reach 20 feet or more in height with a spread of 5-10 feet.  As a houseplant it is usually grown much smaller.

The  Areca Palm germinates easily and rapidly from fresh seeds and by divisions of clumps.

Areca Palm as a houseplant

The adult palm has several smooth, bamboo-like trunks that gently lean away from each other. Young plant has reedy stems. The multi-trunked specimen plant has attractive long gracefully arching feather-shaped fronds. The shrub-like plant bears small yellowish white flowers in spring and summer and forms small orange-yellow fruits.

These plants grow well in the sun. They need year-round warmth and ample humidity.

How Indoor Plants Can Help Us to Breathe Easier

USE HOUSEPLANTS AS AIR PURIFIERS

Winter time is fast approaching and that means no more open windows- no more fresh air. Will you be one to break out air purifiers and place throughout your home or office? Or will you be one to take a lesson from B.C.


Yes, you read that right, you can grow fresh air. How wonderful is that? And why do more of us not do so?

Air purifiers only trap particles whereas plants can absorb thereby destroying airborne impurities.

Three of his fifty recommended plants are:

Snake plant

This plant is practically indestructible, meaning anyone can grow it, even those with a black thumb. Snake plants remove toxins from rooms with no windows. A great basement or bathroom plant. If you work in a cubicle with limited sunlight, this plant will survive in your work space and help you to breathe better air.

Christmas cactus
The Christmas cactus gives off oxygen at night. Most plants only do so during daylight hours making this a wonderful plant to be in a family room or home office. If you work nights, this is the plant for you.

Rubber plant
This plant can be a dear family member as it works best at removing chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene and ammonia. It is also an amazing humidifier. This plant releases moisture into the air, making it easier to breathe as well as purifies the air, making the air we breathe cleaner.

Ferns

These plants also work at removing the chemicals formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia. Ferns come in a variety. Chose one that will best fit your home and personality.

House plants are cheaper and prettier than air purifiers. Less dust seems to accumulate in a home full of plants.