Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) Areca catechu
Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) (Areca catechu) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Probably the Philippines and Malesia; cultivated across tropical Asia for millennia. It grows 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall and 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 2.7 m (8.9 ft) apart.
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Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 10–20 m (33–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) |
| Spacing | 2.7 m (8.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance none, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Flowering | about 261–417 weeks after planting, for 17–34 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Probably the Philippines and Malesia; cultivated across tropical Asia for millennia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇮🇳 India, 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
Is Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) toxic?
- People: severely toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: nut, fruit
Areca nut contains arecoline; chewing it (betel quid) is classed by IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) and is addictive. Keep nuts away from children and pets (vomiting, tremors).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Questions about Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak)
- How far apart should I plant Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak)?
- About 2.7 m (8.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft).
- Does Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is none and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak)?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) flower?
- About 261–417 weeks after planting, for 17–34 weeks.
- Is Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people severely toxic. Areca nut contains arecoline; chewing it (betel quid) is classed by IARC as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) and is addictive. Keep nuts away from children and pets (vomiting, tremors).
- What grows well with Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Areca nut palm (betel nut palm, mak). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- PROSEA: Plant Resources of South-East Asia, PROSEA Foundation, Bogor
- CABI Invasive Species Compendium, CABI
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: needs warm nights all year; in a frosty climate grow it under glass or as a summer container plant.
- A slender, ringed single trunk with a green crownshaft; often planted in rows as a windbreak or to carry pepper and betel vines. The Thai word for areca (mak) is in many place names.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
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- Date palm Phoenix dactylifera
- Açaí palm Euterpe oleracea
- Mexican fan palm Washingtonia robusta
- African oil palm Elaeis guineensis
- Areca palm (golden cane palm) Dypsis lutescens
- Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons