Bismarck palm Bismarckia nobilis
Bismarck palm (Bismarckia nobilis) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Western and northern Madagascar (savanna). It grows 10–20 m (33–66 ft) tall and 5–8 m (16–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -3 °C (27 °F). Space plants about 6 m (20 ft) apart.
Plan Bismarck palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Bismarck palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 10–20 m (33–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–8 m (16–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 6 m (20 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -3 °C (27 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 9) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 44 °C (111 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 6–13 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Western and northern Madagascar (savanna) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇧🇷 Brazil |
Is Bismarck palm toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
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 Bismarck palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
See Bismarck palm in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Singapore Botanic Gardens (1 plants)
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden (2 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (1 plants)
Questions about Bismarck palm
- How far apart should I plant Bismarck palm?
- About 6 m (20 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–8 m (16–26 ft).
- Does Bismarck palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Bismarck palm need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Bismarck palm?
- It tolerates about -3 °C (27 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 9.
- When does Bismarck palm flower?
- From about May for 6–13 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Bismarck palm poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Bismarck palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Bismarck palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
- Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden: palm and cycad collections, Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: outdoors only where frost never occurs; elsewhere under heated glass.
- Huge silvery-blue costapalmate fans up to 3 m across: a signature of Nong Nooch's palm garden.
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
- Coconut palm Cocos nucifera
- 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