Chilean wine palm Jubaea chilensis
Chilean wine palm (Jubaea chilensis) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to Central Chile (coastal hills, matorral). It grows 10–25 m (33–82 ft) tall and 6–9 m (20–30 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -12 °C (10 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
Plan Chilean wine palm in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Chilean wine palm at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 10–25 m (33–82 ft) |
| Mature spread | 6–9 m (20–30 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -12 °C (10 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 8) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: seeds ("coquitos"), sap (palm honey) |
| Native to | Central Chile (coastal hills, matorral) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇫🇷 France, 🇨🇱 Chile |
Is Chilean wine 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 Chilean wine palm
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
See Chilean wine palm in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (1 plants)
- Gardens by the Bay (1 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (1 plants)
Questions about Chilean wine palm
- How far apart should I plant Chilean wine palm?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 6–9 m (20–30 ft).
- Does Chilean wine palm need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Chilean wine palm need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Chilean wine palm?
- It tolerates about -12 °C (10 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 8.
- Is Chilean wine 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 Chilean wine palm?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Chilean wine palm. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Kew Gardens: Palm House, Temperate House, Rock Garden and Mediterranean Garden, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, IUCN
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
Notes and assumptions
- Kew's Temperate House specimen (raised from seed in 1846) is described as the largest indoor plant in the world.
- One of the hardiest feather palms and among the most massive trunks of any palm; very slow; Vulnerable in the wild (IUCN).
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
- Joey palm Johannesteijsmannia altifrons
- Clustering fishtail palm Caryota mitis