Sugar palm (aren) Arenga pinnata
Sugar palm (aren) (Arenga pinnata) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Arecaceae family, native to South-east Asia. It grows 12–20 m (39–66 ft) tall and 6–10 m (20–33 ft) wide, wants full sun and high water, and is hardy to about 10 °C (50 °F). Space plants about 8 m (26 ft) apart.
Plan Sugar palm (aren) in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sugar palm (aren) at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Arecaceae |
| Mature height | 12–20 m (39–66 ft) |
| Mature spread | 6–10 m (20–33 ft) |
| Spacing | 8 m (26 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | High; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 10 °C (50 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 12) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 36 °C (97 °F) |
| Flowering | about 521–782 weeks after planting, for 29–47 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Yes: sap (palm sugar, gula aren), cooked seed kernels (kolang-kaling) |
| Native to | South-east Asia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇮🇩 Indonesia, 🇲🇾 Malaysia, 🇵🇭 Philippines, 🇻🇳 Vietnam |
Is Sugar palm (aren) toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: raw fruit flesh
Raw fruit pulp is full of irritant oxalate needles.
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 Sugar palm (aren)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and high water.
Questions about Sugar palm (aren)
- How far apart should I plant Sugar palm (aren)?
- About 8 m (26 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 6–10 m (20–33 ft).
- Does Sugar palm (aren) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sugar palm (aren) need?
- High water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Sugar palm (aren)?
- It tolerates about 10 °C (50 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 12.
- When does Sugar palm (aren) flower?
- About 521–782 weeks after planting, for 29–47 weeks.
- Is Sugar palm (aren) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Raw fruit pulp is full of irritant oxalate needles.
- What grows well with Sugar palm (aren)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Sugar palm (aren). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (high).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- PROSEA: Plant Resources of South-East Asia, PROSEA Foundation, Bogor
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Flowers from the top down over several years and then dies (hapaxanthic). Sap is tapped from the male flower stalks.
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