Seed Availability

Seeds are not available for the Coco de Mer. Please visit our seed store to view current selections.

Description

Large palm to 90ft, though often considerably shorter. The leaf fans are also huge, and can be up to 12ft long, and 7ft wide. Trees are bisexual, with male and female inflorescenses occuring on separate trees. The large, thick male inflorescense, coupled with the female pelvic-like appearance of the husked fruits only furthered the coco de mer's reputation as an erotic thought provoking tree. The fruits can take up to 10 years to ripen, but often ripen is just five years. Trees generally take 30-60 years to begin flowering and may continue to do so for another 100-150 years.

Hardiness

Unknown. Not frost hardy.

Growing Environment

Prefers a warm, tropical climate.

Propagation

By seeds.

Uses

The tree is mostly grown for ornamental reasons--the fruits, resembling a double coconut, contain the largest seeds in the plant kingdom. In years past the nuts were beleived to have aphrodesiac qualities, probably owing to their similarity in appearance to the female pelvis region. In the 1700's, fruits were sold in parts of Europe for up to 400 pounds each! The tree was also once thought to be the Tree of Good and Evil in the biblical Garden of Eden.

Native Range

Native to the islands of Praslin and Curieuse, part of the larger island chain of the Seychelles. This palm is highly endangered in its natural habitat.

Additional Pictures

Related Species

Arecaceae
	Aiphanes aculeata Coyupe Palm		Areca catechu Betel Nut
	Arenga engleri Dwarf Sugar Palm		Astrocaryum vulgare Tucuma Palm
	Bactris maraja Maraja Palm		Brahea armata Mexican Blue Palm
	Brahea edulis Guadalupe Palm		Butia capitata Jelly Palm
	Butia eriospatha Wooly Jelly Palm		Butia purpurascens Purple Yatay Palm
	Butia yatay Yatay Palm		Caryota urens Wine Palm
	Cocos nucifera Coconut		Cyrtostachys renda Sealing Wax Palm
	Dypsis decaryi Triangle Palm		Euterpe edulis Jussara Palm
	Euterpe oleracea Acai Palm		Euterpe precatoria Forest Acai
	Jubaea chilensis Chilean Wine Palm		Licuala grandis Vanuatu Fan Palm
	Lodoicea maldivica Coco de Mer		Mauritia flexuosa Moriche Palm
	Serenoa repens Saw Palmetto		Syagrus oleracea Bitter Coconut
	Syagrus romanzoffianum Queen Palm		Syagrus vagans Wandering Palm