Cat Palm
Scientific Name: Chamaedorea cataractarum Mart.
Size: Up to 4 feet tall (1.2 m) clumping
Min. Temperature: 24°F to 28°F (-2°C to -4.5°C)
Water Requirements: Regular to abundant water
Sun Requirements: Light shade to shade
Origin: Southeastern Mexico
Leaf: Pinnate, 3 to 6 leaves, 30 to 50 leaflets, up to 12 inches long, 1 inch wide (30 x 2.5 cm), 40 inches long (1 m).
Trunk: Clustering trunk might be horizontal, forked, clump forming, 1 inch in diameter (2.5 cm).
Flower: Yellow flowers, separate male and female plants. Flower stalk coming from among the leaves, 20 inches long (50 cm), closely spaced flowers make it look thicker..
Fruit: Black. up to 0.4 inch long by 0.25 inches diameter (10 x 6 mm), persistent petals. oval, flesh should not be handled with bare hands.
Seed:
Min. Temperature: 24°F to 28°F (-2°C to -4.5°C)
Water Requirements: Regular to abundant water
Sun Requirements: Light shade to shade
Origin: Southeastern Mexico
Leaf: Pinnate, 3 to 6 leaves, 30 to 50 leaflets, up to 12 inches long, 1 inch wide (30 x 2.5 cm), 40 inches long (1 m).
Trunk: Clustering trunk might be horizontal, forked, clump forming, 1 inch in diameter (2.5 cm).
Flower: Yellow flowers, separate male and female plants. Flower stalk coming from among the leaves, 20 inches long (50 cm), closely spaced flowers make it look thicker..
Fruit: Black. up to 0.4 inch long by 0.25 inches diameter (10 x 6 mm), persistent petals. oval, flesh should not be handled with bare hands.
Seed:
The Cat Palm was popular as inddor plant in the seventies. It has been since replaced by faster growing species, less sensitive to pests like spider mite.
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