Rhapis Palm
Rhapis Palm, Lady Palm
Rhapis excelsa
Light Level: High
Water Level: High
Rhapis are multi-stemmed fan palms that have large, thick, shiny compound leaves with blunt tips. The stems are covered with dark brown fiber that appears woven. The name is from the Greek word “rhapis” meaning needle, and is a reference to the shape of the leaf segments.
Country of Origin
Laos, Taiwan, and southern China
Maintenance Tips
Slight tip fringe browning is common and can be removed by tearing off the browned tips.
Pests and Problems
Scale may hide in the leaf bases. Mites may appear with low humidity.
Rhapis can suffer from trace element deficiencies which produce yellowing leaves, distorted new growth and plant decline. Use a fertilizer containing micronutrients.
Rhapis and some other palms are sensitive to excess boron, fluoride and chlorine in water supplies. It causes a fast spreading black tip burn.
For more care information visit our comprehensive Indoor Gardening Guide.