Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zone 10, however plants generally dislike temperatures below 55-60 degrees F., and may not survive when temperatures dip to near freezing. Best grown in moist, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Grows well as a houseplant in a sunny room. Containers may be taken outside in late spring when warm temperatures arrive.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Prichardia pacifica, commonly called Fiji fan palm, is a solitary palm that is native to Fiji in the southwest Pacific Ocean. It has been introduced to a large number of tropical islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Tonga and Samoa where it may also be native, and in many other tropical to sub-tropical habitats throughout the world. It is a gray-trunked tree (mature trunk diameter to 12") which grows slowly to as much as 20-30' tall in tropical areas, but smaller when grown indoors in containers as a houseplant. It features huge, many-segmented, palmate, fan-shaped, lime green leaves to 6' long and nearly as wide. Fragrant brown flowers bloom on inflorescences to 3' long. Round fruits (each to 1/2" diameter) in large clusters emerge green but mature to dark brown/black.
Genus name honors W. T. Pritchard, 19th-century British official in Polynesia.
Specific epithet means of the Pacific Ocean.
Leaves have commonly been used as fans hence the common name of fan palm.
Problems
Lethal yellowing (present in Florida) is a significant and deadly phytoplasma disease of palms (spread by a planthopper - Myndus crudus) that causes yellowed fronds, blackened flowers and premature fruit drop.
Uses
Houseplant for most of the U.S.