VARIEGATED RHAPIS EXCELSA EXOTIC - TEND TO BE SMALL, MINIATURE PALMS

This is another post to remind readers that we still offer a good supply of the highly coveted variegated Rhapis excelsa. Known as the “Gems of the Orient”, these striking plants typically have yellow or white variegation on green leaves. Most plants at mature size are three to six feet. There are many exotic varieties – most popular in Japan where affluent collectors compete to obtain the most striking plants. Propagation is by divisions only. So, one must mother plants for divisions so you’d have a plant to sell.

The plant leaflet photos below are an assortment of our Nursery plants. The variegation consists of very narrow bands of yellow on green. They are sort of hard to see here. On any given leaflets there are lots of these narrow, subtle stripes. Sizes available are 5 & 15 gallon and maybe a few larger.

Contact us if you are interested in getting one. BTW, these are never inexpensive plants. And, they are all different. The variegation seems to be different from leaf to leaf on all varieties. Prices on our 5g start at about $150 and the 15g at $450 or more. IMPORTANT: These variegated Rhapis essentially want no fertilizer. Fertilizer tends to drown out the variegation with nitrogen. As we have an injector system on all our plants, it’s very difficult to “starve” these plants. You’ll probably be better at growing them than us as you can easily avoid giving them fertilizer.

A 15 gallon plant is shown in the first six photos with close-ups of the variegation on some leaves. Following are photographs of plants we still have at the Nursery or have sold from the Nursery.