Rhapis humilis (reed rhapis, "Shurochiku")

Japanese name: シュロチク （棕櫚竹）
Scientific name: Rhapis humilis

[Overview]
A palm 1–6 m tall.
The trunks form a clump from the base. Each is cylindrical, about 1–2.5 cm in diameter, with ring-shaped scars where leaves have fallen, and has no spines.
The leaf sheaths are dark brown and form a fine fibrous net wrapping the trunk.
Seven to eight leaves are borne alternately; they are fan-shaped, 30–40 cm wide, and deeply palmately divided into 7–20 segments.
The segments are 15–45 cm long and 1.2–3 cm wide, with a very small bifid, pointed tip and a glossy upper surface.
The petiole is about 20 cm long.
It is dioecious.
Many small cream-colored flowers are borne on fleshy spike inflorescences emerging from the leaf axils.
The fruit is ovoid, about 0.7 cm in diameter, but it almost never sets fruit in Japan.

[History]
It was introduced to Japan in the early Edo period as an ornamental.
Plants that escaped in places such as Yakushima have become naturalized.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
It tolerates temperatures down to about −2 °C, so it can overwinter outdoors in areas without frost.
It prefers partial shade and fertile, well-drained soil, and dislikes strong direct sun, afternoon sun and strong wind.
For potted plants, from spring to autumn water thoroughly when the soil surface dries, and keep it on the dry side in winter.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer or liquid fertilizer.
Pests include scale insects and spider mites.

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