Babassu palm Plant Care
Attalea dubia Burret
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Attalea dubia, also known as the Indaiá plant, babassu palm, or bacuaçu palm is a flowering plant in the family Arecaceae, native to the Southern and Southeast Regions of Brazil.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
65–85°F
50–80%
At a glance
How do you care for Babassu palm?
Water Babassu palm every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 65–85°F (18–29°C) and 50–80% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Babassu palm Native To?
What Is the Babassu palm?
Babassu palm (Attalea dubia) belongs to the Arecaceae family within the Attalea genus. Babassu palm is native to the Southern and Southeast Regions of Brazil.
Babassu palm displays a tall, single-trunk palm growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 15 ft. Babassu palm produces creamy white flowers in large clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 36 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Babassu palm?
Attalea dubia requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Babassu palm Need?
Babassu palm thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Babassu palm Prefer?
Attalea dubia grows best at temperatures of 65–85°F. Babassu palm prefers humidity levels of 50–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–85°F
Humidity
50–80%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Babassu palm?
Well-draining sandy soil with organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for Babassu palm to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Babassu palm?
Feed Babassu palm every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Babassu palm?
Repot every 2-3 years in spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Babassu palm?
Babassu palm can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to attalea amygdalina plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Babassu palm Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Babassu palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Babassu palm?
Babassu palm is susceptible to spider mites, mealybugs, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Babassu palm Need?
Babassu palm grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Babassu palm is native to the Southern and Southeast Regions of Brazil. In cooler regions, grow Babassu palm as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Babassu palm is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Attalea genus — compare its care with other Attalea species on PlantoScan.
Attalea is part of the Arecaceae plant family — browse all Arecaceae genera and species.
Babassu palm thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Attalea Species
Other Attalea species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Attalea dubia Burret, family Arecaceae (first published in Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 10: 516 (1929)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Babassu palm, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 13b, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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