Leathery Doum Palm Plant Care
Hyphaene coriacea Gaertn.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Hyphaene coriacea, the lala palm or ilala palm is a species of palm tree native to the eastern Afrotropics. It occurs in eastern Africa from Somalia to Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, and is also found in the coastal flats of Madagascar and on Juan de Nova Island in the Mozambique Channel Islands.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun
65–85°F
50–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Leathery Doum Palm?
Water Leathery Doum Palm every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun. It prefers temperatures of 65–85°F (18–29°C) and 50–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
What Is the Leathery Doum Palm?
Leathery Doum Palm (Hyphaene coriacea) belongs to the Arecaceae family within the Hyphaene genus. Leathery Doum Palm is native to the eastern Afrotropics.
Leathery Doum Palm displays a single trunk palm growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 10 ft. Leathery Doum Palm produces small yellow flowers in clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 36 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Leathery Doum Palm?
Hyphaene coriacea 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 Leathery Doum Palm Need?
Leathery Doum Palm thrives in full sun.
Light Requirement
Full sun
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Leathery Doum Palm Prefer?
Hyphaene coriacea grows best at temperatures of 65–85°F. Leathery Doum Palm prefers humidity levels of 50–70%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.
Temperature
65–85°F
Humidity
50–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Leathery Doum Palm?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Leathery Doum Palm to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Leathery Doum Palm?
Feed Leathery Doum 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 Leathery Doum Palm?
Repot every 2-3 years. 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 Leathery Doum Palm?
Leathery Doum Palm can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to doum palm plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Leathery Doum Palm Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Leathery Doum 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 Leathery Doum Palm?
Leathery Doum Palm is susceptible to spider mites, 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 Leathery Doum Palm Need?
Leathery Doum Palm grows outdoors in USDA Zone 13b. It survives winters down to planting zone 13b. Leathery Doum Palm is native to the eastern Afrotropics. In cooler regions, grow Leathery Doum Palm as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 13b
Keep exploring plants
Leathery Doum 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 Hyphaene genus — compare its care with other Hyphaene species on PlantoScan.
Hyphaene is part of the Arecaceae plant family — browse all Arecaceae genera and species.
Leathery Doum Palm thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Hyphaene coriacea Gaertn., family Arecaceae (first published in Fruct. Sem. Pl. 1: 28 (1788)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Leathery Doum 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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