Palmita (Xiphidium caeruleum)

We had an unknown plant in our home with palm-like leaves; some persons said it belonged to the Iris plant family, but that was impossible because their flowers were different. And as we asked around, the plant remained nameless for two whole years, until it was finally identified in a Gardeners’ forum on the Internet.

Today, we share our plant with you; it is called Palmita (Xiphidium caeruleum).Palmita (Xiphidium caeruleum) or (Xiphidium caeruleum Aubl.) is a plant species that is native to tropical America. Its origins can be traced to Mexico, the Caribbean, as well as Central and South America. It is the only plant species of the genus Xiphidium from the family Haemodoraceae.

The genus name Xiphidium means “Gladiolus-like” or “sword“; and the species name caeruleum comes from the Latin word for “blue“. Both names describe this plant with its sword-shaped leaves, and foliage color that is blue-green.

The palmita plant is also called Dove tail, Cola de Paloma, Walk Fast, Angel hands, and Soskia.Palmita is actually an evergreen rhizomatous, soft-wooded perennial that grows to heights of 12 – 18 in. (30-45 cm). The plant can be cultivated in full sun, but it thrives best in partial or bright shade; it loves fertile soil that is rich in organic matter, and drainable. This plant requires moderate amounts of water on a regular basis, but it will tolerate short periods of drought.

Pamitas can be grown as an edging or border, they are commonly grown along trails in a park, along lakes, under shady trees, etc., and in pots. The Palmita has narrow, linear leaves that are arranged in a fan shape fashion which gracefully bends to form a fountain-like structure. The leaves are glossy, with a hairless surface that has a rippled texture, because of the parallel venation.

I read that the leaves are linear, equitant, 20 – 50 cm long, overlapping in two ranks . . . the lateral margins free only near base, fused toward apex, minutely serrulate near apex. The Xiphidium caeruleum has a short horizontal root stalk that bears numerous slender rootlets, that sends up vertical shoots. The rhizomes (which are weakly rooted) are at first horizontally creeping, then erect. This plant may be propagated by dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets). It is also easy to grow from seeds.

The Palmita is known to flower in the late spring to late summer, and is attractive to birds. The plant also secretes a fragrance through its osmophores, which attracts some pollen collecting bees. When it blooms, the Palmita produces small, egg-shaped flower buds that give rise to white, tubular flowers that hang down and open slightly at the tip.The small white flowers appear on terminal spikes, followed by orange fruit. I understand too, that the Palmita will produce a spike-like inflorescence under full sun, but a branched inflorescence under semi-shade.

View the Palmita Flower Gallery:

I also read that the Inflorescence of the Palmita is in panicle form, with delicate white flowers, 1 cm in diameter; tubular, that hang down and open slightly at the tip. The panicles are 7 – 35 cm long, and 3 – 16 cm wide; while the branches, which are few to many, are circinately coiled in bud, and held horizontal at maturity. The fruits of the Palmita are globose capsules . . . 5 – 10 mm in diameter, are initially green, then orange, and finally black. They containing numerous black seeds of 0.5 – 1 mm in diameter.At the end of flowering, it is recommended that you do cleaning by pruning your Palmita plants, and remove dead flowers, stalks, stems and leaves.The Palmita is mainly grown as an ornamental plant, but in some places, it is also used in folk medicine as a dressing for cracks in the soles of the feet and for other types of calluses.