Yellow Barbel Palm

Yellow Barbel Palm (*Acanthophoenix crinita*) is a slow-growing, single-trunk palm native only to Réunion Island. Its ringed stem and crown of long, arching, feather-shaped leaves make a striking tropical specimen, while dark fibrous leaf bases and long spines call for distance from paths and work areas. ## Landscape profile This palm grows on a long timeline: the Réunion botanical guidance reports trunks only about 2–3 m tall after 40 years, while mature palms in natural forest can reach about 10 m. Its pinnate leaves can approach 3 m, so allow generous vertical and horizontal clearance. The trunk is slender, often slightly flared at the base, and solitary rather than clumping. The leaves are green; the dense, dark fibers around the leaf bases and the spiny crown give it a distinctive architectural texture. Its flowering clusters are described in shades ranging from white and pink-red to yellow-orange, though a reliable flowering season was not available in the sources reviewed. Use it as a long-term specimen in a large, warm-climate landscape where it can be seen without brushing its spines. Kew accepts *A. crinita* as a species separate from *A. rubra*; the Réunion conservatory notes that the two have distinct morphology, ecology, and ranges despite older taxonomies that grouped them. Local names include Palmiste noir and Palmiste rouge des hauts. ## Origin and conservation The [Conservatoire Botanique National de Mascarin (CBNM)](https://mascarine.cbnm.org/index.php/flore/index-de-la-flore/nom?code_taxref=705760) records it as endemic to Réunion and associated with humid mountain forest. Its [species profile](https://daupi.cbnm.org/index.php/outils/contact/category/1-fiches-descriptives-run?download=4:acanthophoenix-crinita) describes a moisture-loving palm for well-drained ground; young plants grow in shaded understory before developing in brighter conditions. CBNM also records bees visiting its flowers and birds dispersing its seeds. The [2023 Réunion Red List](https://inpn.mnhn.fr/docs/LR_FCE/Liste_rouge_flore_vasculaire_la_reunion_2023_fascicule.pdf) classifies the wild island population as Endangered, citing fewer than 250 individuals and invasive species among the threats. This is a local conservation status, not a worldwide assessment. Although the palm heart has a traditional food use, this ornamental description is not a recommendation to harvest wild palms. ## Cultivar and patent This catalog entry represents the botanical species, not a named cultivar. [Fairview Nursery lists the species as Yellow Barbel Palm](https://fairviewnursery.com/plants/palms/); the sources reviewed do not identify a breeder, branded selection, or plant patent. ## Maintenance Give it a humid, frost-light climate and well-drained soil that does not remain waterlogged. Young plants benefit from shade; established palms can grow in brighter exposures. The existing catalog range of zones 9–11 is consistent with a Southern California nursery listing it for zone 9b, though local microclimate still matters. Remove only dry, dead leaves as needed. Because the crown and leaf bases carry long, rigid spines, keep the palm away from narrow paths and use appropriate professional protection when pruning.