Sand Palm

The Sand Palm is a clustering palm from Madagascar’s coastal forests. Kew accepts *Chrysalidocarpus arenarum* and lists *Dypsis arenarum* as a synonym; Singapore’s NParks records Hirihiry as a common name and describes the species as reaching about 6 m. ## Form and habitat This palm grows in littoral forest near fresh water, and its young leaves emerge reddish before turning green. The feather-like leaves arch slightly above a cluster of stems, making the plant useful where a tropical, multi-stemmed form is wanted. Its reported wild range is narrow, so use verified nursery material rather than collecting from natural populations. ## Growing notes NParks recommends full sun, moist but well-drained soil, and moderate watering. The same source lists coastal forest as its native habitat and notes that it can be propagated by seed. Give the clump room to expand and provide enough drainage that regular moisture does not become waterlogging. Sources: [Kew Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:665950-1), [NParks Flora & Fauna Web](https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/9/1/9137), and [Palmpedia Palm Grower’s Guide](https://palmpedia.net/wiki/Chrysalidocarpus_arenarum). ## Maintenance Remove dead or broken fronds at the base without cutting into the crown. Keep the root zone evenly moist during active growth, then adjust irrigation to local rainfall and drainage.