Dominican Cherry Palm

Dominican Cherry Palm (*Pseudophoenix ekmanii*) is a distinctive palm native only to the Barahona region of the Dominican Republic, including Beata Island. Its ringed, bottle-shaped trunk, widely spaced leaflets and reddish ripe fruits give it a striking presence. It may grow to about 12 m (39 ft), so allow ample room around the crown and trunk. ## Landscape Use Use it as a long-term specimen only in a warm tropical setting. [Kew Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:211502-2) documents its seasonally dry tropical range, and [Grupo Jaragua](https://www.grupojaragua.org.do/en/home/our-work/species/arboles_en/) describes its form, size and conservation context. Its limited natural range and slow growth make provenance important; choose nursery-propagated plants and do not collect from wild populations. Older trunks can provide nesting cavities in its native habitat. ## Maintenance Keep the crown clear of structures and avoid damaging the growing point. The palm comes from seasonally dry tropical forest, but its species-specific garden watering needs are not well established; consult a local palm specialist when siting and establishing it.