Common Name: Giant Yarey Palm
Copernicia fallaensis is a huge and imposing palm limited mostly to one location near the town of Falla in central Cuba. It's size alone makes it an often talked about palm among collectors, but also combined with it's limited availability means that very few can grow it. It is similar to the better known Copernicia baileyana, but larger, the largest of it's genus, with more of a bluish hue to the leaves. The trunk grows to 18m/60' in height with a diameter of up to 900mm/3'. The large fan leaves can be as much as 2.4m/8' across, which is particularly impressive on younger examples, where they can be viewed more intimately. It is a slow growing, but adaptable species and should do well in cultivation in a range of warmer climates. Originally more widespread, the palm has become threatened due to over exploitation by humans, who have traditionally used the leaves for thatching and other crafts. There is ongoing work to learn more about the species and educating local communities with a view to preserving the wild population.