Gaussia maya

Gaussia maya, formerly known as Opsiandra maya, or also called the Maya Palm, is a species that will delight enthusiasts of unusual tropical plants. While its appearance is rather typical for a palm tree, with a characteristic silhouette where a long trunk is topped by a cluster of green fronds, this species piques the curiosity of botanists and scientists due to the peculiarity of its flowering, which occurs at a different time, following a triggering mechanism that is still unexplained. Although many years are required to witness this phenomenon, and it does not always occur in our climates, this palm tree remains a beautiful collectible plant. It will be a striking addition to a terrace or a balcony during the warm season, preferably in partial shade.

Gaussia maya belongs to the Arecaceae family, like all palm trees. It is native to Belize, Guatemala, and southeastern Mexico. In the wild, it is found, increasingly rarely, on rocky outcrops and limestone hills, in humid forest environments. This species is considered endangered. When young, this palm tree appreciates a shaded exposure, slightly moist but well-drained soil, while older specimens can withstand sunnier locations. In tropical America, depending on its location, it reaches an average height of 9 m (5 to 20m (16 ft 5 in to 65 ft 7 in)) and a width of 4 m (13 ft 1 in). Grown in a pot or container, its dimensions will be more modest.

A fast-growing shrubby plant, Gaussia maya develops a straight grey trunk or stipe, from which six to eight large compound leaves, measuring up to 2.7 m (8 ft 11 in), arch out. They are divided into leaflets arranged in multiple planes, giving the foliage a plume-like appearance and compensating for its somewhat sparse aspect. Flowering occurs on specimens aged 8 to 12 years, in summer, if the growing conditions are favourable. The first inflorescences of the Maya Palm remain as buds for several years while the trunk continues to grow and produce more flowers higher up. Up to 15 inflorescences can coexist at the top of the trunk. At a certain point, the older and newer buds start to open, from the oldest to the youngest, so the Gaussia maya simultaneously carries flowers and fruits at all stages of development. When ripe, the fruits, measuring 1 to 1.5 cm (0.4 to 0.6 in) in diameter, are red. The Maya Palm perishes below -2 °C, but it thrives in good, fertile, and moist soil and tolerates limestone well.

Gaussia maya has a unique presence that brings a touch of exoticism to any setting. Place it on the terrace or balcony, alongside Phormiums, tree ferns, or Cycads, for example. It can be a bit challenging to pair due to its strong personality, but it can be planted in a carefully chosen large pot and surrounded with a carpet of Japanese forest grass, golden pearlwort, or plectranthus.