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Plant care

Licuri Palm (Ouricuri Palm) care

Syagrus coronata

Also called Ouricuri Palm, Nicuri Palm, Ouricury Wax Palm.

RHS H2USDA 9b-12Pet-safeIndoor Up to 10 m tall outdoors

Watering rhythm

10-14days

When the top 5 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10-14 days or less

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Sandy, well-drained loam or palm mix

Humidity

30-60%

Temp

15-35°C

Pet safety

Pet-safe

Mature size

Up to 10 m tall outdoors

Care at a glance

Light

Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sun on the leaves. Strongly sun-loving; thrives in full sun. Tolerates partial shade but produces its best form and yields in open positions with 6+ hours of direct sun daily. Deeply unhappy in deep shade. If your only bright window faces south, that's perfect for licuri palm — same window any aroid would fry on.

Watering

Watering licuri palm: when the top 5 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10-14 days or less. The number that matters isn't the day of the week — it's how dry the top 2-3 cm of the pot feels. A finger in the soil tells you more than a watering app. After every watering, tip the saucer. Notably drought-tolerant once established; evolved for seasonal dry periods. Deep infrequent watering mimics its natural rainfall pattern. Avoid consistently wet soils. In containers, reduce watering drastically in winter.

Soil and pot

Licuri Palm grows best in sandy, well-drained loam or palm mix. Tolerates poor, sandy, and even rocky soils — reflecting its Caatinga origins. Amend heavy soils with grit or sharp sand. Good drainage is more critical than soil fertility. Neutral to slightly acidic pH (6.0-7.0). A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Licuri Palm sits happiest at around 30-60% humidity and 15-35°C (59-95°F). Adapted to low-humidity environments; more tolerant of dry air than most palms. Does not require misting. Performs well in Mediterranean and semi-arid climates. Excess humidity combined with poor ventilation can encourage fungal issues. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed licuri palm sparingly. Apply a slow-release palm granule fertiliser in early spring and midsummer. Light feeding is sufficient given its adaptation to nutrient-poor soils; over-fertilising can cause excessive soft growth susceptible to pests. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on licuri palm in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Overwatering — The most common error; this drought-adapted palm rots quickly in waterlogged soil — always err on the dry side.
  • Scale insects — Can infest the trunk and frond bases; treat with horticultural oil or a systemic insecticide.
  • Nutrient deficiencies — Yellowing fronds can indicate potassium or manganese deficiency; use a palm-specific fertiliser containing micronutrients.
  • Slow growth in cold climates — Growth stalls below 15°C; move containerised specimens under glass in winter outside USDA zone 10.
  • Fungal leaf spots — Occur in very humid conditions with poor air movement; improve ventilation and avoid wetting foliage.

Companion plants

Licuri Palm pairs well with Agave americana, Cereus repandus, and Opuntia ficus-indica. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Propagate by fresh seed sown at 25-30°C; germination is slow and irregular, typically 3-6 months. Soak seeds in warm water for 48 hours to assist germination. No vegetative propagation is possible. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Licuri Palm is pet-safe. Syagrus coronata is a true palm (Arecaceae) and the genus is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. True palms as a family are generally non-toxic to cats and dogs, though the edible fruits are intended for human or wildlife consumption. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Licuri Palm care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Syagrus coronata?

Syagrus coronata is most commonly called Licuri Palm, but it is also known as Ouricuri Palm, Nicuri Palm, Ouricury Wax Palm. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Licuri Palm apply identically to anything sold as Ouricuri Palm.

How much light does licuri palm need?

Licuri Palm grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Strongly sun-loving; thrives in full sun. Tolerates partial shade but produces its best form and yields in open positions with 6+ hours of direct sun daily. Deeply unhappy in deep shade.

How often should I water licuri palm?

Water licuri palm when the top 5 cm of soil is dry, roughly every 10-14 days or less. Notably drought-tolerant once established; evolved for seasonal dry periods. Deep infrequent watering mimics its natural rainfall pattern. Avoid consistently wet soils. In containers, reduce watering drastically in winter. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is licuri palm toxic to cats and dogs?

Licuri Palm is pet-safe. Syagrus coronata is a true palm (Arecaceae) and the genus is not listed as toxic by the ASPCA. True palms as a family are generally non-toxic to cats and dogs, though the edible fruits are intended for human or wildlife consumption.

What USDA hardiness zone does licuri palm grow in?

Licuri Palm is rated for USDA zone 9b-12 and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Licuri Palm deep-dive guides

Every aspect of licuri palm care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Licuri Palm qualifies for 8 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Licuri Palm is also known as Ouricuri Palm, Nicuri Palm, and Ouricury Wax Palm.