Native to Madagascar’s dry, open woodlands and savannas, Bismarckia nobilis, commonly called the Bismarck palm, is a striking fan palm renowned for its massive, silver-blue fronds and symmetrical crown. The species is dioecious, with separate male and female plants producing different inflorescences. Male palms, as shown in the image, produce long, arching spadices densely packed with tiny, bright yellow, star-shaped flowers arranged between tight overlapping bracts along the spike. Female palms bear similar spadices that develop into large, round, dark brown fruits once pollinated. In cultivation, Bismarckia nobilis is valued worldwide as a dramatic ornamental for large tropical and subtropical landscapes. The palm’s slow growth rate and eventual massive size—reaching 40–70 ft in height with a spread of 15–25 ft—make it a long-term focal point in parks, gardens, and avenue plantings. Propagation is exclusively from seed, as the palm does not produce offsets. Photographed in Florida.