Palms

Juania australis - Chonta palm

This palm is illusive to the palm collector. Native to Juan Fernandez Islands, off the coast of Chile.  Worldwide it seems to not want to grow outside its habitat. It grows for a while and then for no apparent reason they die. Landsendt has 3 palms in the garden. One has formed a trunk of about 1.5m. It grows in a semi shaded area in clay soil. Very wet during winter. To our knowledge, this is the only trunking one outside of Chile. (please let us know if this claim is false). The seed was collected in 1988 from a private garden in Renaca, Chile.

Geonoma undata - Red Crown Shaft Palm

Stunning palm with ivory like trunk and red crown shaft. 2 palms are currently flowering at Landsendt (June 2008). This is the first time since its seed introduction by Dick Endt in 1988. The seed came from one palm in Southern Ecuador, near the Peruvian border. This palm seems to thrive in a cool and shaded situation. The plantation at Landsendt consists of 19 palms with others scattered throughout the garden.

Parajubaea cocoides

This palm was introduced to NZ by Dick. It has no habitat and is found in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. In monastaries and street plantings. Because of its edible nuts it was most likely an Inca food crop, a plant that was taken with them.  Seed was not easily obtainable as it was collected for food as it dropped. NZ should plant edible trees in public spaces for the same reason.

P. cocoides does well in Oratia. it seems to favour the heavy soil and high humidy. Plants of a similar age in Kerikeri, Northland don't have the same growth rate. We first thought they would grow better in warmer climates and free draining soil but the opposite appears to be the preferred situation.

Parajubaea torallyii var.microcarpa

This palm was thought to be P. torallyii until it started seeding and could be properly identified as P. torallyii var. microcarpa, meaning 'small seed'. The seeds appear larger with their husks but are actually small. The palm itself is huge and one of the fastest growing specimens at Landsendt. It is very similar in appearance to P. torallyii with a vase shape to its fronds with the only visible difference being the size of the seed.

It is very cold hardy - up to - 10 degrees, coming from a habitat of 3000m in Bolivia.

This palm started flowering and seeding at 10 years. It is to our knowledge, the largest specimen in NZ. The seed was collected by Michael Poulgrain (great grandson of JW Hall, see interesting plant stories, Hall's Totara).

Ceroxylon quindiuense

Tallest palm species in the world, reaching 60m. The 2 specimens at Landsendt are currently about 16m. They were planted as young plants in 1992 and started trunking in 2003. They seem to sit for a long time as just a crown but as soon as they trunk the speed of growth is phenomenal. We have other Ceroxlons planted at the same time which are still in the crown form. The best ones were planted in the shade of a banana plantation whereas the others were in the full sun as young plants. We're not sure if this is why they have out performed the others.

They are native to Colombia. Dick collected the seed from habitat in 1989. It is the national tree of Colombia. 

Hedyscepe canterburyana - Umbrella Palm

This would have to be one of the most beautiful palms of all. Native to Lord Howe Island. It is related to the Nikau, it has a white crown shaft, recurved leaves and smooth trunk. It is not commonly available as it is painfully slow to get going but if you have the patience it is so worth waiting for. You will find a fine specimen at Landsendt at the bottom of the Jungle Garden.

Dypsis baronii

This palm is native to Madagascar,an island that is losing its forest at an alarming rate. The island has been massively denuded in the last 15 years. A special plant that has been saved from the destruction is Dypsis baronii. It is a smaller palm,reaching a maximum height of about 4m. It is fast becoming one of the best selling palms in New Zealand. Its bamboo like stems make it perfect for smaller gardens.