Dypsis heteromorpha

[Bags]

I purchased this plant in spring of 2008 as a overgrown one gallon. By August it had rooted out a five gallon pot and I planted it. It gets full sun from about 10am, puts out 5 or 6 leaves a year and always looks great. One of the best palms for coastal SoCal for sure.

Here it is in 08

Here it is today

[Bags]

Plenty of fuzz

Starting to get some rings.

[Bags]

It is also branching and suckering. Feel free to post picks of yours.

[ellidro]

Looks great Aaron. Loves that spot. Once these get established they seem to grow about the same speed as a baronii.

[basilios]

Great loooking palm. How cold hardy is it?

[palmcurry]

Thanks for sharing Aaron. Like how it's turning out with the fuzz and all.

A cool palm in my book too. Just planted 3 of them together so will go snap a pic when I can.

[Hilo Jason]

Thanks for posting those pics. I planted my 1 gallon this past summer and it's been slow but steady so far. Mine doesn't have any fuzz on it yet. Is that something that yours had when you got it, or did it develop that later?

[LJG]

Thanks for posting those pics. I planted my 1 gallon this past summer and it's been slow but steady so far. Mine doesn't have any fuzz on it yet. Is that something that yours had when you got it, or did it develop that later?

There are two of these plants going around. One is this plant and another that looks like a Baronii type. The ones I have all showed fuzz from a small size. Post a pic.

[palmz]

What a great job growing that palm, it looks really healthy and very happy in that spot !!

[Bags]

Thanks all.

Basilios,

Not sure how cold hardy this palm is. They have only been around for a few years, but they supposedly come from some elevation so might take some cold. They for sure seam cool tolerant.

Jason,

It started out with a black base and not a lot of fuzz, as soon as I put it in the sun it turned green and has been getting fuzzier ever since.

[Shon]

Why don't you tell everybody how you stole it? Great lookin palm but it makes me bitter everytime I look at it.

[MattyB]

I love the recurved leaflets on these.

[Walter John]

There's something 215 about pics 1 and 2 in post #2.

What do you think Daryl ?.....and Bill ?

[LJG]

This comparison has been made a few times now Wal. They sure do look similar.

[BS Man about Palms]

Just as Len said, been mentioned before. But Daryl's seems to have more fur and color. That could be cultural and particular plant differences...

(Just happen to always keep a 215 pic handy.... )

[Bags]

Why don't you tell everybody how you stole it? Great lookin palm but it makes me bitter everytime I look at it.

Ok Ok I stole it. Just don't tell my parole officer because this would be my third strike...Seriously though I feel really bad about it so I am going to make it up to you. When It sets seed (probably within the next few weeks)I am going to sell you some at a 10% discount. Just present a copy of this post at time of purchase. Limit 10 per person.

[BS Man about Palms]

Well played Aaron.

[MattyB]

Daryl's is off-the-charts fuzzy!

[Palm crazy]

I told myself I wasn't going to get another exotic palm this year, but after seeing what a gorgeous palm yours is turning out to be... I love the symmetrical look....maybe after new years. Should be hardy than most.

Roger.

[Joe palma]

Real nice looking palm there Aaron!

That's the biggest one I have seen and I had no idea they were that cool looking.

Recurved fronds are sweet.....and the fuzz!!

It went into ground at a relatively small size and is doing great.

Gonna plant mine out after see this.

Of course w/ the appropriate rabbit and gopher protection.

Thanks

[JD in the OC]

I think Daryl's is D. heteromorpha.. more fuzz cause it's growing in queensland prob. Very nice palm. We planted one here and the main stalk died over summer, prob too much water. It's in the baronii complex, so it's death didn't surprise me..

[MattyB]

One of my D. heteromorphas has suffered from some suckers dieing off. It still has about 6 stems though.

[LJG]

It's in the baronii complex, so it's death didn't surprise me..

I doubt it. Probably its own species.

[LilikoiLee]

I had not seen this palm before this post. I liked it and did an online search. Some photos show a red coloration on the stems; others do not. I would appreciate those of you who have heteromorphas or are knowledgeable about them letting me know how often the stem is colored.

Thanks,

Lee

[palmcurry]

It's in the baronii complex, so it's death didn't surprise me..

I doubt it. Probably its own species.

True. Baronii don't do well in FL though.

[Daryl]

There's something 215 about pics 1 and 2 in post #2.

What do you think Daryl ?.....and Bill ?

Could be the same..they look very similar apart from the colour of the leaves and the red fur. Maybe just different varieties of the same species...

Daryl

[LilikoiLee]

There's something 215 about pics 1 and 2 in post #2.

What do you think Daryl ?.....and Bill ?

Could be the same..they look very similar apart from the colour of the leaves and the red fur. Maybe just different varieties of the same species...

Daryl

Yeow! I hope someone is able to confirm their ID. I would love to have this palm.

[MattyB]

I doubt that Daryl's is the same as D. heteromorpha because even in Hawaii this palm doesn't have that much red fuzz. Here's a link to Palmpedia where there's some pics of Jerry Andersens D. heteromorpha. It's fuzzy, but not that much.

D. heteromorpha on Palmpedia

[ellidro]

I would love if Jerry could update the pic for comparison. I still think they are one in the same. Daryl has yours been that fuzzy since seedling to 5g size? Also some palms have more than others, Daryl may just be the lucky one who got the fuzziest one. Marcus has laughed at me on several occasion when trying to ID palms based on fuzz, speckles or minor color differences. Truth will be told when they flower and seed.

[LilikoiLee]

Thanks, Matty and Ellidro. Saved me from rushing out and buying one.

Lee

[LJG]

I would love if Jerry could update the pic for comparison. I still think they are one in the same. Daryl has yours been that fuzzy since seedling to 5g size? Also some palms have more than others, Daryl may just be the lucky one who got the fuzziest one. Marcus has laughed at me on several occasion when trying to ID palms based on fuzz, speckles or minor color differences. Truth will be told when they flower and seed.

I was there two weeks ago at Jerry's. They are VERY similar. I think Daryl just really scored a beauty.

[Matt in SD]

The crown on Daryl's palm looks much more open than D heteromorpha to me. Also there is a very strong ridge continuing down from the petiole into the crown that looks different. And Daryl's palm looks like it might be tristichous? To me they sure look different.

Matt

[Bags]

Here is a better overall pic I found of Daryl's palm. Sure looks like Heteromorpha to me. The leaves are recurved and it has similar size leaflets that are V shaped and drooping. The crown shaft also fades from fuzzy to green at the base just like mine. It does have a lot of color, but this could be something that developes with age or like some have said some are just fuzzier than others.

[BS Man about Palms]

Matt, the tristichous look thing has caught my eye in the past too.

[Daryl]

Dypsis heteromorpha is supposed to be tristichous...if Bags' plant in the original post is not, then it aint...

But it is very attractive and well grown none the less!

Daryl

[Daryl]

Part of the description of D.heteromorpha from POM...

Clustering palm in tufts of 3-6, but sometimes appearing solitary. Stems 3-13 m high, 8-12 cm diam; internodes green, nodal scars obvious. Leaves c. 10 in the crown, tristichous; sheath 27-50 cm long, to 7cm wide when flattened, with sloping shoulders, adaxially red-brown, abaxially very waxy, in the distal part with dense reddish laciniate scales, petiole absent or up to 35 cm long, 1-1.8cm diameter, densely pubescent or with scattered scales; rachis c. 1.5 m long, in mid-leaf 0.9-1.3 cm wide, slightly keeled, pubescent on both surfaces, leaflets (number unknown) regular, the proximal 20-62 x 0.2-2.5 cm, median 41-67 x 1-3.5 cm (interval 1.5-3.5 cm), distal 7-35 x 0.6-2.5 cm, main veins 1-5, and with thickened margins, abaxially with scattered reddish glands on the minor veins and continuous or scattered laciniate ramenta 3-20 mm long on the midrib...

Glaucous leaf

Tristishous arrangement

Keeled rachis

Green trunk

'pubescence'

A lot of the details in this description match the characteristics of my '215', however, the true species is supposed to have bifid leaves on young stems etc hence the specific epithet. Mine has never displayed this (I grew mine from seed). Also, mine suckers like crazy, not just 'tufts of 6 stems'.

Ellidro, it has been furry red since about the second leaf.

Another interesting fact is that this palm has not been collected since 1959 (although that doesn't mean there aren't seeds and plants that have been 'unofficially collected' and introduced into cultivation.

So, IMO, Dypsis sp 215 could be very close to the true D.heteromorpha, but until it flowers and fruits....

regards,

Daryl

[Daryl]

A couple more photos...

Ramenta

Leaflet veining

This is a photo of the parent tree in Madagascar...

regards,

Daryl

[palmcurry]

Daryl,

Thanks for your pics and comments. I am so enthralled with that 215 palm of yours and palms like Dypsis sp. black stem.

I think the D heteromorpha thats going around here in SoCal is a watered down version of D. sp.215...sorry to say. Hopefully I'm wrong but I doubt it.

[BS Man about Palms]

Daryl, thanks for more great pictures of the 215... and making more people interested..

[richnorm]

This plant does not behave in our climate like you would expect from heteromorpha given its high altitude provenance. It does grow here but certainly prefers heat. I wonder where that picture was taken in Madagascar? Great thread!

cheers

Richard