Pandanus furcatus, Himalayan Screw-Pine update

[Eric in Orlando]

Here is an update on the Pandanus furcatus at Leu Gardens. It is native in northern India in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains and is supposedly one of the hardiest pandans. So far they have grown well here in zone 9b/10a. There are about a dozen specimens planted here.

 

This first specimen was planted in 2002. It is growing at the Front Gate. It has split into 3 heads and each head has further split into 3 heads. It has been flowering for years and is a female specimen but no males nearby to pollinate it. There is another specimen nearby that hasn't flowered yet, hopefully it is male.

 

 

[Eric in Orlando]

Here is the base of the trunk

 

 

 

Here are the female inflorescences

 

[Eric in Orlando]

This specimen is growing in the Palm GArden and was also planted in 2002. It has not flowered yet.

 

 

 

 

[Eric in Orlando]

This specimen is growing next to the Palm Garden in deep shade under some huge, 120 year old Camphor Trees (Cinnamomum camphora). In deep shade they grow very long leaves. It was planted in 2004.

 

 

[Funkthulhu]

My inner twelve year old is giggling at those roots....

[JasonD]

I've been curious about this species. Thanks for the update.

Now, does anyone have experience with Pandanus forsteri, another potentially cool-tolerant pandan?

[RedRabbit]

Thanks for sharing Eric! I'm tempted to get one, just have to somehow find a place for it.

[necturus]

I love these. Trying to germinate some seeds, but they've been sitting out for a couple months... probably not going to happen.

[Eric in Orlando]

14 hours ago, JasonD said:

I've been curious about this species. Thanks for the update.

Now, does anyone have experience with Pandanus forsteri, another potentially cool-tolerant pandan?

 

I have been watching for this species and for Pandanus boninensis. RPS have gotten quite a few rare species in the past few years, especially New Caledonian pandans. 

[fastfeat]

Looking great, Eric.

Anyone in SoCal growing this?

[Monòver]

1 hour ago, fastfeat said:

Looking great, Eric.

Anyone in SoCal growing this?

In Spain with climate like SoCal, it grows fast with lots of water, but hates dry winds.

[fastfeat]

On 8/31/2016, 8:33:09, Monòver said:

In Spain with climate like SoCal, it grows fast with lots of water, but hates dry winds.

Good to know. Thanks.

[Ben in Norcal]

On 8/31/2016, 7:09:17, fastfeat said:

Looking great, Eric.

Anyone in SoCal growing this?

I've had a small P furcatus in the ground about a year.  Slow but steady so far.

[Geoff]

I had one for 8 years in the San Fernando Valley, though when we got rid of the house, I sold it... here it is just dug up.  Started as a 1 gal.  at this point the leaves were well over my head despite the itty bitty trunk... VERY sharp plant, though and not a good one for a dinky yard like mine.

[aussiearoids]

Did it survive to transplant ?

 

[Geoff]

I don't know... someone else took it.   But if I recall, it did not make it.

[KrisKupsch]

On 31 August 2016 7:36:00 am, JasonD said:

I've been curious about this species. Thanks for the update.

Now, does anyone have experience with Pandanus forsteri, another potentially cool-tolerant pandan?

I've furcatus and forsteri. 

furcatus is fast and easy. Tolerates dry and wet. Flowers young. Distinctive black leaf petioles. Grows fine both here in subtropics and saw it in Singapore powering along too. 

forsteri has had no issues in winter. They need water and shelter. It's not like the dry land Pandans and needs humidity and mid range temps, nothing too fluctuating. 

 

[caixeta]

Pandanus furcatus . Brotas -SP.

[sbpalms]

12 hours ago, caixeta said:

Pandanus furcatus . Brotas -SP.

Nice!

[JasonD]

Small P. furcatus planted out at San Francisco Botanical Garden did not survive very long--maybe two years? They are the only Pandanaceae I've seen planted out there.