Kentiopsis pyroformis

[MattyB]

No this one came from Jungle Music as a 2 leafer in a liner. Someone else now has the bigger one that came from DeanO. Maybe he'll share a pic.

[BS Man about Palms]

Gotcha. He has promised plant out this year.

[BS Man about Palms]

LJG planted his... now if we can get a picture or two...

[BS Man about Palms]

Mines opening another leaf... I should planted it in more sun...

Plus, it looked clear in my little bitty viewfinder (without my glasses )

[MattyB]

Some updated Kentiopsis pyriformis pics from Manambe Lavaka. I had a gopher working at the base of this one for several weeks earlier this year. The only thing that saved it from being completely devoured was the chicken wire cage around the root ball. The gopher had several runs at the roots but had to divert his tunnel when he hit wire. It gave me time to make several attempts with traps until I could catch him. It actually stopped growing altogether for several months and I thought it was a gonner, but just a few weeks ago it started growing again, and this moring I noticed that the new leaf opened so I think we're in the clear. I didn't get as much growth out of it this year but I'm happy it's still alive.

[nkbish]

cool looking palm matty, good job saving it and hunting down those varmints

[richnorm]

That's a real gem Matty. I want to plant mine out but can't decide if I should pot plant. Thoughts anyone? It's a damp spot on a clay bank with good drainage and 1/2 day sun. Super rare and irreplaceable over here and also a gift so I want to maximise its chances.

cheers

Richard

[Bags]

Wow Matt. That is an impressive palm and it has gotten big fast.

Rich. That sounds like a perfect spot. If your palm has a good root ball I would not pot plant it. The only thing that makes me nervous is planting palms that have not rooted out there pot. Then the rootball falls apart and damages the roots. the best time is when they are a little root bound. I do not know much about pot planting, but to me it seems a plant would be much better off with out restriction on its roots.

[MattyB]

I agree that 1/2 day sun spot should be fine. Mine sees full sun w/ low humidities in Winter time and it's fine. If you're concerned about disturbing the root ball and don't want to confine it by pot planting, then either score the pot before planting it so the roots can easily escape or cut the pot in half, hold it together w/ twine or bungee cords and remove the pot as you're backfilling. I really don't think it matters w/ this one as it's a vigorous grower and ultimately will be a large palm that will make short work of any pot. I doubt that you can stunt it.

[richnorm]

She's in. I decided on pot planting but cut a bite out of the side it is tillering towards. Nice healthy roots were coming out of the bottom of the pot. Note the K. oliviformis behind which I have recently relocated from a dryish shady location. The leaves were getting smaller and smaller which is what happens with marginal species in a heat deprived climate without real cold. It's pushing spear at a respectable rate already so here's hoping it can make a recovery. Some say this is the most heat demanding of the New Caledonians.

[MattyB]

Looks great! K.O. Does like the sun.

[palmislandRandy]

Matty, When the offending gopher has departed this world, what becomes of it's den & tunnels? Does it allow for super drainage of do you back fill them in. Would another take over it's lair? Just curious Your Kentiopsis is kickin', yours too Richard.

-Randy

[MattyB]

Other gophers wil move into them. They are solitary, so one per tunnel system at least.

[Walter John]

Some updated Kentiopsis pyriformis pics from Manambe Lavaka. I had a gopher working at the base of this one for several weeks earlier this year. The only thing that saved it from being completely devoured was the chicken wire cage around the root ball. The gopher had several runs at the roots but had to divert his tunnel when he hit wire. It gave me time to make several attempts with traps until I could catch him. It actually stopped growing altogether for several months and I thought it was a gonner, but just a few weeks ago it started growing again, and this moring I noticed that the new leaf opened so I think we're in the clear. I didn't get as much growth out of it this year but I'm happy it's still alive.

That's a stunner Matty, I have two of these plants myself, seem to be quite hardy too. Recommended to all.

[Walter John]

Update on my two pyriformis

This guy near the chook house is my biggest KPY. You gotta dig those CS and petiole shades on these palms.

Number two, getting there and left unattended I might add. Other palms nearby are suffering whilst the KPY goes along for the ride not complaining too much at all really.

[Ntheastpalms]

Update on my two K pyriformis, this one of the critters

Edited October 30, 2011 by Ntheastpalms

[Ntheastpalms]

This is the other

[Ntheastpalms]

The growth is not as impressive as Matt B's but I think that the are doing ok.

[Walter John]

Nice stuff Matt, easy and good looking palm to grow would you agree ? Slow naturally as you'd expect.

[Ntheastpalms]

Hi Wal

Yeah they are a little slow , quiet acheivers actually they just keep plodding along but really dont require any special care at all.

[Mandrew968]

I am anxious to try this palm in my garden--It would be considered the next easiest to grow(after oliviformis)in the genus? Matty, is yours the purple or golden form? It looks very nice and imo much prettier than the other "P" kentiopsis...

[MattyB]

Andrew,

I don't know what form mine is. I assume it's not the purple form because the only one I've ever seen that might be considered purple was Louis Hooper's, pictured below. But his is growing in deep shade so maybe that's why it's so dark colored. Not sure.

[Mandrew968]

Well, I would say yours is nicer than that one, but I saw footage of yours... very nice indeed.

[MattyB]

They are nice. I can't take credit for it's beauty as I've done nothing special for it. It's a very easy grow for us here in SoCal.

[Mandrew968]

Matty, do you know the ph of your soil, or does it vary at different places? South Florida is almost exclusively basic(high ph)...

[MattyB]

No I don't know. I've always wondered though.

[Sabal Steve]

Would a 1 gallon sized Kentiopsis pyroformis, and a small liner sized companion to ok in the spot where the Serenoa was.  It's in the Northeast corner of the yard, and gets sun in  evening for a few hours a day in the summer, maybe up to 5 hours on the longer days.  Evening sun.  Western sun.

Should I mound plant it?

 

[BS Man about Palms]

Steve, from what I've seen, this palm is pretty forgiving. While it has a heel, its one of the few that does not pull itself down much. I say plant it and stand back...

 

[Sabal Steve]

20 hours ago, BS Man about Palms said:

Steve, from what I've seen, this palm is pretty forgiving. While it has a heel, its one of the few that does not pull itself down much. I say plant it and stand back...

 

Thanks Bill.

 

What if it just came from Hawaii?  Should I amend the soil?  It's clay and rock, but has had mulch breaking down up top for a few years, so it's maybe 6"-9" until you reach the heavier soil.

[quaman58]

Steve, these are very forgiving. Obviously, if it's a Floribunda plant, then acclimate to sun if you haven't done it already. I just usually loosen the native soil up with some of the commercial "palm" mix. It's too fluffy to use straight, but does a decent job of amending our soil at about a 50/50 mix. These palms are somewhat drought tolerant, but grow way faster with above average watering. I wouldn't be surprised if Matty's isn't almost overhead by now. 

[DoomsDave]

Mat, how about some pictures of yours? How big now?

[Josh-O]

On 2/28/2016, 8:32:38, BS Man about Palms said:

Steve, from what I've seen, this palm is pretty forgiving. While it has a heel, its one of the few that does not pull itself down much. I say plant it and stand back...

 

I agree with Bill, this palm is pretty tough and can take more than expected.

[Josh-O]

On 2/28/2016, 7:16:28, Sabal Steve said:

Would a 1 gallon sized Kentiopsis pyroformis, and a small liner sized companion to ok in the spot where the Serenoa was.  It's in the Northeast corner of the yard, and gets sun in  evening for a few hours a day in the summer, maybe up to 5 hours on the longer days.  Evening sun.  Western sun.

Should I mound plant it?

 

also, your in a really good micro climate and I would be growing this with out hesitation.

have you considered a group planting?

[oliver]

This one at my house in Brownsville, Texas gets partial shade and spray irrigation 2x/week. I got it about 7 or 8 years ago from Jeff Marcus as a 1 gallon. I figure that it's about 8ft tall overall.

[oliver]

This is an oliviformis, planted at the same time, also as a one gallon. The growth rate is obviously much higher in the oliviformis

[Sabal Steve]

20 hours ago, Josh-O said:

also, your in a really good micro climate and I would be growing this with out hesitation.

have you considered a group planting?

Hey Josh, 

 

I may.  I have 2, but I may just save the smaller one in a pot for now, and decide later.

[BS Man about Palms]

I figured I should update with a pic of my original. Its probably just over 6 feet tall now. I should have given it more sun. I planted a 1 gal a couple years ago in nearly full coastal sun (near my piersoniorum for future and current comparison) and its over 2 feet tall at this point.

The original..

[Palm Tree Jim]

2 hours ago, BS Man about Palms said:

I figured I should update with a pic of my original. Its probably just over 6 feet tall now. I should have given it more sun. I planted a 1 gal a couple years ago in nearly full coastal sun (near my piersoniorum for future and current comparison) and its over 2 feet tall at this point.

The original..

That is looking really good.....

[DoomsDave]

Matt, how about some recent pictures?

I'm a Pyro-maniac . . . .

 

[Josh-O]

On 3/2/2016, 9:19:50, BS Man about Palms said:

I figured I should update with a pic of my original. Its probably just over 6 feet tall now. I should have given it more sun. I planted a 1 gal a couple years ago in nearly full coastal sun (near my piersoniorum for future and current comparison) and its over 2 feet tall at this point.

The original..

that's palm porn!!!