Voanioala Gerardii

[Gtlevine 333]

I agree, I have not seen a good looking adult Voaniola, but they look nice at the size of Pauleens and that's about the best any of us can hope for before we die.

[Gonzer 1,992]

Maybe just me but not the best looking palm as adult.

Agreed. To grow old and gray and end up with that? Nope.

[Hammer 657]

Agreed. This palm WAS on my list. But after seeing these pics I think I will cross it off. Would love to support a palm that is so endangered. But I just don't have any space for a charity case.

[Eric in Orlando 4,866]

Anyone in Florida growing this ? We had 2 at Leu Gardens; one in high shade and one in part sun/shade. Both were killed in the 2009-10 winter.

[BS Man about Palms 2,501]

Ahh, come on, that's not the biggest in cultivation, THIS might be the biggest Voanioala in cultivation!

Show off

[realarch 6,307]

Ahh, come on, that's not the biggest in cultivation, THIS might be the biggest Voanioala in cultivation!

Holy cow Jeff, so thats what a mature Voanioala looks like. That thing is probably as old as I am.

[Mandrew968 1,778]

I hear this palm doesn't grow well in South Florida soil. It's one thing when someone can take a palm and grow it better than in their native habitat, but this doesn't seem to be the case with this one. Too bad.

[Moose 1,503]

Ahh, come on, that's not the biggest in cultivation, THIS might be the biggest Voanioala in cultivation!

[Mark M @ S. Oceanside palms 111]

I just bought one back from a guy that bought it from me almost ten years ago!  I don't know if I should plant it or sell it.  I have very little space left.

[redbeard917 280]

Does anyone still growing this have an updated photo they'd care to share?

[Kim 4,056]

I have 2 of them. Will get photos a bit later. Hawaii garden. Since this thread was started, the Sullivan Voanioala was covered in lava. 

[realarch 6,307]

The last time I saw Kim’s plants I asked her what she was feeding the darn thing. I guessed chicken parts. They are growing well.

I will take the trusty shovel down to the front garden where the one, photo posted earlier, is planted. Going strong and is about a dozen years old now. It’s still raining, so hang on.

Tim

[mike in kurtistown 983]

We've been getting forty days and forty nights here, but I had a break in the rain this morning and took a pick of mine. Planted two in early 2012. One died, but this one has grown rather slowly. The pic shows a new leaf in the center and there is a new spear next to it. The leaflets are unusually heavy and hard to the touch. Hat and half-block provide scale:

 

[Kim 4,056]

Yours looks really good, Mike!  I have been getting the endless showers, too. A photo from this morning during a break in the rain…

Planted from a 5-gal. December 2012. The smaller one is behind me. 
Haha, Tim, “chicken parts” — no, these are vegan palms. 

[mike in kurtistown 983]

Yours are doing really well, Kim.

[realarch 6,307]

You see what I said? Chicken parts. Looks great Kim

Tim

Mike yours is looking great too.!

[realarch 6,307]

I always say, it can’t rain forever. I’m not so sure of that anymore. 

Here’s some photos of the Voanioala. Shovel for scale.

Tim

[realarch 6,307]

At this stage of growth, it’s really a handsome palm. Dark green pinnae and light green petioles. Not particularly unique looking, but just knowing the species makes it so.

Tim

[redbeard917 280]

Thank you all for your quick responses, but more importantly your efforts to propagate this incredibly rare species! They look great.

[Dr. George 253]

Purchased as 7 gal size Fall of 2009, planted out Spring 2011. Kona, west side Big Island Hawaii.

This is a very, very slow growing palm.

Currently about 5 ft tall. Probably obtained from the same source about the same time as Tim's and Kim's., but gets about 1/2 as much rain with a 4-5 month dry spell each year.

Suggest you keep yours only if you really want it, and are patient and willing to wait for delayed gratification.

gmp

 

[bgl 3,199]

Great to see that all these Voanioalas are doing great! I believe that most are from the same seed batch (and I am only referring to the ones on the Big Island). I bought a bunch of Voanioala seeds from Ortanique in the Bay Area around 2005, and some of them actually arrived having already germinated. This was when I was operating my small palm nursery. I grew them up to larger sizes and sold most of them by 2011. There has been a staggering difference in growth rates between then and now.  I have two in the ground and they have been in the ground for some eight years and are less than three feet tall - totally skimpy in comparison with (for instance) Kim's larger one, which has put on quite a bit of growth since planted. 

[LJG 1,293]

Here are two that I have. One planted small looks bad, one planted larger looks great. Not the greatest looking palm, more of a novelty thing for me. 

[realarch 6,307]

Thanks for reviving this thread Lucas. 

Glad to see the progress of this palm in various climates and gardens, I’m sure those who are growing it feel fortunate. 

Bo, thanks for the response. I don’t think, or remember, that the seed came from Ortanique. You provided so many of us with rare and interesting palms and cycads. So much of my plants came from you and over the years I’ve been able to pass offspring on to others. Mahalo!

Tim