Arenga micrantha at 43° south

[Albey 97]

Hi there
Today i thought i would check out how the Arenga micrantha is doing this Summer at the Botanical gardens.
It looks great and has outgrown all its old growth. It grows much faster here in this climate than Arenga engleri and should be a solid performer.
But so far do not know what its cold hardiness levels are like yet. Its gone through two Winters so far so has probably not seen much less than -3°c

Here it is.

 

[Albey 97]

Another photo

 

[richnorm 652]

The one at ABG got a little fried on record cold morning.  I don't recall the temperature but it is very cold there by Auckland standards. 

[Albey 97]

Hi Richard

I was just up your way 3-weeks ago ( Roger Waters Concert & visiting family ) Also got a chance to visit the ABG before going home.

The Arengas looked o.k - did you see them last winter ? - Got a pic of the big Dypsis decipiens while i was there ( I must post it )

[SirOxylon 30]

Good to see A. micrantha doing so well in the cold. I have two small ones to plant here in Melbourne where it shouldn't see below zero so that gives me confidence that they should perform well here. I'm waiting for the hot weather to pass until I plant-we will probably still get a couple more weeks with 30's. I have A. engleri which grows quite well here.

[SirOxylon 30]

Are the A. micrantha and A. engleri in the photo about the same age? The A. micrantha looks superb.

[richnorm 652]

10 hours ago, Albey said:

Hi Richard

I was just up your way 3-weeks ago ( Roger Waters Concert & visiting family ) Also got a chance to visit the ABG before going home.

The Arengas looked o.k - did you see them last winter ? - Got a pic of the big Dypsis decipiens while i was there ( I must post it )

Most winters it doesn't mark at all.   Would have got to maybe -5c in that freak cold snap though not for long.  Mine flowered and is producing a huge amount of seed but sadly they will be unfertilised.

[Darold Petty 3,688]

I recently acquired a plant and have read conflicting comments about the flowering.   I would like to know if there is any agreement, is this species monoecious or dioecious?  Thanks 

[mnorell 469]

Darold--

Flora of China (using the original 1988 description by C.F. Wei in Acta Phytotax.) says the following in its description: "Inflorescences 80-100 cm; male rachillae to 100, to 17 cm; male flowers 4-5.5 mm; sepals ca. 2 mm; petals ca. 5.5 mm; stamens 9-23; female inflorescences not known. Fruits not known." ...but in Contributions to the Flora of Bhutan (2000) the following statement appears: "The female of the dioecious palm Arenga micrantha (previously known only from male specimens from Tibet) was described for the first time (Noltie, 2000c)..." So yes, I think that answers it...

[Darold Petty 3,688]

Thanks very much ! 

[Rickybobby 1,230]

It’s crazy I live at 43 degrees north and completely different climate than you

[NorCalKing 293]

13 minutes ago, Rickybobby said:

It’s crazy I live at 43 degrees north and completely different climate than you

Except on the West coast, there are palms growing almost the entire West coast. I'm at 37°N and can grow tons of palms.