Rhopalostylis Sapida in Habitat, New Zealand

[sipalms 813]

Looking back out to the South Pacific. A native lancewood / horoeka tree in the foreground.

 

Fisherman's bay - great for diving for seafood.

 

Back to the traditional farmhouse - quite a culture shock to see oak trees etc all of a sudden.

 

In my opinion? One of the ugliest palms on the planet... but adds to the Med vibe all the same! Akaroa town.

 

Another terribly cared for phoenix. These ones are young but there's heaps around the town. Some are extremely tall and date back to the early 1900s. Also in Akaroa there are an abundance of other 9a to 9b palms including Archontophoenix.

So that's that - next on the bucket list of the Nikau/Rhopalostylis is the Chatham Islands. Not sure if that will ever happen though...

[Darold Petty 2,409]

Thanks very much for posting these great photos !  

[cbmnz 392]

Great report on the whole experience/setting. That was more to the standard of a nature magazine professional article than a forum post!

[sipalms 813]

1 hour ago, cbmnz said:

Great report on the whole experience/setting. That was more to the standard of a nature magazine professional article than a forum post!

Thanks.... Was certainly a pretty epic setting. Interesting to observe these in person after hearing so many reports and speculations as to what variety/relation these are to all the other Nikau around the country.

[Tyrone 1,903]

Thanks for the pictures. Enjoyable viewing them. Your observations too are very interesting. This whole thread has been great.

[sipalms 813]

@Jim in Los Altos you might find some of these pics interesting - the terrain reminds me a lot of the San Francisco / NorCal Pacific coast area going by the couple of times I have visited. You might find some of the native vegetation of interest as well being a similar climate.

Edited November 17, 2020 by sipalms

[palmfriend 1,508]

Oh my gosh!

This is an epic documentation! Enjoyed every image - I really did! 

I am worried that we over here are not qualified enough for the lower (necessary) temps but I will give it a try and will

place an order for some seeds next time to find out! 

Thank you so much for sharing!

best regards from Okinawa -

Lars

 

[Jim in Los Altos 2,303]

13 hours ago, sipalms said:

@Jim in Los Altos you might find some of these pics interesting - the terrain reminds me a lot of the San Francisco / NorCal Pacific coast area going by the couple of times I have visited. You might find some of the native vegetation of interest as well being a similar climate.

Yes, very much so! Rhopalostylis is a fascinating genus and my garden just wouldn’t be the same without them. Your photo presentation is spectacular! 

[Tyrone 1,903]

21 hours ago, palmfriend said:

Oh my gosh!

This is an epic documentation! Enjoyed every image - I really did! 

I am worried that we over here are not qualified enough for the lower (necessary) temps but I will give it a try and will

place an order for some seeds next time to find out! 

Thank you so much for sharing!

best regards from Okinawa -

Lars

 

Maybe try Rhopalostylis bauerii first and see how you go. They tolerate warmer conditions better. I’d plant it in the shade but in an open breezy area where it can get a good sea breeze. The middle of summer with high minimums could be the issue, but then maybe not.