Rhopalostylis in New Zealand

[Caryota_gigas]

People are always asking me about the different forms of Nikau around.

I have listed this page here before, but seeing as I keep getting asked, here it is again.

This is a section of the Palm and Cycad SOciety of New Zealand's website devoted to different types of Nikau.

It still has a lot of regions to be added, but hopefully this will give you some idea of the habitat Rhopalostylis sapida which is native to New Zealand.

Click here

[BS Man about Palms]

Michael, Thanks for the link, I'm lucky enough to grow these no problem where I'm at. Probably the 2 nicest palms I have in the ground right now.

[Tyrone]

Thanks Michael. Nikau's are a very interesting and beautiful species of palm. You have a great website there too. I wish that the PACSOWA website ran along your NZ websites lines.

Just a thought. After being in the south of England I noticed that there were no Nikaus in any gardens, yet I would have thought that in the coastal towns on the south they'd do fine. It's just I'm thinking of sending some seed over to a gardening friend of mine who lives in Exeter in Devon for my friend to try out. They rarely ever get below 0C there, but winter days can only be 5-8C maximum. Is that pushing it for the Nikau? They almost never get snow either. What do you think? It would be great to see crownshafted palms in England.

Best regards

Tyrone

[SubTropicRay]

Thanks for the link Micheal. I wish these were adaptable to my climate. R. sapida is an absolutely stunning palm.

[Caryota_gigas]

Thanks Michael. Nikau's are a very interesting and beautiful species of palm. You have a great website there too. I wish that the PACSOWA website ran along your NZ websites lines.

Just a thought. After being in the south of England I noticed that there were no Nikaus in any gardens, yet I would have thought that in the coastal towns on the south they'd do fine. It's just I'm thinking of sending some seed over to a gardening friend of mine who lives in Exeter in Devon for my friend to try out. They rarely ever get below 0C there, but winter days can only be 5-8C maximum. Is that pushing it for the Nikau? They almost never get snow either. What do you think? It would be great to see crownshafted palms in England.

Best regards

Tyrone

Tyrone,

I too am a little shocked Nikau dont do better in Southern England and have myself sent seed there for people to try.

Nikau dont like frost, but I think it may be prolonged cold over winter that is the biggest problem to them thriving. Even in NZ they are a predominantly coastal plant, growing in places naturally free from much frost or snow. With all the different varieties around some will no doubt do better than others. Nikau from Islands tend to be more robust and able to tolerate more extremes in weather. I would tend to try ones from Pitt Island in the Chatham Island group, they are the most Southern population of Nikau, so have lower average temps. Im sure somebody is probably growing some with success in England, we just need to find out who...

[Tyrone]

Thanks Michael for the reply.

A few years back a gardening show on TV had a NZ special, and in this south island garden were a few Chatham Island Nikaus about 50cm tall that had been covered in snow and growing strongly afterwards. They didn't even look like they'd been burnt at all. I've got 3 little Chathams I grew from seed, and my garden must feel extremely warm for them, but they thrive. I think the Chatham Island variety would be the one to try for southern England.

Best regards

Tyrone

[epicure3]

Hey Michael:

I was just talking to a friend of mine who lives in Wellington (it was 4PM my time, 11AM his time ...the next day. That still freaks me out). Anyways, I asked him if he saw any palm trees growing in Wellingotn and he says that he hasn't seen any. Do rhopalostylis grow in the Wellington area that you know of?

[Caryota_gigas]

I was just talking to a friend of mine who lives in Wellington (it was 4PM my time, 11AM his time ...the next day. That still freaks me out). Anyways, I asked him if he saw any palm trees growing in Wellingotn and he says that he hasn't seen any. Do rhopalostylis grow in the Wellington area that you know of?

There are Rhopalostylis in the areas near Wellington, but as for naturally occurring palms in Wellington itself, Im not sure. Someone else from NZ may be able to answer this more thoroughly.

The Rhopalostylis sapida in these pics are about 60km North of Wellington.

[epicure3]

I was just talking to a friend of mine who lives in Wellington (it was 4PM my time, 11AM his time ...the next day. That still freaks me out). Anyways, I asked him if he saw any palm trees growing in Wellingotn and he says that he hasn't seen any. Do rhopalostylis grow in the Wellington area that you know of?

There are Rhopalostylis in the areas near Wellington, but as for naturally occurring palms in Wellington itself, Im not sure. Someone else from NZ may be able to answer this more thoroughly.

The Rhopalostylis sapida in these pics are about 60km North of Wellington.

Thank you kind sir.

[Phil]

Michael,

Thank you for the links. Great shots. I was really impressed with the height of the Rhopalostylis at Kapiti coast. Those appear to be the tallest Shaving Brush I've ever seen.

Phil

[Caryota_gigas]

I often see it written that Rhopalostylis sapida grow to 10 metres, but several in the photo you refer to are closer to 15 metres. They seem to just keep on going given the chance.

[Caryota_gigas]

Looks can be deceptive... This Nikau looks healthy enough...

[Caryota_gigas]

Until you look at its trunk...

Nice and hollow.

The Nikau is a pretty tough palm.

[Carlo Morici]

What is then Rhopalostylis sapida 'Oceana'? I am referring to the seeds sold by RPS as coming from the Chatham Islands?

Good page, beautiful pictures. Thank you,

Carlo

[Caryota_gigas]

The Chatham Islands Nikau (Oceana) seed available from RPS are from Pitt Island, which is to the South of the main Island in the group at below 44° S. The Chatham Islands can be found approx. 800km off the East Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.

Unfortunately I haven't got any habitat shots on the website yet... but they are coming.

Below is a photo to give you some Idea of the Rhopalostylis range.

Rhopalostylis sapida from NZ.

Rhopalostylis baueri from Norfolk Island, and Raoul Island in the Kermadec group.

[Caryota_gigas]

Here is a pic of the petioles of a Chatham Ialand (Oceana), Rhopalostylis sapida, in Auckland, NZ.

The white on the petioles is one of the features of a Chatham.

[Carlo Morici]

Thank you, I am glad to know about the origin of this palm. My one and only Rhopalostylis is an "oceana" I raised about 3 years ago from seed. I like the nice white petioles in your picture. Do palms from Chatham and Pitt look the same? Mine is thriving. I wonder why did I get the form from the highest latitude if I am located at 28 N? ... 44 S is far, far south.... That's life.

Carlo

[Tyrone]

Michael, Do the Chatham's get the white from an early stage?

I've got three little Chatham's I germinated at about the 7th or 8th leaf stage and haven't noticed the white yet.

Also do you know of any Rhopalostylis that exhibits really dark brown to black on the petioles?

Those Chatham's should be called Rhopalostylis sp "whitestem" to give them a Dypsisesque flavour.

Best regards

Tyrone

[BS Man about Palms]

So Michael, do you think my sapida is a Chatham Island version? When I bought it, I was just told R. sapida.

[malcthomas]

Michael...

A few years ago I posted photos of mature petioles of mainland sapida, Chatham Island and Kermadec trees all growing on my property (without naming them) and challenged anyone to identify which one was which based on colour. No one could. They were all indistinguishable. I think time of year and growing conditions may have some bearing on colour, not provenence. There is clearly a difference in petiloe colour with sapida and bauerii/cheesemanii in juveniles.

re palms growing in Wellington...

There are mature Nikaus in Wellington and Lower Hutt. Besides Trachycarpus, I have seen some very old Livisitona australis in Lower Hut and seeding Kentia's in Wellington just across the road from Parliament Buildings...

cheers..

Malcolm.

[Caryota_gigas]

Malcolm, I agree that mature Rhopalostylis are very difficult to tell apart, they are easiest identified when at an advanced seedling / before they trunk sort of stage. I have always been of the opinion that Nikau (or just about any other plant for that matter.) grow to their current environment. And as time and the next generations of Chatham Nikau are grown from seed from a cultivated plant they will be slowly adapting to their new environ. You just have to look at Little Barrier Island, in shaded gullies near the shore the Nikau are almost without crownshaft, have recurved leaves, and trunks reminescent of Ceroxylon. Whereas 100 metres away out in the open the leaves are more upright, and the crownshafts huge. Plant any Nikau in the shade compared to the sun and you are going to get a completely different looking palm. There is a lot more than petiole colour that identifies a palm.

Using an Auckland Nikau as a control, Chatham Nikau have more vigour, more white on the petiole and rachis, have wider leaflets, stronger leaflets, and are lighter in colour as advanced seedlings, as well as taking more sun and wind.

Below are some pics of a small Kermadec (Rhopalostylis baurei) showing the characteristic long brown petioles, and a small Chatham. Colours on these palms will vary, as will the colours of all plants depending on sunlight.

The Chatham is yet to show bright white and being that it is in semi-shade it may never, however compared to nearby Auckland varieties the leaflets are far wider and lighter in colour, colour though will always be affected by light.

The shape of Chatham leaves to that of an Auckland Nikau is very different in that the overall leaf of an Aucklander is more lanceolate leading to a point, whereas a Chatham is broader and more rounded, once again these are effected somewhat by light.

This is the full plant of the one I posted earlier.

The upshot to all this is, if you want a strong robust Nikau that will look the best and withstand the most, you should be getting one from an Island or coastal area where they are exposed to all natures fury.

[Caryota_gigas]

re palms growing in Wellington...

There are mature Nikaus in Wellington and Lower Hutt. Besides Trachycarpus, I have seen some very old Livisitona australis in Lower Hut and seeding Kentia's in Wellington just across the road from Parliament Buildings...

cheers..

Malcolm.

I thought there must be mature Nikau in Wellington, but have never really noticed them. Growing up with Nikau you so often overlook them.

[Caryota_gigas]

More info on Little Barrier Island has now been added to the PACSONZ website and can be found by clicking here