I planned to hold off planting my Chambeyronia Houailou until spring but my palm had other ideas. Even though I'd moved it to yet a bigger pot a couple months ago, by yesterday it was sending out serious roots. I considered moving it to the largest pot I have, I bit the bullet and decided my Chambey had to go into the ground months earlier than planned. This palm is much faster and more robust than its more relaxed kin - how can they be the same species? Anyway, I will protect it with cotton flannel sheets as necessary to get it through winter. Does anyone know whether it is more or less coldhardy than standard C.m.?

Chambeyronia Houailou meets FL soil

Newest frond

That's a healthy looking palm. Don't know anything about C. Houailou.... starting with the name. Sure looks like a Hawaiian word, but if it were, I don't know of a translation.

Houailou is a beach on New Caledonia, where it is from. I believe this is definitely a different species than the regular macrocarpa as it is much faster and has a different growth pattern, look and much larger seed. It's really just a matter of the scientific community getting around to naming this lovely palm...

Meg,

I don't know anything about its cold hardiness but always good to get a palm in the ground and yours look real happy! I'm sure it'll be fine and these palms are very robust growers! Good luck with it!

Bo-Göran

Hi Meg, I just got a couple of these from Floribunda...they're spectacular. Have you put yours in full sun? Filtered shade? I love this genus and last week my hookeri had such a beautiful red leaf it would have made Dave swoon!

Good luck, Peter

Thanks for all the comments. Bo, I'm trusting that I made the right decision. This palm tries to climb out of pots. At least it is still small enough to cover during cold events.

Peter, I have it planted just right of my back walk - where my late, lamented Satakentia grew. This time of year it is in partial, angled sunshine. By next March it will be in midday sun so I hope it won't need a shadecloth parasol.

I planted my Chambeyronia Houailou March of this year and the trunk grew twice its thickness. I bought another one, 4" container seedling, in June from Floribunda and it put out three shoots so far. Their growth is aggressive but, I noticed that they get shout and fat before they get tall when young. Not to mention it will start leaning a bit in a certain direction. Mine puts out a yellow frond with a bit of red.

Looking good Meg, I will have to plant mine soon, it is trying to get out of its pot too

I have found these to be faster than the standard ones and more cool and sun hardy too.

They are notoriously SSSSSSLLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW to get solid in the ground if planted out as say a 5 gal or bigger. so much so I was tempted to name mine the weeble palm!

But very spectacular, easily in the top 5 from New Cal for ease of growth, speed, and beauty.

I have found these to be faster than the standard ones and more cool and sun hardy too.

They are notoriously SSSSSSLLLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWWW to get solid in the ground if planted out as say a 5 gal or bigger. so much so I was tempted to name mine the weeble palm!

But very spectacular, easily in the top 5 from New Cal for ease of growth, speed, and beauty.

What's that list of palms? Ketiopsis oliviformis, Chambeyronia macrocarpa/hookerii, Houailou, Burretiokentia hapala and...

...maybe cyphophoenix

I have a C. houailou planted with a C. macrocarpa and a C. hookeri. They are all within about 4 feet of each other, and so far the houailou has shown no frost damage when the others have, even during the notorious '07 freeze. It's smaller than the other two, so is a bit protected by them, but not enough to make a big difference.

Chambeyronia "Houailou" is a distinctive form of Chambeyronia I first noticed growing in cultivation in a few gardens near the coastal town of Houailou on the eastern side of New Caledonia in the 1990's.

I sent seeds to Don Hodel in California, and Paul Craft in Florida initially.

After a few return visits to New Caledonia I eventually located a large population of these palms growing in a valley at sea level on the coast south of Houailou, at Vallée de Kua.

The consensus of opinion I have received is that although many features of Chambeyronia "Houailou" are quite different to the more common form of C.macrocarpa, because Chambeyronia macrocarpa is such a variable and widespread species, Chambeyronia "Houailou" probably comes within the scope of Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

This link shows a photo of Vallée de Kua. The population of Chambeyronia "Houailou" I found is by the river, as it approaches the coast. Many Kentiopsis oliviformis grow there also.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15397323

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Edited March 5, 201313 yr by weta2000nz

Thanks for the pic Bryan, what an awesome place! It's always great to see habitat photos. How often do you travel to new cal?

Cheers

Harry

I have a C. houailou planted with a C. macrocarpa and a C. hookeri. They are all within about 4 feet of each other, and so far the houailou has shown no frost damage when the others have, even during the notorious '07 freeze. It's smaller than the other two, so is a bit protected by them, but not enough to make a big difference.

I germinated a seed and have now a little seedling. How cold was this "notorious´07 freeze" ? Thanks!

Hi Alberto.. the '07 freeze had MOST places dip to 25F or so on a couple nights. In either case, I know AVB got down into the 20's for sure. So, .. -1 to -3C ??

Chambeyronia "Houailou" is a distinctive form of Chambeyronia I first noticed growing in cultivation in a few gardens near the coastal town of Houailou on the eastern side of New Caledonia in the 1990's.

I sent seeds to Don Hodel in California, and Paul Craft in Florida initially.

After a few return visits to New Caledonia I eventually located a large population of these palms growing in a valley at sea level on the coast south of Houailou, at Vallée de Kua.

The consensus of opinion I have received is that although many features of Chambeyronia "Houailou" are quite different to the more common form of C.macrocarpa, because Chambeyronia macrocarpa is such a variable and widespread species, Chambeyronia "Houailou" probably comes within the scope of Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

This link shows a photo of Vallée de Kua. The population of Chambeyronia "Houailou" I found is by the river, as it approaches the coast. Many Kentiopsis oliviformis grow there also.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15397323

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Thanks for checking in Bryan! Hope to see more from you!!

Hi Alberto.. the '07 freeze had MOST places dip to 25F or so on a couple nights. In either case, I know AVB got down into the 20's for sure. So, .. -1 to -3C ??

Thanks!

Chambeyronia "Houailou" is a distinctive form of Chambeyronia I first noticed growing in cultivation in a few gardens near the coastal town of Houailou on the eastern side of New Caledonia in the 1990's.

I sent seeds to Don Hodel in California, and Paul Craft in Florida initially.

After a few return visits to New Caledonia I eventually located a large population of these palms growing in a valley at sea level on the coast south of Houailou, at Vallée de Kua.

The consensus of opinion I have received is that although many features of Chambeyronia "Houailou" are quite different to the more common form of C.macrocarpa, because Chambeyronia macrocarpa is such a variable and widespread species, Chambeyronia "Houailou" probably comes within the scope of Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

This link shows a photo of Vallée de Kua. The population of Chambeyronia "Houailou" I found is by the river, as it approaches the coast. Many Kentiopsis oliviformis grow there also.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15397323

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Thanks for checking in Bryan! Hope to see more from you!!

Thanks Bryan, some super NewCal photos in that album. It's great the way they have been linked to Google earth so you can find the exact spot where they were taken. Is that something the camera does or did you have to input the coordinates manually? If you feel like sharing any of your NewCal seed collecting adventures, many here would find them fascinating....

cheers

Richard

Thanks for the pic Bryan, what an awesome place! It's always great to see habitat photos. How often do you travel to new cal?

Cheers

Harry

I don't go to New Caledonia anymore, unfortunately

I did all that from 1991 to 2000.

Edited March 9, 201313 yr by weta2000nz

Chambeyronia "Houailou" is a distinctive form of Chambeyronia I first noticed growing in cultivation in a few gardens near the coastal town of Houailou on the eastern side of New Caledonia in the 1990's.

I sent seeds to Don Hodel in California, and Paul Craft in Florida initially.

After a few return visits to New Caledonia I eventually located a large population of these palms growing in a valley at sea level on the coast south of Houailou, at Vallée de Kua.

The consensus of opinion I have received is that although many features of Chambeyronia "Houailou" are quite different to the more common form of C.macrocarpa, because Chambeyronia macrocarpa is such a variable and widespread species, Chambeyronia "Houailou" probably comes within the scope of Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

This link shows a photo of Vallée de Kua. The population of Chambeyronia "Houailou" I found is by the river, as it approaches the coast. Many Kentiopsis oliviformis grow there also.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15397323

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Thanks for checking in Bryan! Hope to see more from you!!

No problemo

Chambeyronia "Houailou" is a distinctive form of Chambeyronia I first noticed growing in cultivation in a few gardens near the coastal town of Houailou on the eastern side of New Caledonia in the 1990's.

I sent seeds to Don Hodel in California, and Paul Craft in Florida initially.

After a few return visits to New Caledonia I eventually located a large population of these palms growing in a valley at sea level on the coast south of Houailou, at Vallée de Kua.

The consensus of opinion I have received is that although many features of Chambeyronia "Houailou" are quite different to the more common form of C.macrocarpa, because Chambeyronia macrocarpa is such a variable and widespread species, Chambeyronia "Houailou" probably comes within the scope of Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

This link shows a photo of Vallée de Kua. The population of Chambeyronia "Houailou" I found is by the river, as it approaches the coast. Many Kentiopsis oliviformis grow there also.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15397323

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Thanks for checking in Bryan! Hope to see more from you!!

Thanks Bryan, some super NewCal photos in that album. It's great the way they have been linked to Google earth so you can find the exact spot where they were taken. Is that something the camera does or did you have to input the coordinates manually? If you feel like sharing any of your NewCal seed collecting adventures, many here would find them fascinating....

cheers

Richard

Hi Richard

Apparently some new cameras and mobile phones have GPS, and include location data with the image file (stored in the EXIF data, with exposure, shutter speed, time, date, etc etc etc).

Photo-sharing communities like Panoramio, or Flickr allow their users to upload geocoded pictures, or to add geolocation information online.

Actually I pinched that photo of Vallée de Kua off the net

Here is an even better one (also stolen) showing lots of detail. http://bit.ly/YRJxcZ

I am sure more Chambeyronia are growing further up the valley (i.e. inland, towards the camera) on the slopes of the hills.

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Edited March 9, 201313 yr by weta2000nz

Chambeyronia "Houailou" is a distinctive form of Chambeyronia I first noticed growing in cultivation in a few gardens near the coastal town of Houailou on the eastern side of New Caledonia in the 1990's.

I sent seeds to Don Hodel in California, and Paul Craft in Florida initially.

After a few return visits to New Caledonia I eventually located a large population of these palms growing in a valley at sea level on the coast south of Houailou, at Vallée de Kua.

The consensus of opinion I have received is that although many features of Chambeyronia "Houailou" are quite different to the more common form of C.macrocarpa, because Chambeyronia macrocarpa is such a variable and widespread species, Chambeyronia "Houailou" probably comes within the scope of Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

This link shows a photo of Vallée de Kua. The population of Chambeyronia "Houailou" I found is by the river, as it approaches the coast. Many Kentiopsis oliviformis grow there also.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/15397323

Bryan Laughland

New Zealand

Thanks for checking in Bryan! Hope to see more from you!!

Thanks Bryan, some super NewCal photos in that album. It's great the way they have been linked to Google earth so you can find the exact spot where they were taken. Is that something the camera does or did you have to input the coordinates manually? If you feel like sharing any of your NewCal seed collecting adventures, many here would find them fascinating....

cheers

Richard

Hi Richard,

I wrote several articles in various palm society magazines on my New Caledonia trips in the 1990's.

A few were published in "The Palm Journal" (the magazine of the Southern California chapter of the IPS), e.g. in No. 140 and No. 141 (the May and July 1998 issues respectively)

Also in "Palms and Cycads" (the magazine of the Palm and Cycad societies of Australia) July-Dec 1996 issue is another article.

Regds

Bryan Laughland

Someone named Gilles Pierson posted these photos of Chambeyronia Kua (which i guess is Houailou) on the FB group. 

 

@PalmatierMeg I'm curious what your little palm looks like now :)