Arenga pinnata, westerhoutii, in Albany

[Tyrone]

Was wondering how these two species would do in the climate below. The climate would be around 0.5-1c warmer at night than shown due to closer proximity to the ocean than the station shown.

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_009741.shtml

I have some plants I grew from seed in full shade here in Perth.

I don't have a frost issue, but the climate is a bit heat deprived.

If I create a bit of a north facing full sun heat trap I'm hoping it would work for these two.

Anyone growing these in NZ or cooler parts of Australia or coastal southern California?

Tyrone

[Phoenikakias]

In my garden the pinnata grows perfectly during late spring, sumer, and fall and if I keep up watering it also during winter it does not stop growing even in the cold season, but new pinnae ( during winter) are yellowish and prone to browning by northern wind and sun. So I reckon lower heat in Perth should not be an issue for pinnata's growth.

Edited January 19, 2014 by Phoenikakias

[Tyrone]

In my garden the pinnata grows perfectly during late spring, sumer, and fall and if I keep up watering it also during winter it does not stop growing even in the cold season, but new pinnae ( during winter) are yellowish and prone to browning by northern wind and sun. So I reckon lower heat in Perth should not be an issue for pinnata's growth.

Thanks for your info. I don't have any problems growing them here in Perth as we have plenty of growing season heat here that they'll grow in shade. What I want to figure out is whether they will grow at my new property in Albany 250 miles south. In comparison to Perth, Albany has a more stable climate which is less likely to have extreme cold weather (frost free) but is quite a bit cooler than Perth in summer.

I know in Greece you get plenty of summer heat, which these species will love, but what are your average winter temperatures like? Albany averages about 8-16C in winter, and last year didn't drop below 5.2C for the whole year.

[Phoenikakias]

In my garden the pinnata grows perfectly during late spring, sumer, and fall and if I keep up watering it also during winter it does not stop growing even in the cold season, but new pinnae ( during winter) are yellowish and prone to browning by northern wind and sun. So I reckon lower heat in Perth should not be an issue for pinnata's growth.

Thanks for your info. I don't have any problems growing them here in Perth as we have plenty of growing season heat here that they'll grow in shade. What I want to figure out is whether they will grow at my new property in Albany 250 miles south. In comparison to Perth, Albany has a more stable climate which is less likely to have extreme cold weather (frost free) but is quite a bit cooler than Perth in summer.

I know in Greece you get plenty of summer heat, which these species will love, but what are your average winter temperatures like? Albany averages about 8-16C in winter, and last year didn't drop below 5.2C for the whole year.

Here's slightly cooler than in Albany, so still no issue for pinnata!

[Peter G]

Even if they do grow, the wind down there would probably tear them up. I would love to grow them, but I know I would be wasting my time.

Try and get Arenga Micrantha, that would have plenty of space on your new property, but would fall into the slow category.

[Phoenikakias]

Even if they do grow, the wind down there would probably tear them up. I would love to grow them, but I know I would be wasting my time.

Try and get Arenga Micrantha, that would have plenty of space on your new property, but would fall into the slow category.

Objection! Pinnata is less susceptible to wind damage than micrantha. I have both and this is my personal experience.

[Tyrone]

Thanks for the comments guys. It's helped me make my decision.

Yes wind protection is in order. Got to work that one out as well.

Definitely going to bring engleri and tremula with me too.

[Peter G]

Even if they do grow, the wind down there would probably tear them up. I would love to grow them, but I know I would be wasting my time.

Try and get Arenga Micrantha, that would have plenty of space on your new property, but would fall into the slow category.

Objection! Pinnata is less susceptible to wind damage than micrantha. I have both and this is my personal experience.

Maybe some photos would come in handy as reference. How close to the coast are you?

[Phoenikakias]

Even if they do grow, the wind down there would probably tear them up. I would love to grow them, but I know I would be wasting my time.

Try and get Arenga Micrantha, that would have plenty of space on your new property, but would fall into the slow category.

Objection! Pinnata is less susceptible to wind damage than micrantha. I have both and this is my personal experience.

Maybe some photos would come in handy as reference. How close to the coast are you?

Yes recent pictures a.s.a.p. Leaves of pinnata are moe flexible, that's the only reason for its greater wnd-resistance. My location is 138 m altitude and 200 m from coast.

[Tyrone]

My location is 13m asl but 6.5km from Oyster Harbour and 9.5km from the coast, so it's not the windiest locality in the region.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

In my garden the pinnata grows perfectly during late spring, sumer, and fall and if I keep up watering it also during winter it does not stop growing even in the cold season, but new pinnae ( during winter) are yellowish and prone to browning by northern wind and sun. So I reckon lower heat in Perth should not be an issue for pinnata's growth.

Thanks for your info. I don't have any problems growing them here in Perth as we have plenty of growing season heat here that they'll grow in shade. What I want to figure out is whether they will grow at my new property in Albany 250 miles south. In comparison to Perth, Albany has a more stable climate which is less likely to have extreme cold weather (frost free) but is quite a bit cooler than Perth in summer.

I know in Greece you get plenty of summer heat, which these species will love, but what are your average winter temperatures like? Albany averages about 8-16C in winter, and last year didn't drop below 5.2C for the whole year.

Here's slightly cooler than in Albany, so still no issue for pinnata!

So Greece has an average high above 30C and average low above 20C at the height of Summer and that's considered cooler than Albany. I've been watching all these posts, your Summer highs will be lower than mine by several degrees, and I wouldn't dream of growing most of these palm species. You're gonna be in for some dissapointment. But go for it, let me know what works and I will try it here.

[Tyrone]

We were talking about winter temps not summer.

Just looking at your signature you get frost being in zone 9b. I wouldn't try these species where frost is an issue. Summer heat looks like my limiting factor whereas frost is not an issue.

[Peter G]

Even if they do grow, the wind down there would probably tear them up. I would love to grow them, but I know I would be wasting my time.

Try and get Arenga Micrantha, that would have plenty of space on your new property, but would fall into the slow category.

Objection! Pinnata is less susceptible to wind damage than micrantha. I have both and this is my personal experience.

If you show me a nice looking Arenga Pinnata grown by the coast, I would be tempted to plant one myself.

Do the Arenga Micrantha leaves snap or get fried by the wind?

[Pedro 65]

Tyrone, Arenga pinnata is a "very tough" palm and imo would be an "easy grow" for you in Albany.

They "love lots of food n water", you have a green thumb so yes, an easy grow.

Our "best n biggest" Pinnata's are in a forest situation, so plenty of dappled light and the leaves become "much much longer" to rocket up.

Westerhoutii would survive but battle to grow.( so pointless)

btw. we get as low as 3c in winter some nights

Pete

[Phoenikakias]

On micrantha very lightly (almost inconspicuous) tip-burn but mostly snapping is the problem.

As for the pinnata here's a pic from last Xmas. I will post as promised actual pics the soonest.

[Tyrone]

Thanks Konstantinos for your pictures. Your Arenga is looking good and healthy.

Pete, thanks for your comments too. My experience in Perth is that my A westerhoutii's grow just as quick and effortless as my A pinnata's. Looking on the net they do seem a tad more tropical than pinnata even though they come from the same part of the world. I remember seeing them in the wild in east Malaysia and I just fell in love with them.

Maybe what I'll do is plant one here in Perth and take one or two with me south and give them a go. I'm thinking winter sun and summer shade with some wind protection and maybe some nice rocks and gravel at the base may heat things up enough to get some growth. The rock thing helped me grow a coconut here in Perth. Either that a huge atrium full of tropicals that can be closed up in winter complete with a spa and decking walk ways. It would be nice. Probably never get it done though.

[Tyrone]

Even if they do grow, the wind down there would probably tear them up. I would love to grow them, but I know I would be wasting my time.

Try and get Arenga Micrantha, that would have plenty of space on your new property, but would fall into the slow category.

Objection! Pinnata is less susceptible to wind damage than micrantha. I have both and this is my personal experience.

If you show me a nice looking Arenga Pinnata grown by the coast, I would be tempted to plant one myself.

Do the Arenga Micrantha leaves snap or get fried by the wind?

Peter, you'd have to grow it in a dense forest situation as close to the ocean as you are. I've seen nice ones down near the river in Attadale but they don't quite get the same relentless winds you'd get in Secret Harbour.

[Peter G]

Agree, I think by the end of our cold season Arenga Pinnata in my garden, would be at least 50% fried.

I recently planted Arenga Engleri, I think that will be my best option from this genus.

I sure did pick a windy area to live, even in Summer between 11:30am and 5pm it is extremely windy.

[Tyrone]

Agree, I think by the end of our cold season Arenga Pinnata in my garden, would be at least 50% fried.

I recently planted Arenga Engleri, I think that will be my best option from this genus.

I sure did pick a windy area to live, even in Summer between 11:30am and 5pm it is extremely windy.

At least you won't ever hit 44C except maybe once in a hundred years.

Arenga australasica seems to always grow on the coast in north QLD virtually always in the forest just above the high tide mark. Admittedly not the windiest part of the world except for when a cyclone comes through. They're cold tolerant enough to grow in Perth and in the wild grow on sand. The leaves appear quite thick. Maybe one to try as well.

[Peter G]

It's been a rough old six months in our part of the world, that nasty Spring and that scorcher the other weekend, i don't have an official temperature for my garden, but judging by the damage, i would say 43c. Hopefully things will be kind to us for a while now!

I will do some research on Arenga Australasica

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Arenga micrantha will give you stunning results in Albany. It's a fantastic palm, very cool growing, much better grower than arenga engleri in cooler Summer climates.

Here are some shots of it this Morning, it's put out a 6 feet spear since December and it's the middle of our Northern Hemisphere Winter. Our Winter temps have been 25-28C day and 8-12C night with an occasional 7C, so not surprising that it's put on so much growth. Nights are chilly to say the least. This palm did see a week of 0-2C lows and 15-16C highs in early December but that didn't stop it. I planted a two strap leaf seedling into the ground and I had no idea it would turn into this monster of a palm, seems much larger than Engleri and starts suckering at a much later age.

Edit: it does look better in the Summer when the humidity is higher, right now we're looking at 15-30% humidity levels, bone dry.

[Phoenikakias]

Even if they do grow, the wind down there would probably tear them up. I would love to grow them, but I know I would be wasting my time.

Try and get Arenga Micrantha, that would have plenty of space on your new property, but would fall into the slow category.

Objection! Pinnata is less susceptible to wind damage than micrantha. I have both and this is my personal experience.

Maybe some photos would come in handy as reference. How close to the coast are you?

Yes recent pictures a.s.a.p. Leaves of pinnata are moe flexible, that's the only reason for its greater wnd-resistance. My location is 138 m altitude and 200 m from coast.

Pinnata

Micrantha

Plants become gradually to big for my small garden and unfortunately there is not enough free space, so that I could take more detailed pics.

[Tyrone]

Thanks for the pics. I think I'm going to have to acquire some of these A micrantha now.

[tim_brissy_13]

@Tyrone how have your Arenga’s fared in Albany?

[Phoenikakias]

On 1/20/2014 at 9:55 PM, Phoenikakias said:

Pinnata

Micrantha

Plants become gradually to big for my small garden and unfortunately there is not enough free space, so that I could take more detailed pics.

 

11 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

@Tyrone how have your Arenga’s fared in Albany?

More and more I am convinced, that this palm of mine, no longer existing due to its monocarpic habit, had actually been westerhoutii. And since I still grow in pot Arenga pinnata from Floridian seed, I think I am able to summarize the performance of both spp in a temperate climate. So westerhoutii due to its origin from higher altitude, is more cool tolerant, having a wider spectrum of temps promoting growth and thus being faster grower. Pinnata as seedling are rather cold sensitive and leaves become spotted during prolonged cool and wet weather. But as they grow older, they become more cold resistant and grow faster.

[Tyrone]

On 3/28/2025 at 5:13 AM, tim_brissy_13 said:

@Tyrone how have your Arenga’s fared in Albany?

Hi Tim. Well this thread is a blast from the past. I had to laugh when I summarised the climate here in 2014. How little I knew back then. In reality this place is a little frost hollow and on clear windless winter nights this place is about 1-2C colder than the airport 6km away due to cold air drainage. I’m 13m asl and the airport is 70m asl on a breezy plain. 
 

Anyway getting back to the Arengas. For some reason I left my pinnatas  with my sister in Perth as she loves her palms. She left them in the pots neglected them and some died and two half dead specimens she gave back to me and unfortunately I wasn’t able to revive them. I should have just brought them south.

 

The westerhoutiis I brought south and planted out. One is no more as it didn’t survive our first big freeze of neg 2.5C in a not so protected area. The other two live on. One seems very happy in dense jungly conditions with my bananas, heliconias and crinums, the other doesn’t look so beautiful being more open to the elements. It seen frost, floods, baking hot sun into the mid forties Celsius. I’m planning to give it some company with maybe an Abyssinian banana or two as they love company. I’m creating an edible banana grove very close too it with some unusual varieties. They seem to love the company of bananas and thick foliage. My soil here is peat and the exposed little one sometimes is sitting in wet soil in winter.

 

Now as for speed of growth, they are not setting the world on fire, but they just chug along rewarding me with a new leaf every now and again. They’ve loved this summer with the warm humidity we’ve had.