Variegated Rhapis

[AndyR]

Hello!

Just new here after a long spell from being and IPS member for some time about 20 years ago... 6 kids later and different priorities!

There's still a collector in me and I have managed to accumulate quite a number of Japanese Variegated Rhapis over the last 20 years. Wondering if there are any other VR lovers here. I'm in Australia and happy to swap plants and stories...

Andy

[Tropicgardener]

Hi Andy, nice plant........there are a few of us here in Australia that grow them. I only have a few but do intend on obtaining some more.

[BPK Palm Addict]

Hi Andy,

I have one and get lots of comments on it. You just don't see them down here very often.

[SurfCityPalms]

Hey there! I heard a call for variegate lovers and that's me! I have slowly been swaping out green trees and plant for variegated ones, mainly sport mutants (if it's a common variegate it's not for me) and after years of collecting my garden is almost all sport varieties.

I have around 35-40 different species of variegated palms and cycads NOT counting duplicates and I am always looking for something new to buy or trade for.

[AndyR]

Great! Yes always happy to trade.

I remember when I first found a VR and it was $700 for a sucker! No sucker here!

Some years later they were $240 for the basic varieties and I grabbed a few... now sell them for $25!!

[Neil C]

I only have one at the moment but they did have quite a few at the fairly recent PACSOA show up here in Brisbane. I really like the look of the broader leaf varieties and will not doubt pick up some more in the future. I could see them getting quite addictive.

Regards Neil

[Vidalii]

HI ANDY AND WELCOME TO PALMTALK, IAM ALSO A RHAPIS NUT, I HAVE ABOUT 17 VARIEGATED VARIETES 7 GREENS AND8 OF THE GENERA

AND TRYING TO FIND RHAPIS INDONESIA, EASTERN NURSERIES HAS A FANTASTIC COLLECTION BUT HARD TO CONTACT

[turfpro01]

I always wanted to collect some of the named varieties, But couldn't find anyone selling, or even collecting them in the usa. Ive ended up with a few unnamed variegated rhapis . Would love to find named varieties to collect with out going to japan. lol

[AndyR]

I've turned about 12 plants into about 1000 in 20 years. Mostly the standard Zuikonishiki, Ayanishiki and Kinponishiki. They can fill a 200mm pot to the brim with dozens of strong suckers... so VERY robust and prolific. Some of the more expensive varieties do OK and some are fiddly. The one in the pic below is Nanzanishiki. BEst basic variety is Kinponishiki in my opinion... very shiny leaves with a lime hue to the stripe & doesnt seem to produced the odd plant with no green like Zuikonishiki. Very consistent. Today just split 6 x 200mm plants into about 70 with 4 still remaining as a decent plant that was potted into 300mm pots. Still not sure how to post pics here or I'd show you!

[AndyR]

Hey Turfpro if you post the pics I'll help you identify...

[AndyR]

Marty I've been a collector but the standard varieties are so prolific they have become a plague whereas the more expensive ones have been pedestrian in growth (maybe why they cost more!)

[AndyR]

Hi Neil, I used to be a member of PASCOA and attended many shows.... when is the next one? Would love to get into some swapping and re-aquainting myself with them. Back in my 20's I had over 800 varieties of palms! Even took a trip to Madagascar...

[stevethegator]

I always wanted to collect some of the named varieties, But couldn't find anyone selling, or even collecting them in the usa. Ive ended up with a few unnamed variegated rhapis . Would love to find named varieties to collect with out going to japan. lol

I would love to find some of the real named "kannochiku" varieties in the US as well! There is a nursery in Texas that sells them but they don't ship

[SurfCityPalms]

Anyone have and good Kobanishiki? I have one but can't seem to get it to show properly. I've heard it's all about environment and I have read dozens of tricks but I still can't duplicate the look... Maybe I bought a dud , or I'm the "sucker" with this one. I would pay good money for one that has the look as long as the sell will give me the trick to the look too!

[rhapis]

About 7 or 8 years ago I spent many many thousands $ buying the best varieties I

could get afford,especially the white striped varieties.I think I bought 50

varieties or so but now have about variegated 40 varieties due to some double ups

and some reverting back to green and have had to sell most of the pups along the

way as they tend to take up a lot of space when you have hundreds of them so they

keep producing pups and I keep sending them to new homes

[Vidalii]

hi andy and steve what species of variegated do best in your different climates ? in Townsville my best performers are

Fukuhoden and chiyodazuru.. our water quality is not the best for lush growth.

[Small palm]

Nice palms, I really like variegated Rhapis palms too. My first palm tree was a Rhapis Excelsa Kobannishiki. It didn't last long though. I ended up buying a dwarf green variety, Rhapis Excelsa Kodaruma.

It would be nice to buy another variegated Rhapis. I really like Rhapis Excelsa Ayanishiki.

[rhapis]

Mine all grow very well and only have problems when they suffer from

leaf blight but It's pretty much under control now since I move them to a more

open greenhouse with a better airflow