I've been growing this from a 4" container for about 7 years. Finally starting to take off from being shaded by a over powering coconut. 

Now about 14' overall, I love this Palm!  It took 38F with no tip burn. 

Anyone else growing this beauty??

Sadly not Rick.  I had one which grew well through summer, but the winter killed it off quick smart. I didn't know alot about palms back then, and i suspect i could do better now, and that it's demise was due to a lack of water and not so much about the cold. Yours looks great!

Is this palm considered rare? 

Rick,  Here is a picture of my two here on the Big Island, ATV for scale. Twenty seeds from a certain California seedseller in April 07. Two germinated in two and four months. In May 2011, they weren't looking too good in 2-gal pots, so I decided I had to plant them. They didn't look to good in the ground either at first, but they eventually grew into what you see in the picture.

I haven't seen many in collections or on price lists. My suspicion  is that it is very difficult to get fresh seeds, even for professional growers and vendors, because the seeds are very small and have a brief shelf life. (Same problem with Calyptronoma rivalis). In 2010, I got 77 seeds from a certain European seedseller, and had no germination at all. My larger tree has been growing immature fruit bracts. Maybe one of these days, I'll have one that develops.

 

2 hours ago, TikiRick said:

Is this palm considered rare? 

Yes Rick, most definitely! I think their a beautiful palm, but I los my big ones in pots during our last freeze. Low 30's took them out......and fast I remember.

5 hours ago, TikiRick said:

Is this palm considered rare? 

Sadly, sadly, it seems to be rare,  I wish I could grow this Hydriastele species in Doranakanda gardens.

Where to find seeds, seedlings?

5 hours ago, TikiRick said:

Is this palm considered rare? 

Rare in Cultivation,      Not Rare in its habitat of Far,  Far Nth Qld and PNG..  Rick , well done and  how often does the winter get to 38F/ or 3c at yours, they shoud be planted in Far greater numbers in FNQ and in greater numbers in many places .. Looks like a Palm that needs "Trialing" here  ..3c is our winter low min

Pete   

Edited September 8, 20169 yr by Pedro 65
had to add

Pete, in 16 years my lowest low has been 36F. This palm was in a container when it was 36F, so I brought it indoors. In the ground it's experienced 38F. I've placed it in one of my most protected and warmest garden locations--on the southeast corner, blocked by a second story from cold northwest winter wind.

Rick, that's an amazing palm for sure--all of the big solitary Hydriastele are killer, in my book. 

This palm has been around but eventual cold spells have weeded out most of them--you look to be in a fine spot. Good luck with it and I hope it makes lots of seed!

1 hour ago, TikiRick said:

 Pete, in 16 years my lowest low has been 36F. This palm was in a container when it was 36F, so I brought it indoors. In the ground it's experienced 38F. I've placed it in one of my most protected and warmest garden locations--on the southeast corner, blocked by a second story from cold northwest winter wind.

Thanks Rick   I looked up Fort Lauderdale and you are very close to the ocean  and estuaries which no doubt helps but still get me enthused and inspired to trial and trial this 1 here. Thanks again, all best with it..   Pete

H. costata grows well here in HI, but can get tattered unfortunately in wind.  Most examples I have seen in HI, while exuberant growers, don't have as luxuriant crowns as those in photos of their PNG habitats.  

Palms with similar appearance and greater wind tolerance are Clinostigma samoense (warburgii), C. ponapense, and Rhopaloblaste augusta.  The first two are superbly tolerant of anything Hawaii's weather throws at them;  Rhopaloblaste's leaflets appear a wee bit less tolerant of really strong winds.

I've always thought that this Palm does not belong in the genus of hydriastele but rhopaloblaste instead. What what do I know? 

I only lift weights and set them down.