Dypsis baronii - let's see yours

[Dr. George]

Dypsis baronii has been a difficult grow for us. Planted out on the farm as 5 gal size in 2008 during our absentee owner period. This one survived (although originally it had 3 stems). Would love to see others. - gmp

[Kim]

Wow, that's a beauty, Dr. George! I haven't planted any baronii, but seeing yours makes me wish I had!

[akamu]

Great looking palm George I've never seen one with that much Orange in the crown shaft very stunning. Maybe it's a cultural thing both of mine are part  day sun and have always been White

[Dr. George]

3 hours ago, akamu said:

Great looking palm George I've never seen one with that much Orange in the crown shaft very stunning. Maybe it's a cultural thing both of mine are part  day sun and have always been White

Thanks for posting your's. I think there is a bit of variability in this species which is why I am interested in seeing others.  Am guessing ours is a bit more robust than a lot because its the single remaining stem of an original 3 stem specimen.  Initially I thought D. baronii would be as bullet proof as D. lutescens, but it hasn't played out that way. - gmp

[Billeb]

I’ve got a long road ahead of me with both these things. The 5G is a standard Baronii I got as a 1G and it’s already split a couple times. I’ve got 4 spears growing. It will go in the ground in a month or so. The Small guy is a “Big Baronii” variety I got from @LJG and it will be potted until it’s big enough to plant out. Could be a couple years yet. Mature plant photo courtesy of Len. 
 

-dale

[Dr. George]

1 hour ago, Billeb said:

I’ve got a long road ahead of me with both these things. The 5G is a standard Baronii I got as a 1G and it’s already split a couple times. I’ve got 4 spears growing. It will go in the ground in a month or so. The Small guy is a “Big Baronii” variety I got from @LJG and it will be potted until it’s big enough to plant out. Could be a couple years yet. Mature plant photo courtesy of Len. 

-dale

 

The little one looks like it is going to have a nice, colorful crown shaft.

Len's big guy looks like its a real hunk. It's girth is much bigger than ours.

Maybe he will look in on this thread and give us a shot of the whole palm, top to bottom.

Thanks for posting - gmp

 

[Billeb]

6 hours ago, Dr. George said:

The little one looks like it is going to have a nice, colorful crown shaft.

Len's big guy looks like its a real hunk. It's girth is much bigger than ours.

Maybe he will look in on this thread and give us a shot of the whole palm, top to bottom.

Thanks for posting - gmp

 

@Dr. George Here’s a picture of the Big Baronii that @LJG posted on the for sale add when I purchased. Definitely fat trunks as compared to the regular variety. 
 

-dale

[Dr. George]

6 hours ago, Billeb said:

@Dr. George Here’s a picture of the Big Baronii that @LJG posted on the for sale add when I purchased. Definitely fat trunks as compared to the regular variety. 
 

-dale

That is one chunky Baronii - Thanks - gmp

[BayAndroid]

My most vigorous Dypsis Baronii 

 

 

[Dr. George]

7 hours ago, BayAndroid said:

My most vigorous Dypsis Baronii 

 

 

Looks like going to be colorful one - Thanks for posting - gmp

[mike in kurtistown]

Here's my experience with baroniis, whose relations with onilahensis, lutescens, psammophila, arenarium, etc. are not know with certainty.

When I moved to Hawaii in 2006, Bo Lundkvist offered me a tour of his collection. I was impressed by the orange or brownish color of the crownshafts on his clump of baronii. Later, I acquired some seeds from a local palm collector. Later, I ordered some seeds of baronii from RPS. One of the palms from the seeds from the local collector is shown below:

One of the palms from the RPS seeds is shown here. Note that the palm from this source does have have orange brown on the crownshaft like Bo's palm.

This topic reminded me of something I had forgotten for year. In 2012, i received seeds, through a third party, from a certain old palmer in Australia who was one of the first active collectors in Madagascar. He sent the seeds as "giant baronii". I had forgotten about these, so I went on a search in one of my shade houses. I found 5 plants in 2-gal pots - two of the faded labels did reveal the word "giant". They were hidden by large plants of two other species. Out of sight, out of mind! the plants appear to be in good shape, and two or three of them will be in the ground very soon.

 

[Billeb]

2 hours ago, mike in kurtistown said:

 

This topic reminded me of something I had forgotten for year. In 2012, i received seeds, through a third party, from a certain old palmer in Australia who was one of the first active collectors in Madagascar. He sent the seeds as "giant baronii". I had forgotten about these, so I went on a search in one of my shade houses. I found 5 plants in 2-gal pots - two of the faded labels did reveal the word "giant". They were hidden by large plants of two other species. Out of sight, out of mind! the plants appear to be in good shape, and two or three of them will be in the ground very soon.

 

I obviously have a huge vested interest in your plants labeled “giant”. Can you please post a picture when able or DM me with a picture? Super curious how they look. Thanks. 
 

-dale 

[Darold Petty]

What about Len's palm ?

 

[Dr. George]

7 hours ago, mike in kurtistown said:

Here's my experience with baroniis, whose relations with onilahensis, lutescens, psammophila, arenarium, etc. are not know with certainty.

When I moved to Hawaii in 2006, Bo Lundkvist offered me a tour of his collection. I was impressed by the orange or brownish color of the crownshafts on his clump of baronii. Later, I acquired some seeds from a local palm collector. Later, I ordered some seeds of baronii from RPS. One of the palms from the seeds from the local collector is shown below:

One of the palms from the RPS seeds is shown here. Note that the palm from this source does have have orange brown on the crownshaft like Bo's palm.

This topic reminded me of something I had forgotten for year. In 2012, i received seeds, through a third party, from a certain old palmer in Australia who was one of the first active collectors in Madagascar. He sent the seeds as "giant baronii". I had forgotten about these, so I went on a search in one of my shade houses. I found 5 plants in 2-gal pots - two of the faded labels did reveal the word "giant". They were hidden by large plants of two other species. Out of sight, out of mind! the plants appear to be in good shape, and two or three of them will be in the ground very soon.

 

Thanks, Mike - Very interesting story - I got ours from Jeff Marcus as a 5 gal in 2008 - gmp

[DoomsDave]

Here’s my biggest baronii out in front of my house. It has 18 trunks but doesn’t seem to produce fertile seeds.

It’s about 12 feet tall and I took two pics to get in good shots.

[DoomsDave]

Here’s another one, with one trunk. Albofarinosa on the left and Chambeyronia trunk in background.

 

[DoomsDave]

Here’s another more typical type with waste carts for scale.

 

[Dr. George]

1 hour ago, DoomsDave said:

Here’s my biggest baronii out in front of my house. It has 18 trunks but doesn’t seem to produce fertile seeds.

It’s about 12 feet tall and I took two pics to get in good shots.

Whoa - 18 stems!! - are you sure its not a bamboo hybrid?

Enjoyed all the pics - Thank you - gmp

[mike in kurtistown]

Here is the requested picture of the Dypsis "giant baronii" seedlings provided by the old Australian Madagascar hand. It's not very revealing - if an individual pic of one of the bigger ones could help, let me know.

I am also getting inquiries about Ravenea sp. "giant", a huge solitary palm that I am growing, very different from the Dypsis baronii. I will discuss this separately with the interested parties, unless there is interest on this forum.

[Darold Petty]

Two separate plants, they were really colorful as juveniles, but have grown up to 'just green'.

[Dr. George]

4 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Two separate plants, they were really colorful as juveniles, but have grown up to 'just green'.

Nicely placed up front next to the driveway. - gmp

[Rivera]

Reviving an old thread. I planted this one out as a 4" tree-pot seedling about 2-1/2 years ago. Never a complaint from it, just slow and steady growth. The newest leaf to open is almost twice the size of the last one, which can only be a good sign.

The new spear seems to be emerging faster than previous leaves did.

I may have to cut further into the deck to accommodate it, but I will wait to see this palm's propensity to produce new stems. Stem girth seems quite variable as well, so who knows?

The two baronii seedlings below came from a parent showing little to no petiole at maturity.

Quite a few varieties out there, share your photos and observations if you're so inclined. 

[Tyrone]

Dypsis (sorry) Chrysalidocarpus baronii are so variable. It reminds me of the famous saying from Forest Gump, “Life’s like a box of chocolates” When you grow baronii you’re never really sure what you’re going to get, but, they’re all good. So never pass up an opportunity to acquire another baronii. 

[peachy]

On 3/17/2022 at 7:09 PM, Dr. George said:

Dypsis baronii has been a difficult grow for us. Planted out on the farm as 5 gal size in 2008 during our absentee owner period. This one survived (although originally it had 3 stems). Would love to see others. - gmp

As a single it is gorgeous. Clumping ? Not so much.

Peachy

[Darold Petty]

Dr. George, are you certain that yours is truly a baronii ?  The leafbase scars are erratic, rather than annular, and the colorful crownshaft is suspicious.  Scroll up and look at mine, which resemble all others I have seen.     

[Palmiz]

12 hours ago, Rivera said:

Reviving an old thread. I planted this one out as a 4" tree-pot seedling about 2-1/2 years ago. Never a complaint from it, just slow and steady growth. The newest leaf to open is almost twice the size of the last one, which can only be a good sign.

The new spear seems to be emerging faster than previous leaves did.

I may have to cut further into the deck to accommodate it, but I will wait to see this palm's propensity to produce new stems. Stem girth seems quite variable as well, so who knows?

The two baronii seedlings below came from a parent showing little to no petiole at maturity.

Quite a few varieties out there, share your photos and observations if you're so inclined. 

Looking very healthy,  the base is very short and leaflets remind me of "bef" could it possibly be that? Bef is hard grow for me for some reason. Yours looks great if thats what it is, very color up the rachis also.

[Dr. George]

7 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Dr. George, are you certain that yours is truly a baronii ?  The leafbase scars are erratic, rather than annular, and the colorful crownshaft is suspicious.  Scroll up and look at mine, which resemble all others I have seen.     

Darold -  I bought it in 5 gal size from Jeff as a D. baronii, so that is my reference. Am open to other considerations if you think it has been misidentified. - gmp

[Darold Petty]

Dr. George,  baronii and ambositrae are the only two that will grow in my warmth deprived microclimate, so I am not able to offer conjecture about a possible ID of other species.  

[Marius]

Mine are babies.  I planted them in January. 

[Rivera]

4 hours ago, Palmiz said:

Looking very healthy,  the base is very short and leaflets remind me of "bef" could it possibly be that? Bef is hard grow for me for some reason. Yours looks great if thats what it is, very color up the rachis also.

Not sure, I got this plant from Darold. Of the many Dypsis or Chrysalidocarpus species, baronii and ambositrae are the only two known to grow well in San Francisco at present. 

This plant does grow in full sun, which may contribute to its short petiole and compact leaf. It made an easy transition to full sun at a young age. 

[Palmiz]

Planted this 2023 from a 2g. 

[tim_brissy_13]

10 hours ago, Dr. George said:

Darold -  I bought it in 5 gal size from Jeff as a D. baronii, so that is my reference. Am open to other considerations if you think it has been misidentified. - gmp

At first glance I thought it was definitely baronii but it is a good pick up by Darold. Your baronii reminds me of some I saw in New Zealand with the Orange Crownshaft, but I looked over old photos and the NZ palms had typical annular rings. Coming from Floribunda, probably some kind of chance there influence from a pollen donor…?

[tim_brissy_13]

On 5/31/2025 at 6:39 AM, Rivera said:

Reviving an old thread. I planted this one out as a 4" tree-pot seedling about 2-1/2 years ago. Never a complaint from it, just slow and steady growth. The newest leaf to open is almost twice the size of the last one, which can only be a good sign.

The new spear seems to be emerging faster than previous leaves did.

I may have to cut further into the deck to accommodate it, but I will wait to see this palm's propensity to produce new stems. Stem girth seems quite variable as well, so who knows?

The two baronii seedlings below came from a parent showing little to no petiole at maturity.

Quite a few varieties out there, share your photos and observations if you're so inclined. 

Your in ground palm looks like C ambositrae to me. Which I think would be a bit of a bonus in that spot; likely likely to clump, possibly more attractive or at least prominent as a feature plant and harder to find. Slower growth the only potential downside. 

[tim_brissy_13]

Here’s a few of my C baronii planted in the garden. I’ve got a couple of standard baroniis which are both clumping quite vigorously and really very fast growing now that they have established. I’ve also got 5 C baronii Black Petiole from RPS planted which came from seed in 2018 or 2019 I think. As noted above, they are variable and each one looks very different. I also planted various baronii at my childhood home ranging from a solitary one to a weird dwarf heavy clumping one.
 

First photo is my largest standard C baronii. Second my most colourful Black Petiole and third photo is my largest and fastest Black Petiole but also least colourful; will be interesting to see how this one turns out. 

[Rivera]

12 minutes ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Your in ground palm looks like C ambositrae to me. Which I think would be a bit of a bonus in that spot; likely likely to clump, possibly more attractive or at least prominent as a feature plant and harder to find. Slower growth the only potential downside. 

Thanks Tim. Its leaves are gently keeled and moderately recurved. I'm told color is not much of an indicator at this age, but I'm red/green colorblind anyway! I'm not knowledgeable about the genus, having few to choose from suitable for our generally cool climate. 

[Tassie_Troy1971]

My baronii in coastal Tasmania 

[BayAndroid]

Here's my Baronii, originally purchased from Floribunda. 

[Phoenikakias]

Mine still in liner but it had produced already an offshoot! The other one on the left is an ambositrae.

[Mazat]

Beautiful 🤗 👍 

[Dr. George]

So adding a new twist to this thread.

While cleaning up some fronds this evening I happened to notice that the palm posted to start off this thread in 2022 shed 2 fronds revealing that it has decided to develop 2 heads.

gmp