How Long For Fruit To Ripen?

[Jim in Los Altos]

Two of my 20 year old A. cunninhamianna are presently in bloom for the first time and and the infloresences are covered with bees during the day so I'm hoping for good pollination. When will the fruit, if formed, be ripe? Do these palms flower at random throughout the year?

As you might guess, older King palms are not common up here, otherwise I would've been observing them over time. Most nurseries and  big box stores sell them now around here so they'll be more visible in the future.

[fastfeat]

Jim--

Seems to me that in SoCal anyway, I remember seeing new inflorescences emerging while fruit was dropping off earlier ones, so I'd say the fruit takes 9-12 mos. to ripen. I could be off a little; maybe some Oz perspective will be more helpful.

Don't know if there is a certain month of the year the inflorescences typically emerge.

Good luck on getting fruit. Hope for a mild Winter!

[tim_brissy_13]

I think about a year is a good guess.  My largest cunninghamiana has been blooming for 3 years now.  The first year inflorescences didn't produce viable seed, but last year they did.  It is currently holding ripening fruit from an inflorescence last spring, so its a bit over a year from flower spathe to ripe fruit.

[Darold Petty]

Hello Jim,  The seeds will have a bright red epicarp when ripe and will germinate quickly after that.

[madagascarbob]

They are very festive for the holidays when there full of ripe fruit !