I have a few Bentinckia condapanna from the Big Island nursery we all love so much. One of them is a double and should be super interesting as it gets bigger. Today I arrived to a palm enthusiast’s home with the plan to bring home a Dypsis lanceolata or a Chambeyronia hookeri. I didn’t come home with either. I noticed a nice Bentinckia bursting out of a 15g. I plan to plant it out first thing tomorrow morning. The location sees morning and early afternoon full sun this time of year, then filtered sun at 1:30 and full shade by 2:30. Please share any photos or experiences with your Bentinckia. 

Happy campers headed back to Leucadia in a Toyota Land Cruiser loaded up with Bentinckia condapanna Dypsis baronii Dypsis Lafazamanga etc. 

They need copious amounts of water. Definitely a cool weather grower here, it’s a rocket in 57-75F temps so should thrive along the coast in Southern California provided it gets a LOT of water.

I agree on the water. I lost a beautiful, large one this last year as I hadn't noticed that the dripper got moved off of it. I think your sun exposure sounds good. 

I'd also say to plant your small ones if you are inclined to do so at all. They are fast.

I planted all mine straight away from FB 1 gallons.

Here, on the perpetually rainy windward side of the Big Island, and never very hot, I planted two in a full sun location. They are nearing 10 feet and have provided viable seeds. They are nicest looking when small.

Two in this photo from five years ago.

Love this palm, especially the colorful crownshaft. I put two in the ground in coastal orange county. One gets faces SSE and get plenty of sun while the other is in a shadier location and doesn't get much direct sun. They have been great growers for me with them not being bothered by our winters at all. The one in the sun is growing faster though. It's even starting to form some trunk. 

The ones you got should do great for you. 

 

I planted my first one last October up here in the Bay Area from a one gallon container and it sailed through our long, cool, very wet winter even opening a new leaf towards the end of that season. It only gets morning sun where it’s growing. I keep the soil as wet as I can as it drains fast. 
 

I thought I’d give one a go after seeing so many success stories on here. I’m probably in a cooler climate than everyone above but my B condapanna is still going great 18 months after planting. It’s about to enter its second Melbourne winter. If it makes it through I’d say it’s here for the long haul. 
 

 

Mine looking a little rough coming out of winter. But it has a new frond. I’m in Santa Ana, CA. @Matt in OCI’m so sad to hear about yours! It was really a beauty. 

Flooded her this morning. I’ll be sure to hit this palm with lots of water. 

Great palm but bug magnet 

Pedro gave me 1 years ago thats never stopped growing and trunk about shoulder height nearly. Needs more sun than where i planted it but its so robust so colourful & winter isnt an issue plus it loves the clay. 

Can't wait for it to trunk, really good grower and looks good even after winter. 

@Palmiz yours is looking pinnate soon!

7 hours ago, rizla023 said:

@Palmiz yours is looking pinnate soon!

I would actually prefer the look it has now. Only if there was a way that fronds could somehow stay that way.

4 hours ago, Palmiz said:

I would actually prefer the look it has now. Only if there was a way that fronds could somehow stay that way.

It does look very cool! 

Billy, that's a beautiful Bentinckia, lucky you! I think California growers are lucky in a way -- the palm will grow slower and you'll get to enjoy the beautiful colorations for a longer period at human scale. Mine were planted in March of 2011 from 1-gallon pots and they were rockets, first in my face and suddenly overhead.

They kind of lose their glamour when they get sky high, such that I haven't taken a dedicated shot of them for a long time. This is the most recent shot I could find, where they happen to be in the background -- I was really focused on the fallen frond that nearly hit some understory palms (and later one made a direct hit). They are the 5 slender gray trunks, some leaning out toward the sun. April 2022.

 

Like others have said, these grow fast here on the Big Island and lose some of their glory as they get too tall. The 3 I have were planted 6 years ago from 1 gallon pots. Perfect size right now to enjoy the coloring, just starting to flower and seed. 
 

I had been meaning to get a new photo of mine to share as well and finally remembered in daylight lol.  The newest frond has opened and it is in adjustment still from planting, the little thing is dwarfed by its older buddies but a new spear is already on the way. No discernable damage to the new frond just stunting so i hope this next one gets back to normal. Im giving it a lot of water since its the peak dry season here.

Thanks everyone for sharing!

I'm going to plant my double Benny (FB sourced) when I get home.

On 5/7/2024 at 1:50 PM, tim_brissy_13 said:

I thought I’d give one a go after seeing so many success stories on here. I’m probably in a cooler climate than everyone above but my B condapanna is still going great 18 months after planting. It’s about to enter its second Melbourne winter. If it makes it through I’d say it’s here for the long haul. 
 

 

Cheers mat

On 5/9/2024 at 9:29 AM, Kim said:

Billy, that's a beautiful Bentinckia, lucky you! I think California growers are lucky in a way -- the palm will grow slower and you'll get to enjoy the beautiful colorations for a longer period at human scale. Mine were planted in March of 2011 from 1-gallon pots and they were rockets, first in my face and suddenly overhead.

They kind of lose their glamour when they get sky high, such that I haven't taken a dedicated shot of them for a long time. This is the most recent shot I could find, where they happen to be in the background -- I was really focused on the fallen frond that nearly hit some understory palms (and later one made a direct hit). They are the 5 slender gray trunks, some leaning out toward the sun. April 2022.

 

I agree with the comments about them being best when you don't have to look up to appreciate the beauty. Hyophorbe ("bottle") is another one of those that look cuter when young. *****Drooling over this photo while typing and ready to plant out more....

@Billy Nearly a year since posting. Give us an update!! 
 

Here’s two of mine. Hard to photo the largest but it’s been in the ground since 2021 as a FB 1G. Growing well. 
 

The smaller just found Earth last year. Also as a 1G. 
 

-dale 

 

@Billeb Dale, you’re right it’s time for an update. My Bentinckia has only given two fronds since I planted it but it’s hanging in there. It’s showing a little burn on the edges of the leafs which makes me think it didn’t like last year’s Santa Ana’s. Could also be bad stewardship on my part as I do all my watering by hand and I left to Kauai for a few weeks. Overall still looks okay. 

Mine has recovered well from a bit of damage last winter from down to -1.5C/29F and long period of wet and cool through to Spring. Still remains to be seen how it will go long term here but early signs are promising. 

Mine survived the cold weather down in Corona, California, he’s from Floribunda palms in Hawaii and he is a bit big too, hes been growing well! ❤️

-Christian 

16 hours ago, Christian_J said:

Mine survived the cold weather down in Corona, California, he’s from Floribunda palms in Hawaii and he is a bit big too, hes been growing well! ❤️

-Christian 

Christian, 

all those FB Bentinkia come to us super stretched looking like yours. The next few fronds will be much shorter and compact. I’ve killed at least 3 of these and the ones that get to that point seem to start thriving. Yours looks like it’s doing good. Bentinkia is a great palm for us to grow in SoCal. 
 

-dale

Mine died after growing a few smaller fronds, each one smaller than the last. I thought it was lack of water, turns out it was wet and cold causing a slow rot in the bud that took most of spring and summer to kill it. Im trying again with seedlings that also seemed stretched but are growing well so far, hopefully they adapt to the location better that way.

Looking good you guys and honestly the slower the better, in my opinion. They grow so fast here that all the beautiful color is almost out of sight once they are well overhead. I am still fortunate though, the crown shaft is eye level with the second floor lanai. 

Good job, Jason, Dale, Billy, Tim, and good luck Christian. 

Tim

One of my favorite grows!

Good going Matt, having watched the progress of your palm over the years. 

Tim

5 hours ago, realarch said:

Good going Matt, having watched the progress of your palm over the years. 

Tim

Yup. It’s looking real good. Bravo @Matt in OC! 👏🏻

On 4/28/2025 at 8:38 AM, Billeb said:

Christian, 

all those FB Bentinkia come to us super stretched looking like yours. The next few fronds will be much shorter and compact. I’ve killed at least 3 of these and the ones that get to that point seem to start thriving. Yours looks like it’s doing good. Bentinkia is a great palm for us to grow in SoCal. 
 

-dale

Interesting, never knew all were similar like mine, I got mine from FB also, I am excited to see what it will look like when it becomes compact! Sorry for your other 3 you lost  Mine so far help up to the winters in Corona, I am very happy that it’s performing well. Indeed it is a great palm to grow in Socal! Thank you! 
 

-Christian

As others have noted, this is such a beautiful palm when relatively young. This one ihas grown under a porch overhang, which gives it a very stretched, very elegant look. And the color, geez… About as good as it gets in the palm world.