Blue Chrysalidocarpus decipiens from Floribunda

[realarch]

On 5/6/2026 at 10:33 PM, Jonathan said:

It really is...I think I hugged the chunky monster for a photo opp, and maybe a couple more times when you weren't looking!

Heh, heh, the security camera footage made me laugh when I saw you acting out. You one ‘lolo bruddah.’

Tim 

[Jonathan]

2 hours ago, realarch said:

Heh, heh, the security camera footage made me laugh when I saw you acting out. You one ‘lolo bruddah.’

Tim 

Lol. Always good to keep the punters entertained!

Question: is this blue 'decipiens' a highland species like the true decipiens or just another tropical gem to be admired but not acquired? 

@richnorm is there any info regarding cold tolerance from NZ? 

[richnorm]

3 hours ago, Jonathan said:

Lol. Always good to keep the punters entertained!

Question: is this blue 'decipiens' a highland species like the true decipiens or just another tropical gem to be admired but not acquired? 

@richnorm is there any info regarding cold tolerance from NZ? 

They certainly see sub-zero.  I think the one at ABG would have seen -4 or -5c and many nights below freezing with no ill effects.  There's also a nice one getting away in Christchurch. They are some seeding here now.

[tim_brissy_13]

38 minutes ago, richnorm said:

They certainly see sub-zero.  I think the one at ABG would have seen -4 or -5c and many nights below freezing with no ill effects.  There's also a nice one getting away in Christchurch. They are some seeding here now.

@Jonathan here’s the ABG specimen back in 2018. I remember ABG being about 30 mins south of Auckland and no body of water close by so makes sense it gets chilly Richard. C lutescens looked terrible there as a point of reference, so I guessed it probably has similar winters to me in Melbourne. 
 

[Jonathan]

8 hours ago, richnorm said:

They certainly see sub-zero.  I think the one at ABG would have seen -4 or -5c and many nights below freezing with no ill effects.  There's also a nice one getting away in Christchurch. They are some seeding here now.

Huh! Who knew...why aren't we growing this one @tim_brissy_13?

Thanks for the information guys.

[tim_brissy_13]

15 minutes ago, Jonathan said:

Huh! Who knew...why aren't we growing this one @tim_brissy_13?

Thanks for the information guys.

Would love to grow this. The ABG one above and a few others I saw at Landsendt and in Kerikeri were absolute beasts. Photos don’t do them justice. If you look closely at my photo above, you can see how small it makes the nearby Sabal look. 
 

Really the only reason we’re not growing it is lack of seed I guess. I can’t say I’ve seen a single specimen in Aus although I’m sure they must be around. @richnorm if there’s any access to seed over there we’d certainly love there over this side of the ditch!

[Jonathan]

48 minutes ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Really the only reason we’re not growing it is lack of seed I guess. I can’t say I’ve seen a single specimen in Aus although I’m sure they must be around. @richnorm if there’s any access to seed over there we’d certainly love there over this side of the ditch!

Ditto to that sentiment!

I'm surprised they're not here already...but there's a few gaps in Australia that are a bit inexplicable.