Clinostigma charisma

[realarch]

Been awhile since a thread for this genus of rather elegant palms from western Pacific islands. Feel free to post any images and observations you’ve experienced.

I’ve got three species and five individuals growing in the garden. C. samoense is by far the more robust and for this reason, planted in the open space behind the property. Digging a hole wasn’t possible because of the shallow soil over almost solid rock, so  the potted specimens were just placed on the on the surface after removing the bottom of the plastic pot. Super aggressive roots enabled them to anchor and penetrate fractures in the rock.

Here are a few C. samoense photos.

Tim 

[realarch]

Here’s another C. samoense with a shovel at the base to give an idea of the size. 

Tim

[realarch]

Here’s one that goes by the name, ‘Hawaiian Hybrid.’ Can only speculate what the cross is, but it seems a bit smaller in stature than C. samoense, but almost as tall. You can see differences in the crown as well. 

Tim

[realarch]

And last, but not least is the C. savoryanum, just a spectacular smaller Clino. Lots of photos on PT of this palm.

Tim

[Harry’s Palms]

Lovely palm , thank you for sharing . I can almost feel the trade winds now! Harry

[peachy]

C savoryanum has long been a favourite palm of mine. It is not overwhelming in a suburban sized garden. No intention of planting one just yet though. I am waiting for a lot of my palms to get some trunk to give me an idea of how much space I will have left when they grow.

Peachy

[palmfriend]

Tim, 

Thank you for this thread and the images.

I had seed grown Samoense, Harlandii, Ponapense and Savoryanum all planted out and for some completely unknown reason they all didn't make it. None of them was blown over by a typhoon or had symptoms of being infested with something - they just "passed out" almost at the same time, the last two planted out Savoryanums - were kept potted the longest in hope to get them strong - survived just for two months. 

So, I guess it must have been the soil after all. After the roots probably grew out of the soil pocket I provided, they might have had problems with our "real" soil, very alkaline and lime stone rocks all over the place. Who knows...

However, one day I will give it a new try, until then I enjoy your images.👍

Lars

[realarch]

Thanks Harry, the pendant fronds of this palm certainly enhance the trades, I’ll try to send some winds your way.

Peachy, Clinos take full sun here in east Hawaii, in fact many are landscape specimens planted in a sea of local asphalt parking lots. I’d grab a C. savoryanum if you run across one. 

Tim

[realarch]

Lars, oh man, sorry to hear of your Clino’s demise and all of them no less. Wow! I don’t know the geology of Okinawa and had always thought of it as volcanic. You must live on an ancient raised corral reef.

My first Clinos came from Bo Goran’s garden shorty after I moved to Hilo. His enthusiasm for this palm was infectious……he passed those cooties on to me. Those first palms have long since been removed, but seeds harvested from those C. samoense are now the mature specimens in the photos. 

Tim

[Brad52]

I have one obtained as Clinostigma sp.

[palmfriend]

On 9/12/2025 at 3:44 AM, realarch said:

Lars, oh man, sorry to hear of your Clino’s demise and all of them no less. Wow! I don’t know the geology of Okinawa and had always thought of it as volcanic. You must live on an ancient raised corral reef.

... 

Tim, 

you are correct! Okinawa's geology is volcanic....except one of its islands or island groups  - 

Miyako and its sourrounding islands...and therefore the only ones without poisonous snakes (but that is a pure guess).

 

Lars

 

 

[Hu Palmeras]

On 10/9/2025 at 18:25, realarch said:

Ha pasado tiempo desde que se publicó un hilo sobre este género de elegantes palmeras de las islas del Pacífico occidental. Siéntete libre de publicar cualquier imagen y observación que hayas experimentado.

Tengo tres especies y cinco individuos creciendo en el jardín. La C. samoense es, sin duda, la más robusta y, por eso, la planté en el espacio abierto detrás de la propiedad. Cavar un hoyo no fue posible debido a la poca profundidad del suelo sobre roca casi sólida, así que los ejemplares en maceta se colocaron simplemente en la superficie después de quitar el fondo de la maceta de plástico. Sus raíces extremadamente vigorosas les permitieron anclarse y penetrar las fracturas de la roca.

Aquí hay algunas fotografías de C. samoense.

Tim 

Very cool my friend🌴🌴

[Mazat]

On 9/10/2025 at 11:34 PM, realarch said:

And last, but not least is the C. savoryanum, just a spectacular smaller Clino. Lots of photos on PT of this palm.

Tim

fantastic

[mike in kurtistown]

Here is my contribution from rainy east Hawaii Island. First a pair of warburgiis.

 

Here is a third. (I liked this shot.)

 

Here is exorrhizum (apologies for the pile of dead palm fronds):

 

Here is a trio of ponapenses. These compete with Pigafettas and Hydriastele costata for gaining height very quickly. The exorrhizums shown above are is the same sun conditions as the ponapenses, but are not as eager to grow tall.

 

Here is a somewhat distant shot of a quartet of harlandiis.  These like to grow tall also, but not as fast as ponapenses.

 

Finally, here is a shot of one of my savoryanums. These are my youngest Clinos, so I can't generalize yet on their rate of growth. These have at least the reputation of being one of the cold hardiest of the best known species. Obviously, it is a beauty.

 

[realarch]

2 hours ago, mike in kurtistown said:

Here is my contribution from rainy east Hawaii Island. First a pair of warburgiis.

 

Here is a third. (I liked this shot.)

 

Here is exorrhizum (apologies for the pile of dead palm fronds):

 

Here is a trio of ponapenses. These compete with Pigafettas and Hydriastele costata for gaining height very quickly. The exorrhizums shown above are is the same sun conditions as the ponapenses, but are not as eager to grow tall.

 

Here is a somewhat distant shot of a quartet of harlandiis.  These like to grow tall also, but not as fast as ponapenses.

 

Finally, here is a shot of one of my savoryanums. These are my youngest Clinos, so I can't generalize yet on their rate of growth. These have at least the reputation of being one of the cold hardiest of the best known species. Obviously, it is a beauty.

 

Thanks Mike…..what a collection! Similar and yet different, but all beautiful. Thanks for chiming in.

Tim