Hand pollinating Chuniophoenix nana

[happypalms]

My Chuniophoenix are nearly ready, close observation daily for a week now has seen the male pollen sacs just about ready. So a bit of tickle with an artist brush just to help the insects out goes a long way. Hopefully if the rains stay away I will get some good pollination. 

[Jonathan]

I've got a few up now from the seeds you sent me Richard, thank you kindly!

Good luck with next years generation.

[happypalms]

7 minutes ago, Jonathan said:

I've got a few up now from the seeds you sent me Richard, thank you kindly!

Good luck with next years generation.

I sent a few all around the globe so they will be popping up all around the world. 
The few i put in are germinating as well. 
Such a wonderful little palm it should do well for you, it will be a bit slow in your climate. 
Happy gardening! 

[mnorell]

Good luck with your seed factory, Richard. This is such a great species, easy to grow, and I have found it, here in the Palm Springs area, to be relatively fast, certainly compared to its slowpoke relation, C. hainanensis, which also survives here (if less enthusiastically). Excellent appearance with little intervention, and it takes a decent amount of morning sun here in the virtual furnace of the Sonoran desert. Years ago I also grew both species when I lived in southern Mississippi and found them to be surprisingly hardy in moderate freezes to low 20s F before defoliating, and generally happy citizens there as long as temps didn't sink into the teens Fahrenheit for a multi-day freeze (as it did in 2010).

Richard, do you find them reluctant to fruit without your paintbrush in assistance? I had one bloom for the first time this year, but, alas, no seed-set. I thought I might get at least a couple of fruit since the plant is monoecious. Hopefully next year. Or maybe I need to pick up a brush as well.

C. nana is in my opinion a palm that should be a standard stock-item in nurseries, zones 9b and warmer as a general landscape plant, and colder pushed as a potted patio plant or perhaps as a house-plant. It has a unique look that sets it apart from Rhapis, and perfect for smaller terrace/patio gardens for those in restricted spaces like condos/townhomes etc. And does well in a variety of climates. I assume also in cooler mild areas it keeps a good appearance even if slower than in hotter areas. Nonetheless, a true below-the-radar charmer.

[happypalms]

51 minutes ago, mnorell said:

Good luck with your seed factory, Richard. This is such a great species, easy to grow, and I have found it, here in the Palm Springs area, to be relatively fast, certainly compared to its slowpoke relation, C. hainanensis, which also survives here (if less enthusiastically). Excellent appearance with little intervention, and it takes a decent amount of morning sun here in the virtual furnace of the Sonoran desert. Years ago I also grew both species when I lived in southern Mississippi and found them to be surprisingly hardy in moderate freezes to low 20s F before defoliating, and generally happy citizens there as long as temps didn't sink into the teens Fahrenheit for a multi-day freeze (as it did in 2010).

Richard, do you find them reluctant to fruit without your paintbrush in assistance? I had one bloom for the first time this year, but, alas, no seed-set. I thought I might get at least a couple of fruit since the plant is monoecious. Hopefully next year. Or maybe I need to pick up a brush as well.

C. nana is in my opinion a palm that should be a standard stock-item in nurseries, zones 9b and warmer as a general landscape plant, and colder pushed as a potted patio plant or perhaps as a house-plant. It has a unique look that sets it apart from Rhapis, and perfect for smaller terrace/patio gardens for those in restricted spaces like condos/townhomes etc. And does well in a variety of climates. I assume also in cooler mild areas it keeps a good appearance even if slower than in hotter areas. Nonetheless, a true below-the-radar charmer.

Thank you it’s a fantastic little palm, and as you say so underrated. Perhaps the slow growth in comparison to rhapis palms deter the commercial industry that and seed availability, I guess rhapis set thousands of seeds in there native country.  
Intresting you say it’s a good one for the cold harsher conditions obviously not mega frosts but a good patio plant for the cold climates. I did get one seed once with out assistance, that then got me more interested in the varietie. And did one year a little hand rub and got a few more seeds, but then I went to town and got the paintbrush doing it daily brushing them, and had great success. Through observation you learn when to do it and for how many days after you start. But definitely get the paintbrush out you will be surprised, good luck and happy gardening. 
Richard