Nice little Areca loasensis gets planted

[happypalms]

A beautiful little palm the loasensis, and this little one is a good example of a nice seedling. See how this one goes in a few years time as a garden specimen! 

[mnorell]

Best of luck with that one, Richard, I don't think you're going to have any problems. I've been trialing this species for a couple of years and I can say that this is the one species (of the several Areca I've tried) that I've been able to grow completely trouble-free here in the Palm Springs (hot hot low desert) area.

A. triandra, historically touted as the hardiest Areca in general cultivation, has always grown poorly for me, whether I was living in Los Angeles, lower Mississippi, the Florida Keys, or here in the low desert, much to my chagrin...chlorosis, slow leaf-production, finicky with positioning, long-term gradual fade-out, etc. But A. laosensis works for me here like an easy-peasy general-purpose palm as long as I don't blast it with summer sun. It endures our relatively brief winters (with chilly nights, mostly to 5C/41F or so but down to just above the freezing mark one or a couple of times each year) and has no problem with our intense heat-spells in summer as long as it's shaded during the heat; and endures a northern (poleward) exposure in winter without complaint. It can take a decent bit of morning summer sun here as well, with acclimation. I have about a half dozen of these, all still in pots awaiting a final spot in the landscape, so the roots have endured more extremes (about 34F to 124F) than if planted in the ground.

I don't know why this species has been off the radar for so long here in the U.S., perhaps just nobody brought it into general cultivation until Jeff Marcus started growing and distributing it. I've not seen it offered anywhere else. Is it at all common in Australia? Did you grow yours from seed, and has it been easy for you in its youth? I think it's a great palm and I would recommend that people in cool climates (like coastal areas of SoCal and central California, or NSW/Victoria/Western Australia) experiment with it--hopefully some already have--since it can hold a good appearance through winter without yellowing, at least it has for me. It hasn't been super fast, but since it's attractive when young and holds its leaves well over more than a season and thus keeps a nice appearance even in a container, I guardedly consider it one of the successes of my palm experiments here to date. I hope yours really thrives now that you have committed it to a permanent position in the open ground. And I for one would love to hear other people's experiences with this one...

[realarch]

I had never heard of this palm until a year ago, was gifted one and planted it out at the beginning of this year. Not particularly remarkable, but we’ll see how it grows. Leaves are uniformly pinnate which is kind of unusual for Areca. Glad to hear about its hardiness to different climate extremes. 

Tim

[Harry’s Palms]

Very nice , and it already has a pup! Harry

[mnorell]

Odoardo Beccari, who described the species in 1910, said he felt it resembled a diminutive form of A. triandra but that idea was formally excluded because the number of stamens differs between the two, and he felt the closer botanical affinities were with A. oxycarpa and A. mammillata. When I look at photos of some of these species it seems to my eye closer (superficially, not botanically) to A. rheophytica, at least in its leaf/pinnae appearance/arrangement. One thing I like in A. laosensis is that the leaflets are closely set and tend to hang on to each other a bit (like Dictyosperma alba v. conjugatum) lending an overall revolute appearance to the leaf, and they also have the subtle but beautiful french-curve "S" shape typical of others in the genus like A. triandra, though it is perhaps less noticeable because of the thinner leaflets as compared to others in the genus.

And perhaps it's not so crazy that it's got some cool- and cold-hardiness since Vietnam is in its native distribution, and many palms from that region, as from southern China, have proven to be surprisingly winter-tolerant.

[happypalms]

15 hours ago, mnorell said:

Best of luck with that one, Richard, I don't think you're going to have any problems. I've been trialing this species for a couple of years and I can say that this is the one species (of the several Areca I've tried) that I've been able to grow completely trouble-free here in the Palm Springs (hot hot low desert) area.

A. triandra, historically touted as the hardiest Areca in general cultivation, has always grown poorly for me, whether I was living in Los Angeles, lower Mississippi, the Florida Keys, or here in the low desert, much to my chagrin...chlorosis, slow leaf-production, finicky with positioning, long-term gradual fade-out, etc. But A. laosensis works for me here like an easy-peasy general-purpose palm as long as I don't blast it with summer sun. It endures our relatively brief winters (with chilly nights, mostly to 5C/41F or so but down to just above the freezing mark one or a couple of times each year) and has no problem with our intense heat-spells in summer as long as it's shaded during the heat; and endures a northern (poleward) exposure in winter without complaint. It can take a decent bit of morning summer sun here as well, with acclimation. I have about a half dozen of these, all still in pots awaiting a final spot in the landscape, so the roots have endured more extremes (about 34F to 124F) than if planted in the ground.

I don't know why this species has been off the radar for so long here in the U.S., perhaps just nobody brought it into general cultivation until Jeff Marcus started growing and distributing it. I've not seen it offered anywhere else. Is it at all common in Australia? Did you grow yours from seed, and has it been easy for you in its youth? I think it's a great palm and I would recommend that people in cool climates (like coastal areas of SoCal and central California, or NSW/Victoria/Western Australia) experiment with it--hopefully some already have--since it can hold a good appearance through winter without yellowing, at least it has for me. It hasn't been super fast, but since it's attractive when young and holds its leaves well over more than a season and thus keeps a nice appearance even in a container, I guardedly consider it one of the successes of my palm experiments here to date. I hope yours really thrives now that you have committed it to a permanent position in the open ground. And I for one would love to hear other people's experiences with this one...

Well that’s great news for me it tolerates heat because I get plenty of that up to 40 degrees Celsius in summer. 
I purchased my one as a seedling and they are rare as in only a few palm collectors or exotic palm growers have them. 
I recommend you try Areca viladiana and tunku along with songenthensis, those ones have proven themselves growing well for me. 
Iam actually surprised at how tough a lot of the Areca species are. There great for zone pushing trials. 

[happypalms]

14 hours ago, realarch said:

I had never heard of this palm until a year ago, was gifted one and planted it out at the beginning of this year. Not particularly remarkable, but we’ll see how it grows. Leaves are uniformly pinnate which is kind of unusual for Areca. Glad to hear about its hardiness to different climate extremes. 

Tim

There a nice looking palm not up there with any super Calyptrogyne species, but iam impressed with the nice neat look about them. But it’s good to see your still discovering new palms 3 years time you’re one will be seeding f  you in that climate of yours! 

[happypalms]

12 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Very nice , and it already has a pup! Harry

Don’t tell @peachy it clumps! 
Richard 

[peachy]

42 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Don’t tell @peachy it clumps! 
Richard 

Too late !! I am on my way with a litre of Roundup.

Poisonous Peachy

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, peachy said:

Too late !! I am on my way with a litre of Roundup.

Poisonous Peachy

You better bring a big litre, I got plenty of clumping palms, and there just waiting for you. Actually go for the golden canes even I can’t stand them. 
Richard 

[Harry’s Palms]

I have a few clumpers , including two large Lutescens. I’d better install those security cameras and get a big dog in case @peachy ever comes to America . Harry

 

edit: I know she would take the large Dioon out front ! 

[KrisKupsch]

As it’s a place name you’d think you’d spell it correctly. I’ve a hundred or so in pots. The big ones in the ground are perfect incredible specimens that have seen several winters without any problem at all. I guess you didn’t see them here Richard. No need to get them from the north, I’ve lots of them here, adapted and perfect. As for peachy not liking clumping palms lol you should make an allowance for this, it’s a good Palm indeed, fragrant flowers and very compact and dainty. Definitely will be popular in the future. Again Richard I’ve lots, don’t go getting anymore from the north when I can give you some for free. Happy to share if you have only 1, that’s not enough

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, KrisKupsch said:

As it’s a place name you’d think you’d spell it correctly. I’ve a hundred or so in pots. The big ones in the ground are perfect incredible specimens that have seen several winters without any problem at all. I guess you didn’t see them here Richard. No need to get them from the north, I’ve lots of them here, adapted and perfect. As for peachy not liking clumping palms lol you should make an allowance for this, it’s a good Palm indeed, fragrant flowers and very compact and dainty. Definitely will be popular in the future. Again Richard I’ve lots, don’t go getting anymore from the north when I can give you some for free. Happy to share if you have only 1, that’s not enough

Good to see your onto the spell check👍 i wouldn’t mind a few more there a nice palm, nothing majorly spectacular in the leaf department but a nice neat clean fine line looking palm, with some nice green colours. Ps I always check on my spelling but you know them little buttons on the phone get in the way and you know one is never enough! 

[happypalms]

8 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I have a few clumpers , including two large Lutescens. I’d better install those security cameras and get a big dog in case @peachy ever comes to America . Harry

 

edit: I know she would take the large Dioon out front ! 

I think @peachy dislikes clumping palms that much I believe a plane ticket has been booked for California. So look out the roundup is on its way or did they ban that in the US yet. 
Pushing it with dioon I think peachy is more of a cute little Cerotazamia lady. 
Richard 

[peachy]

You are all safe. I hate flying even more than I do clumping palms.

Peachy

[happypalms]

5 hours ago, peachy said:

You are all safe. I hate flying even more than I do clumping palms.

Peachy

Looks like a Fairstar cruise ship for you then, 6 month round world trip should suit you well my possum. I hear they have a Joan Collin’s show onboard now that lady had some clever one liners! 
Richard 

[tim_brissy_13]

On 11/24/2025 at 2:46 AM, KrisKupsch said:

As it’s a place name you’d think you’d spell it correctly. I’ve a hundred or so in pots. The big ones in the ground are perfect incredible specimens that have seen several winters without any problem at all. I guess you didn’t see them here Richard. No need to get them from the north, I’ve lots of them here, adapted and perfect. As for peachy not liking clumping palms lol you should make an allowance for this, it’s a good Palm indeed, fragrant flowers and very compact and dainty. Definitely will be popular in the future. Again Richard I’ve lots, don’t go getting anymore from the north when I can give you some for free. Happy to share if you have only 1, that’s not enough

I remember yours well Kris, nice little palm and clearly pretty tough. I think you even suggested I should try one down here but at the time I assumed it would be torture. Based on some reports in this thread maybe they are worth a shot. I got a bunch of A triandra through winter (admittedly in my unheated greenhouse so somewhat protected) with only minor spotting. 

[peachy]

18 hours ago, happypalms said:

Looks like a Fairstar cruise ship for you then, 6 month round world trip should suit you well my possum. I hear they have a Joan Collin’s show onboard now that lady had some clever one liners! 
Richard 

Have you ever seen the people who go on cruises ?  Might as well lock myself in an RSL Club for that time. They even allow children ! It would be more pleasant in a Siberian Gulag

 

[happypalms]

2 minutes ago, peachy said:

Have you ever seen the people who go on cruises ?  Might as well lock myself in an RSL Club for that time. They even allow children ! It would be more pleasant in a Siberian Gulag

 

Actually that’s the reason I never wanted wanted to go on a cruise ship bloomin kids. I went to Vanuatu once and the wife insisted on staying at a particular resort , and I said yes honey but it’s a kids stay free resort do you realise that the kids will be all over the resort like ants on honey, guess who didn’t like her resort holiday because of all those screaming little ankle biters. And you guessed it I got the blame for that resort choice. 
At least if you locked  yourself in star city casino you  might win a mottzah.

Richard 

[peachy]

3 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Actually that’s the reason I never wanted wanted to go on a cruise ship bloomin kids. I went to Vanuatu once and the wife insisted on staying at a particular resort , and I said yes honey but it’s a kids stay free resort do you realise that the kids will be all over the resort like ants on honey, guess who didn’t like her resort holiday because of all those screaming little ankle biters. And you guessed it I got the blame for that resort choice. 
At least if you locked  yourself in star city casino you  might win a mottzah.

Richard 

What is a mottzah ?   

 

[happypalms]

7 hours ago, peachy said:

What is a mottzah ?   

 

A stack of cash 💰 my dear possum! 

Richard