https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/Chrysalidocarpus andersenii and C x lafazamanga PalmArbor FINAL 24 Oct 2025 .pdf

I came across this published article that is officially naming Chrysalidocarpus Lafazamanga as a hybrid and the original plant that it came from (non-hybrid) is described as Chrysalidocarpus Andersenii (named after Jerry Andersen who has the parent plant here in Hawaii).  

Since I have not seen this talked about here on PalmTalk, I wanted to post this so people can discuss.  I know many are growing Lafazamanga.  I have 2nd and 3rd generation plants here in my Hawaii garden.  I find it interesting that a hybrid can go on to produce generation after generation of viable seed.  Not just hit or miss, but 100% germination rate.  I have experienced this in my 2 Hawaii gardens over the past 8 years of growing these plants here.  I grow many Chrysalidocarpus hybrids and rarely get germination from seed on them.  I would love more information from those of you who are more educated in botany to chime in on how this all works!   

This article states that there is most likely only one Chrysalidocarpus Andersenii, but that is not true as other growers here in Hawaii have it.  I know @realarch had one seeding in his Hilo garden up until recently.  He cut it down, but has young plants that he sprouted from it before cutting it down.  He gave me 2 of them a few years back, so I have 2 of them here in my garden.  Anyone else here on Hawaii growing this palm that is now described as Chrysalidocarpus Andersenii?  

Thanks for posting this Jason. You’ve answered my question in the other thread - I thought it was strange that C andersenii was described as being likely only 1 specimen when so many hybrids had been created from it and the fact that there was no discussion around protection of the species. 
 

From the chart you posted in the other thread, it certainly appears to be in the C arenarum, lutsescens and rabepierri complex. For the Hawaii growers - would you say C andersenii is sufficiently different from C arenarum to warrant a new species description? When comparing to C arenarum from the description it seems most of the difference is around overall size but could that be Hawaii’s climate and soil? I’d be very curious to see photos of other specimens of C andersenii. It is odd that it never grew in So Cal which would be one point which might indicate it to be distinct from C arenarum, but I would’ve thought nearly all Chrysalidocarpus would do ok in So Cal if not thrive. 

Let's see what your two look like.

JA's were very colorful in pictures.

Lafazamanga are obviously the cross with Lutescens,

They are a hardy more colorful version of Lutescens in my opinion.

I have been told they do produce viable seed though???

1 hour ago, TomJ said:

Let's see what your two look like.

JA's were very colorful in pictures.

Lafazamanga are obviously the cross with Lutescens,

They are a hardy more colorful version of Lutescens in my opinion.

I have been told they do produce viable seed though???

Tom, if I read Jason's post correctly,  yes, they produce viable seed.  Jason's question was why is his success rate 100% with Lafazamanga seed if it is a hybrid when other hybrid's seeds yield only a fraction of viable seed.  I am not growing Lafazamanga so can't comment on seed viability here in Southern California grown specimens. 

I obtained a palm as Dypsis lafa and have been confused if lafa was an abbreviated lafazamanga?   

Thanks Jason! That’s quite the revelation of this palm and the journey taken to become present in our gardens. I was fortunate to get a specimen years ago and it grew like gangbusters into a beautiful plant. Unfortunately, it was removed for various reasons, one being located in the wrong spot and being plagued with scale and sooty mold. It did regularly produce viable seed, as alluded to above, and the off spring are ready for planting. I know now what to expect in terms of overall habit and have a few locations in mind for new homes.

Tim 

1 hour ago, Brad52 said:

I obtained a palm as Dypsis lafa and have been confused if lafa was an abbreviated lafazamanga?   

It’s a different one again. I remember they floated around for sale in Aus back 20 years ago or so but haven’t heard much about them lately. From memory they were a smallish solitary palm close to C basilongus and C saintlucei. 

3 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

It’s a different one again. I remember they floated around for sale in Aus back 20 years ago or so but haven’t heard much about them lately. From memory they were a smallish solitary palm close to C basilongus and C saintlucei. 

Mine has been quite slow and has thus far never made one of my ‘caught my eye’ posts.  For me, much slower than Basilonga or Saintelucei.

7 hours ago, Brad52 said:

I obtained a palm as Dypsis lafa and have been confused if lafa was an abbreviated lafazamanga?   

Hey Brad, Sp Lafa also went around as "Dwarf Saintelucei" and it (slowly) grows into a palm that looks a lot like Saintelucei but has irregular leaflets.  

6 hours ago, realarch said:

Thanks Jason! That’s quite the revelation of this palm and the journey taken to become present in our gardens. I was fortunate to get a specimen years ago and it grew like gangbusters into a beautiful plant. Unfortunately, it was removed for various reasons, one being located in the wrong spot and being plagued with scale and sooty mold. It did regularly produce viable seed, as alluded to above, and the off spring are ready for planting. I know now what to expect in terms of overall habit and have a few locations in mind for new homes.

Tim 

Tim - Maybe you can post some pictures of your Andersenii?  It was a beautiful palm that in my opinion was true to the parent plant from Jerry's garden.  Less robust, and more colorful than what has now been described at the Lafazamanga (hybrid).  

I am hoping that the 2 that you gave me stay true to the look of your parent plant and that they didn't hybridize.  But you never know in our gardens out here with so many plants flowering at the same time and bees are always active! 

9 hours ago, TomJ said:

Let's see what your two look like.

JA's were very colorful in pictures.

Lafazamanga are obviously the cross with Lutescens,

They are a hardy more colorful version of Lutescens in my opinion.

I have been told they do produce viable seed though???

I will get some pictures soon of both types that I am growing in my garden.  I have posted many Lafazamanga pictures in other threads over the years from my Hilo garden.  The Lafazamanga I am growing here in my Pepeekeo garden are offspring from my Hilo garden.  So third generation, originally acquired from Floribunda from seed he got from Jerry Andersen.  

The two Andersenii that I was gifted by @realarch are slower growing and more colorful so I have hope that they are true to the parent.  Tim is very generous with his plants so I know there are others around on the Big Island that received them from him too.  

Jason, thanks for the follow-up on this thread. 

Here are a couple of photos of the Andersenii (?) back in 2021. The subject also inspired me to plant out one of the offspring yesterday and end the procrastination. 

The young plants look awfully like lutescens, but as they mature, they become a wholly different plant. Comparing the two, the leaves on the Andersenii lood to be a bit stiffer and less recurved at the apex. For what’ that’s worth. 

Tim

Oh, incidentally the photo of the one I planted yesterday had already started to clump in the pot with an early bifurcation. 

Tim

This is my plant obtained as D lafa, it currently shows a bit of pink petiole.

Edited January 21Jan 21 by Brad52

On 1/19/2026 at 8:08 PM, tim_brissy_13 said:

Thanks for posting this Jason. You’ve answered my question in the other thread - I thought it was strange that C andersenii was described as being likely only 1 specimen when so many hybrids had been created from it and the fact that there was no discussion around protection of the species. 
 

From the chart you posted in the other thread, it certainly appears to be in the C arenarum, lutsescens and rabepierri complex. For the Hawaii growers - would you say C andersenii is sufficiently different from C arenarum to warrant a new species description? When comparing to C arenarum from the description it seems most of the difference is around overall size but could that be Hawaii’s climate and soil? I’d be very curious to see photos of other specimens of C andersenii. It is odd that it never grew in So Cal which would be one point which might indicate it to be distinct from C arenarum, but I would’ve thought nearly all Chrysalidocarpus would do ok in So Cal if not thrive. 

With my experience of growing Arenarum here in Hawaii, I think Arenarum is different than Andersenii, although they are probably closely related.  They look different to me.

Here are my pictures of Lafazamanga and Andersenii.  First up are 2 Andersenii, both given to me by @realarch .  The slightly larger one was planted maybe a year ago and the smaller one planted just a few months ago. 
 

And here are 2 Lafazamanga.  Both of these I grew from seed from the parent plant in my previous garden in Hilo.  Both of these and the parent split to 6 trunks and then stopped splitting.  The larger is loaded with viable seed.  It was planted from a 3 gallon pot about 4 years ago. Very fast!