The not so common Howea bellmooreana

[happypalms]

A somewhat bit of a rare Howea species, there about the place if you look hard enough. But not that common, the fosteriana got all attention and the bell was left second place. A nice palm with that punk look about it! 

[happypalms]

A somewhat bit of a rare Howea species, there about the place if you look hard enough. But not that common, the fosteriana got all attention and the bell was left second place. A nice palm with that punk look about it! 

[quaman58]

I chalk up their relative rarity to their slowness of growth. Finding larger specimens are almost impossible. But boy are they exquisite as they attain some size. The trunks are even more prone to bending than forsteriana, giving them a beautiful, graceful appearance. The umbrella shaped crown is just icing on the cake. I have one grown from seed about 18 years ago that is finally producing its own seed. Beautiful pictures!   

[happypalms]

5 hours ago, quaman58 said:

I chalk up their relative rarity to their slowness of growth. Finding larger specimens are almost impossible. But boy are they exquisite as they attain some size. The trunks are even more prone to bending than forsteriana, giving them a beautiful, graceful appearance. The umbrella shaped crown is just icing on the cake. I have one grown from seed about 18 years ago that is finally producing its own seed. Beautiful pictures!   

They are slow growing that’s for sure, the one I have has just started flowering after 27 years. No seeds yet. I love the bending trunk look giving that tropical island appearance.

[BayAndroid]

Great mature specimen photo. I love how much of a presence it makes in your garden. 

[tim_brissy_13]

12 hours ago, quaman58 said:

I chalk up their relative rarity to their slowness of growth. Finding larger specimens are almost impossible. But boy are they exquisite as they attain some size. The trunks are even more prone to bending than forsteriana, giving them a beautiful, graceful appearance. The umbrella shaped crown is just icing on the cake. I have one grown from seed about 18 years ago that is finally producing its own seed. Beautiful pictures!   

I haven’t found them to be hugely different in growth rate to Howea forsteriana which is of course among the most common palms on the planet. I haven’t grown enough to know, but is their typical germination rate lower than H forsteriana? I feel like there must be something more to it. Aesthetic appeal of H forsteriana with drooping leaflets more attractive to your average non palm person?

Looking back over photos, mine has been in the ground for 4.5 years now. It has grown from quite a small juvenile to a good sized plant in that time. These photos are a bit over 4 years apart. 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, BayAndroid said:

Great mature specimen photo. I love how much of a presence it makes in your garden. 

It’s a statement alright and still in the understory of the gum trees, planted on the side of a steep hill in sandstone country. It’s one of my favourite palms, growing pretty well much perfectly!       

[kinzyjr]

Gorgeous species.

Not quite as common here in Florida as Howea forsteriana.  Even that isn't very common outside of enthusiasts' collections and botanical gardens.

[PalmsandLiszt]

23 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

I haven’t found them to be hugely different in growth rate to Howea forsteriana which is of course among the most common palms on the planet. I haven’t grown enough to know, but is their typical germination rate lower than H forsteriana? I feel like there must be something more to it.

Likewise, mine seems to grow at pretty much the same rate as a typical forestiana, which is not fast, but nor is it anywhere near the slowest palm I've grown.
I don't know about germination rate, but forestiana does naturally grow in big stands, such that the seedlings are very well adapted to and tolerant of low light (and will grow steadily in it for decades), and hence make good houseplants. I don't think belmoreana grows in dense stands like this, so it won't fair so well in low light and hence the reputation for being slower.

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, kinzyjr said:

Gorgeous species.

Not quite as common here in Florida as Howea forsteriana.  Even that isn't very common outside of enthusiasts' collections and botanical gardens.

I have visited quite a few private gardens and even those gardens didn’t have them. They are more common in suburban yards, not really gardens but planted as palm for a house. There was a large Howea nursery in my area many years ago and I see those bellmoreana that got sold from that nursery in suburbia. So it’s somewhat of a rare palm available but only with specialty nursery growers! If you can find them.

[quaman58]

Here’s one I’ve grown from seed. It’s been flowering about four years, and is just now developing seeds. It’s growing away from a big Beccariophoenix, & is surprisingly stout. Nor is it very tall, maybe 2-1/2 meters. 
 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, quaman58 said:

Here’s one I’ve grown from seed. It’s been flowering about four years, and is just now developing seeds. It’s growing away from a big Beccariophoenix, & is surprisingly stout. Nor is it very tall, maybe 2-1/2 meters. 
 

It is a beautiful one, and quite stocky, it’s got  that punk look a real classic bellmooreana! 

[David B]

A few from LHI..

Last one is a red leaf emergent fosteriana

 

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, David B said:

A few from LHI..

Last one is a red leaf emergent fosteriana

 

I do believe the bellmooreana grow at a higher altitude than the fosteriana. Amazing pics in habitat I must go there one day. And that emergent red leaf puts any Calyptrocalyx to shame! 

[Palms1984]

On 4/15/2026 at 2:07 AM, happypalms said:

A somewhat bit of a rare Howea species, there about the place if you look hard enough. But not that common, the fosteriana got all attention and the bell was left second place. A nice palm with that punk look about it! 

Beautiful old Howea belmoreana!  I think one that size here in San Diego would be 40 years old.  We receive very little rain here.  You must receive a tremendous amount of rainfall during your wet season, right?  
 

I have one in the ground that’s almost 20 years old and barely has a trunk and is only 9 ft tall.  It doesn’t receive a lot of water, though.  

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, Palms1984 said:

Beautiful old Howea belmoreana!  I think one that size here in San Diego would be 40 years old.  We receive very little rain here.  You must receive a tremendous amount of rainfall during your wet season, right?  
 

I have one in the ground that’s almost 20 years old and barely has a trunk and is only 9 ft tall.  It doesn’t receive a lot of water, though.  

She is a beauty alright, they grow so well in my area actually pretty well from Sydney up to the far north coast of Australia they grow very well. It does get a bit irrigation and our annual rainfall is 1800 but more in a good wet season and prone to drought conditions!