The palm tree not recorded in books or collections. Juania Australis

[Hu Palmeras]

The palm tree that I've been asked for a lot from abroad, especially in Latin America. I'm sharing just my five Juania australis palms. I hope to receive more seeds of this species and genus soon. From CONAF Chile, the park ranger tells me it's false that this palm dies. It's a myth. And if they have died, it's due to poor care, or even small palms exposed to terrible heat. And you already have your rare Juania australis.

[Harry’s Palms]

Those look very nice! Keep up the good work. Harry

[Hu Palmeras]

Thanks, Harry. I don't have that many palm trees, but they're already taking up space. But more than quantity, I have more variety. I'm accumulating a lot of palm trees. I'll be like Richard Moy in Australia, Jim in the Highlands, and Floribunda in Hawaii, and like you, Harry, in a good way. And how could I forget Grand Master and friend Dave?

[kinzyjr]

In regard to the thread title, Juania australis is recorded in The Encyclopedia of Cultivated Palms 2nd Edition.

[Hu Palmeras]

Good information. But the reference is very weak. And it doesn't appear in all books. They are few or nonexistent. Or they play a minor role. It only exists in the minds of people who know about palms. And those people know more than the botanists, academics, or researchers themselves, or publishing houses. And even less prominence is given to Attalea, Iriartea, and many other South American palms hidden deep in the jungle. Only Floribunda in Hawaii loves these palms and treasures them all in a single display. It contains them very well in one place. And no other place can compare. Who can compare to Floribunda? Only the Singapore Botanical Garden can boast such wonders as Floribunda. The owner of Floribunda in Hawaii wants to buy hundreds of Juania australis seeds from me. He is truly an experienced person, and the head of these palm kingdoms. He is the master and lord of containing such great exotic luxury.

Hugo Aravena

Chile

[alzo]

Olvidaste de Nongnooch.

Though of course they'd never be able to grow Jaunia

[Hu Palmeras]

You're right, my friend. There are palm trees that no one cultivates, only collectors like those in the Floribunda of Hawaii, and perhaps a few other large botanical gardens. But not all of them. The realm of palm trees is unattainable. We'll all die without ever being able to collect every genus and variety. It's a world apart. But even so, we're content with what we already have.

[flplantguy]

Any large family of plants, be it palms, orchids, or something else, are always diverse enough that one location could never grow them all.  There are others in the palm family of similar background, Medemia for example, that are unique and a challenge for many growers.  If someone is in a location that these "holy grail" plants can grow well they likely have a few others, but will be the major grower of that type compared to everyone else. Even "perfect" climates for growing have gaps, Jeff will tell you about species that they cannot grow in Hawaii, while many people rightfully consider it to be a palm paradise.  If you can grow one of these holy grail plants then you are lucky for sure, and carry a secondary role as ambassador for the plant to everyone else.  And establishing a population of that species as a "life boat" for the original population is also super important for the fussy ones like this. good luck with them!

[Phoenikakias]

They look a lot like young Ceroxyla, so intuitively a big NO for a trial in my climate.

[Darold Petty]

On 4/24/2026 at 9:33 AM, Hu Palmeras said:

 From CONAF Chile, the park ranger tells me it's false that this palm dies. It's a myth. And if they have died, it's due to poor care, or even small palms exposed to terrible heat. 

 

 

 

Hugo, I appreciate your contributions to Palmtalk,  thanks.    

However, conditions vary a lot, especially between the north and south hemispheres.  I have grown Ceroxylon parvifrons and C. quindiuense to adult, flowering specimens.  I have also grown at least 8 Jaunia palms from seedlings to approximately 1 to 3 meters in height.  I can state clearly that, in California, healthy looking Juania palms will die suddenly and without any apparent symptoms after several years of normal growth.   (P.S.  My garden temperatures range from 2C to 20C throughout the whole, yearly cycle. )

best wishes,

Darold  

[Hu Palmeras]

You'll have to remove all the soil and replace it with non-desert or clay soil. You could try leaving this palm tree in pots for its entire life. It certainly won't die. You need to determine what caused its death. It could be the hard soil underneath (like clay) that didn't promote root growth, or it might be suffocating.

[Hu Palmeras]

1 hour ago, Phoenikakias said:

Se parecen mucho a las jóvenes Ceroxyla, así que intuitivamente descarto rotundamente su uso para un cultivo en mi clima.

As my European friends say, having tropical or delicate palm trees in a cold climate means their palm trees will spend their entire lives in pots. So they looked for ways to bring home such exotic luxury.