Odd one this. My oreophilus flowered for the first time 2 years ago and turned out to be male. It produced 7 large flower spathes this year, followed by a much smaller one pretty much after the others has finished.

This last spathe had pollen as I used it to pollinate a late flowering T.nanus, then a few weeks later it looked as if the male flowers were just a little slow to drop and stayed green, it wasn’t long before I realised this was the start of seed development. 

Three months later the seeds are still hanging on in there and haven’t aborted. So fingers crossed they will mature. I’ll add that all other male flowers in the garden had long been removed prior to the so the opening, so they should be self pollinated. 

I understand this is unusual but that it can happens with a couple of the species in the genus namely T.takil and T.nanus. 

For anyone interested the trunk is over 3 meters now and has grown rapidly in the last 4-5 years. It was planted as a small trunkless palm in 2017. Location Kent, UK.

Nice one hope they all germinate!

This ones for you @tim_brissy_13 we need seeds!

13 hours ago, Vic said:

Odd one this. My oreophilus flowered for the first time 2 years ago and turned out to be male. It produced 7 large flower spathes this year, followed by a much smaller one pretty much after the others has finished.

This last spathe had pollen as I used it to pollinate a late flowering T.nanus, then a few weeks later it looked as if the male flowers were just a little slow to drop and stayed green, it wasn’t long before I realised this was the start of seed development. 

Three months later the seeds are still hanging on in there and haven’t aborted. So fingers crossed they will mature. I’ll add that all other male flowers in the garden had long been removed prior to the so the opening, so they should be self pollinated. 

I understand this is unusual but that it can happens with a couple of the species in the genus namely T.takil and T.nanus. 

For anyone interested the trunk is over 3 meters now and has grown rapidly in the last 4-5 years. It was planted as a small trunkless palm in 2017. Location Kent, UK.

That’s interesting Vic. As you note, I’ve seen this happen in Trachycarpus sp and heard report of the same from elsewhere. Your T oreophilus is a beauty!