Size: Up to 25 feet (7.5 m)
Min. Temperature: 26°F (-3°C)
Water Requirements: Regular water in a humid atmosphere
Sun Requirements: Shade
Origin: New Zealand
Leaf: Pinnate, Pointed leaflets, very noticeable veins.
Trunk: Swollen round crownshaft, 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm).
Flower: Flower stalk coming from below the crownshaft.
Fruit: Red when ripe. 0.75 inch in diameter (2 cm). round.
Seed: 0.5 inch in diameter (1.2 cm). round, scarred on one side.

Rhopalostylis are native to the islands of New Zealand, Norfolk, Chatham, and Raoul. They grow in dense lowland forest where rain fall is plenty. They are unarmed and have a rather large bulb like crownshaft. The one in my yard does better in the winter months rather then the summer months, I am sure this is due to the fact that were I live(Riverside,CA) it is normal to hit 90deg. F or warmer every day in the summer. This photo was taken in Balboa Park, San Diego, California.

Desert Tropicals Home Page | List of All the Plants | Check for more members of the Arecaceae family

© 1998-2020 Philippe Faucon, All Rights Reserved.