Masoala madagascariensis

[The Palm Nut]

I have purchased one of these and would like to know if others particularly in southeast Qld have had experience with them. I have heard that once established they can be quite drought tolerant and can take full sun. Is this correct?

Thanks

Mike

[Daryl]

I have purchased one of these and would like to know if others particularly in southeast Qld have had experience with them. I have heard that once established they can be quite drought tolerant and can take full sun. Is this correct?

Thanks

Mike

Hi Mike,

These appear to be pretty tough palms, and certainly appear to be drought hardy once established. I did kill one in a pot due to dry. I don't know about full sun as I have kept all of mine in dappled shade. The largest one, planted in a semi shady spot, gets an hour or so of direct sun, but is being monstered by faster palms now.

regards,

Daryl

[realarch]

Nice looking young palm Daryl, how old and how long in the ground? From a 1 gal?

Tim

[Daryl]

Tim. I think about 3 years since planted. It came out of an 8" pot, whatever that is in gallons...

It was about 12" tall when planted, but the leaves are now about 3 ft long. Not snail slow, but not a rocket either!

regards,

Daryl

[realarch]

Thanks Daryl. I planted one a tad bit smaller than than yours and was just curious as to what to

expect. I've heard that it is slow, but in the palm world there is slow and then there is S L O W.

Does yours have the mealy bug markings on the petiole?

Tim

[Ntheastpalms]

G'Day Mike

I have two of these palms that I have grown from small seedlings up to an 8 inch pot & I planted the largest of them out this spring/summer. I have planted it in a spot that will get full sun when I remove its shade cloth covering next spring & I'll have to see how it goes. The other plant I will plant in dappled shade.

I'm with Daryl not snail slow but they are'nt the fastest critters around either & winter did not affect them in the pots.

Tim

Yes both of my plants have dark mealy bug type markings on them & this is a feature I hope they will keep as they grow.

regards

Matt

[The Palm Nut]

Thanks for that guys. I think I will plant it in full sun keep the water up to it and plenty of mulch to keep the roots damp and cool. Full sun should help in its speed of growth as well.

Cheers

Mike

[Daryl]

Hi Tim, yes it has the markings on the petioles.

The other thing I forgot to mention was that it went through our freaky cold winter back in '07 without a mark on it.

regards,

Daryl

[realarch]

Thanks Matt, thanks Daryl. I guess it's just one of those palms you plant and try not to forget about, although I don't think

I'll have to worry about cold weather.

Tim

[bgl]

Tim, actually, the way I see it, this is indeed a palm you plant and forget about. Plant it and then check on it again. Five years down the road or so, and you should see some growth! Here's one that I planted from a 4 inch pot about ten years ago. Photo taken in Nov 2009.

[realarch]

Wow Bo that one is a beauty. I'll have to make a point to check it out the next time at your place. Looks like full sun and lots

of room. 2020! Yikes. That scares the hell outa me.

Tim

[Moose]

On 1/15/2010, 3:53:08, Daryl said:

Tim. I think about 3 years since planted. It came out of an 8" pot, whatever that is in gallons...

 

It was about 12" tall when planted, but the leaves are now about 3 ft long. Not snail slow, but not a rocket either!

 

 

 

regards,

Daryl

Daryl - was this one you left behind? How big did it get? I hear they are slow.

[Daryl]

Dug it, and it is hanging in there in a bag...hope it survives! About 4  ft tall I guess, but much thicker

[Moose]

3 hours ago, Daryl said:

Dug it, and it is hanging in there in a bag...hope it survives! About 4  ft tall I guess, but much thicker

Daryl -  Wow looking real good! Not 100% sure but I think some sort of transplant shock would have manifested by now if it were going to do so. I saw this old thread and remembered you were starting a new. This would have been a difficult palm to leave behind.

Cheers

Ron

[realarch]

Moose, thanks for the bump, and the update Daryl. The Palm in a bag is looking pretty good too. 

Mine is plodding along, but is much larger 5 years hence. I'll snap a photo today.

Tim

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks for the bump as I don't recall seeing it before. Guess I should photograph mine and add it here too. I look forward to seeing yours Tim!

[realarch]

OK, here's my M. madagascariensis, planted from a cone back in 2009. S l o w to start, but starting to pick up speed. Starting to look pretty good. 

 

Tim

 

 

[Daryl]

Yeah, looking fantastic Tim. I hope mine makes it through to the next garden!

 

Daryl

 

[Cindy Adair]

Wow! That palm looks wonderful Tim!

[realarch]

Mucho mahalo for the comments, let's see how much it grows up in the coming year.

Tim

[OverGrown]

14 hours ago, realarch said:

OK, here's my M. madagascariensis, planted from a cone back in 2009. S l o w to start, but starting to pick up speed. Starting to look pretty good. 

 

Tim

 

 

Tim, what cycad is it planted next to?  villosus?

[Moose]

2 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

Wow! That palm looks wonderful Tim!

Is this going on the "gotta have one" list for the ranch or do already have one in the works Cindy?

[Missi]

More updates, please!

[Hilo Jason]

Here's a photo of one at Bill Austin's place

a really cool palm. Happy I was able to buy one out here for my Hilo garden. 

[Missi]

I'm debating whether or not to add a baby one to my collection 

[Daryl]

Mine succumbed unfortunately... 

[Missi]

17 hours ago, Daryl said:

Mine succumbed unfortunately... 

I'm so sorry! What do you think killed it?

[The Palm Nut]

Mine never seemed to like its place in the garden lost it after a few years, very little growth. Not sure why as all the conditions I felt were met. 

Cheers

[Daryl]

19 hours ago, Missi said:

I'm so sorry! What do you think killed it?

I think it didn't like any form of root disturbance, even though we were very careful removing it. It lived on for a few months then declined and died...time to start over!

[Daryl]

2 hours ago, The Palm Nut said:

Mine never seemed to like its place in the garden lost it after a few years, very little growth. Not sure why as all the conditions I felt were met. 

Cheers

Palms can be so fickle sometimes!

 

[Fusca]

On 1/17/2010 at 3:21 AM, realarch said:

2020! Yikes. That scares the hell outa me.

 

Tim

Tim, I didn't know you were a prophet!  

Maybe it's time for a Masoala madagascariensis update?

[Frond-friend42]

Slow but so unique and beautiful.

[realarch]

Gee, I guess I didn’t keep up with this thread. Mine died due to some sort of weevil or crown rot a couple of years ago. That’s the way it goes sometimes, room for something else. 

Tim

[Frond-friend42]

RIP @realarch

[tinman10101]

15 hours ago, realarch said:

Gee, I guess I didn’t keep up with this thread. Mine died due to some sort of weevil or crown rot a couple of years ago. That’s the way it goes sometimes, room for something else. 

Tim

so sad to hear tim.  i guess you can always plant another one once it becomes available.  i love that in hawaii there are just so many different palms to explore that losing one is shrugged off and replaced with another rare one LOL.  

[Hilo Jason]

Here’s an update on mine. Hard to get scale with the wall of Pinanga Coronata behind it, but probably 7-8’ tall now. Slow and steady for this one. 

[realarch]

That’s beautiful Jason, keep an eye on it!

Tim

[tinman10101]

10 hours ago, Hilo Jason said:

Here’s an update on mine. Hard to get scale with the wall of Pinanga Coronata behind it, but probably 7-8’ tall now. Slow and steady for this one. 

so beautiful jason.  you sure knew what you were doing when you moved to hawaii and i bet you are amazed at growth and ease of cultivation.  of course, you had many years of experience in ca so this is well deserved.  thanks for sharing.  

[Hilo Jason]

14 hours ago, realarch said:

That’s beautiful Jason, keep an eye on it!

Tim

Thanks Tim.  I moved this one after it was in the ground for about a year and it didn't have any setback, but was still a relatively small plant back then.  I don't love where it ended up since it doesn't stand out as much as I would like it to with the Pinangas behind it.  Oh well, always learning and will apply to future plantings.  

[Hilo Jason]

4 hours ago, tinman10101 said:

so beautiful jason.  you sure knew what you were doing when you moved to hawaii and i bet you are amazed at growth and ease of cultivation.  of course, you had many years of experience in ca so this is well deserved.  thanks for sharing.  

Thank you!  I'm very happy that moving and staying here worked out for my family.  I did learn a lot in California and am always learning new things (and battling new things) here.