Hyophorbe indica, show us yours.

[Steve Mac]

After a recent unexpected interest shown the species I have taken a few pics of our two, and for the benefit of those unfamiliar with the Hyophorbe indica.

They are about 7 years old, the bigger one was put in a bit latter than the one under the Syzygium (Lilly Pilly), and was much smaller at the time.

But it was not crowded or shaded, also it is the 'red form'. Apparently this more noticeable reddishness on the trunk is only noticeable when the plant is young.

We can't see any difference now.  Except that the 'red form' is more vigorous but it is positioned better too.  Mind you the first one was not shaded and crowded initially.

That native Syzygium was put in years after the first Hyophorbe and was not supposed to get that big, but it sprinted past the palm into the sun.

Now tell us your Hyo stories.

 

 

    

[Daryl]

Nice plant Steve!  I had several growing in my last garden...very fast to establish from seed. They are surprisingly drought tolerant...one feature, as demonstrated in your photos, is the very chunky roots. Mine had roots about the diameter of a 20c coin. Unfortunately I lost one to Cane Beetle borer a few years ago. Another one I had, was a crazy fruiting tree that always had seeds on it...big lumpy, shiny orange fruit. This tree lost its entire crown after a massive limb from a spotted gum fell on it from 25m above. Sheared every leaf off except the spear...a lucky palm for sure! Here is what it looked like after it had recovered, and before i sold up...

 

 

[cfkingfish]

These seem to grow much better in Australia than over here - most wither and die, most likely they want more shade than most people can give them. Excellent specimens!

[Josh-O]

I have mine growing in full sun in sunny southern California in my south facing front yard and it seems to be doing very well. It has burned on the occasional heat wave but quickly grows out of it. Its been flowering for many years

 

[mike in kurtistown]

I like to respond when anyone says "show us yours" and mine has been growing really well. 5-gal orange bucket for scale. Full sun location, subject to observation that east Hawaii Island is a high humidity, often cloudy and rainy location (observe sky in photos). Planted out from 2-gal pots in August 2012. First, the trio by my shadehouse:

Here is a closeup of the middle one. Are these producing seeds or what?

[Steve Mac]

I am surprised at how much they vary in their different environments.

I would not have identified yours Daryl, I did not realize that they grew so tall.

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hi Steve,

Have both forms and they have kept the colour difference so far.

Both have produced viable seed.

The toughest of all the Hyphorbes...take cooler temperatures...do not appear to like the tropics As much as warm temp/sub tropical climate.

Mine have been fruiting for a few years now.

Difficult to photograph mine

Regards

Colin

 

[doranakandawatta]

do not appear to like the tropics As much as warm temp/sub tropical climate...

Colin, 

Do you think tropical climate is too hot for this species?  Is there a difference with Hyophorbe verschaffelti or lagenicaulis ?

Maybe it explains why I lost the seedlings.
Besides, I think they don't like shady situations, even when young, isn't it ?

[Sir Oxylon]

I have an indica that has put on at least 2 feet of trunk growth in a year in my glasshouse that stays above 18 degrees and usually gets to low 30's during the day with high humidity. So I definitely wouldn't hesitate in trying to grow these in the tropics. I hope to plant it out when it hits the roof which I think will be next summer.

[Silas_Sancona]

Bump..   So share some updates..

[Tracy]

My pair look a little abused probably because they are.  Rings tighten from about the time I stopped caring for them when I moved out and my landscape maintenance took over with the garden.  I did experience a lot of browning leaf tips.  They get no full sun in winter when the arc of the sun is low and the neighbor's house blocks the sun, to full mid-day sun in summer when the arc is overhead.  They were fast growers when young and I lived in the house, but seem to have slowed greatly since then.  Unlike Josh's which is another part of Carlsbad, mine never have produced fruit.  Mine typically only hold about 4 fronds.  If it did hold more the oldest was almost completely fried.  My landscapers have been pretty aggressive with removing fronds that show brown tipping which is part of the problem, but I'm rarely there to tell them not to cut them off.  This shot is from July 2019.

[joe_OC]

Here is mine after today’s rain: