Umbrella Palm

[el-blanco]

The Hedyescepe takes winter like a champ!  

SO happy with this palm.  The first time I saw Bob DeJongs tree in S.C. I had to have one.  About 2.5 feet of trunk now.  15 years from a 15 gallon.  Slow but steady.

 

[Matt in OC]

Wow, that's a looker! Seriously slow, but one of the most beautiful we can grow here. Well done!

[Missi]

What a beauty! 

[richnorm]

The problem here is summer, even though we don't reach 30c! Seem fine until trunking stage starts and then partly rotten and undersized fronds appear from late summer on some, but not all, plants.  Shade might help.

[Darold Petty]

I don't have much to add, this is possibly my most favorite palm.  I have five plants in my tiny garden.

 Anyone who Can grow this should consider it to be MANDATORY for their garden !    

We have been a bit lax about ID; For beginners, this palm is Hedyscepe canterburyana from Lord Howe Island.

  It is a 'monotypic' genus, only one species within the genus so it is not necessary to use both names.

Here are a few more photographs, two from my garden and a habitat shot. 

[el-blanco]

Looks great Daryl.  Could you post a picture of your palms from a wider angle?  Thanks,  Jeff

[Darold Petty]

Jeff;  photographs are difficult. I have too many large palms too close together in my tiny garden.  So it is more of an obsessive's garden than a well-landscaped one ! 

Anyway here is the best I could do.  The first two photos show my fifth Hedyscepe in 'pride of place' as one approaches our front door from the public sidewalk.  The third and fourth photos show my oldest plant with about 10 feet (3m) of trunk. There are three smaller ones adjacent.   I had to stand on a stepladder to make this image, so the camera is about 12 feet above ground (3.5m).  The fourth photo is the view from my home office desk, where I read Palmtalk.

In the third photo the large palm to the left is Rhopalostylis baueri v. Cheesemanii and the intruding frond on the right is Howea forsteriana.  

[Cindy Adair]

Most of the time I am very happy about the warmth of Puerto Rico, but if I could have a "cooling house" for this palm and a Jubea I would!

Gorgeous!

[Palm Tree Jim]

Very well grown!