A pleasant surprise, a bronze new leaf

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana with a bronze new leaf was a great surprise when walking through a local native rainforest garden

Had anyone got pictures or seen one?

Regards

Colin

[tim_brissy_13]

Hi Colin,

Ive seen quite a few A cunninghamiana do this. From my observations, they are most likely to do it when opening up new fronds in the cooler months. I’ve seen all other Archontophoenix do this except A purpurea which always seems to open pure green (would be happy to be shown an example to the contrary). A tuckeri followed by A maxima seem to be the most likely to throw coloured new growth. I’ve also got a A cunninghamiana x alexandrae that fairly consistently puts out a bronze new frond. 
 

I’ve got a triple planted specimen which typically opens new fronds on the 2 taller stems in sync, but one comes out bronze (left in the photo) and one green, although not nearly as impressive or rich of a colour as in your photo Colin. 

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Hello Tyrone

 Have only seen  a Archontophoenix Alexandrae with a deep maroon leaf before, this was the first time i had seen this deep colour in a Archontophoenix cunninghamiana,

Was not aware it shows up occasionally in all the Archontophoenix species.

Hopefully other palmtalkers can share picture's of the ones they have seen.

Does anyone know if seedlings keep the colour in the new leaf?

regards

Colin 

 

[tim_brissy_13]

3 hours ago, palmtreesforpleasure said:

Hello Tyrone

 Have only seen  a Archontophoenix Alexandrae with a deep maroon leaf before, this was the first time i had seen this deep colour in a Archontophoenix cunninghamiana,

Was not aware it shows up occasionally in all the Archontophoenix species.

Hopefully other palmtalkers can share picture's of the ones they have seen.

Does anyone know if seedlings keep the colour in the new leaf?

regards

Colin 

 

Hi Colin, 

Doesn’t appear to be consistently passed down to the next generation. I’ve had A cunninghamiana mother trees with fairly consistent new bronze fronds which have produced seedlings which mostly don’t send out any colour (although some do). Also some seedlings from exclusively green new frond mothers put out a bit of colour. 
 

The most impressive colour I’ve seen on Archontophoenix new fronds are the A tuckeri specimens at Adelaide Botanic Gardens but I don’t have a photo showing it. Here’s another very poor photo of A tuckeri at Mt Coottha with quite a bright new frond but hard to see (centre of photo in the distance, maybe a 3-4m tall specimen). 
 

The best I can do is my A cunninghamiana x alexandrae (also pictured below). 

[Billeb]

My Arch Alexandrae and Tuckeri’s have thrown colored leaves ranging from a red tint to bronze. I have noticed this phenomenon during the summer as well as the winter months so I don’t think it’s necessarily related to ambient temps. 

I always thought it was due to fertilizer timing lining up with spear growth. I fertilize regularly so that is what I’ve always chalked it up too. I’ll try to find pics. 
 

-dale 

[Tyrone]

Hi Colin, I’ve just had a cunninghamiana open almost a Chambeyronia macrocarpa coloured leaf in my shadehouse on the weekend. It’s raining out there at the moment, but I will try and grab a pic before it turns green. 

[Foxpalms]

Seems to already have greened up from this morning but you can still see a bit of it, might be clearer during the day. Archontophoenix cunninghamiana var Illawarra 

Edited September 14, 2022 by Foxpalms

[James B]

So crazy hearing the different experiences. My Tuckeri never open red. Only green. The leaves that open the most red are A.Beatriceae followed by Maxima and Alexandrae.