Chrysalidocarpus robustus

[realarch]

And ‘Robust’ it is. This thing is like a sentinel in the lower garden standing watch. Planted back in 2011 from a 15 gal. 

[realarch]

A few more shots.

Tim

[aztropic]

Needs a bigger name tag to match the size of the trunk! 😆

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[Tracy]

2 hours ago, realarch said:

Robust’ it is. This thing is like a sentinel in the lower garden standing watch. Planted back in 2011 from a 15 gal. 

Tim, first have to comment on how beautiful this giant is.   You started with a pretty decent size at 15 gallons so didn't experience the slower part of it's growth, if there is such a thing in Hilo.  It seems that with most of my larger species from Chrysalidocarpus they are slow to trunk but really take off after that first ring is achieved.  Has that been your experience with this C robustus?  Any idea how long between leaves coming out there? 

I've posted mine and it normally shows quite a bit of sun/wind and or cold damage except on the newest leaves.  I have attributed the damage to the long interval between it pushing new leaves.  Here the leaves just get exposed to too much cool in the winters and too many Santa Ana's before they are dropped.  Said differently, leaf retention time is long with this species, so being marginal in my climate, it really shows it.  This winter/spring has been particularly hard on mine as you will soon see.

[realarch]

Tracy, the C. robustus in a 15 gal. pot is the max size container I can make a hole for due to lack of soil in the garden. It was a healthy plant with a robust root system and just exploded after planting. It took a couple of years to start trunking, but given the girth this palm develops, I’m surprised it didn’t take longer. 

Because of the size and length of the leaves, leaf retention is prolonged which is a good thing. The size and weight of the leaf sheaths are massive, ones you have to drag rather than carry to dispose of.

Here are a few photos.

Tim

In the pot, 2011

2012

2015

[realarch]

Continuing……

2016

2017

2018

The rest is history. BIG smiley face! 

Tim

[awkonradi]

Has this species been tested outside the tropics?

[Billeb]

3 hours ago, realarch said:

 

This is an awesome size. Right in your face and you gotta walk way around it instead of under it. 🤣  

 

3 hours ago, realarch said:

 

Wow!! Money shots. Looks perfect Tim. 
 

-dale 

[Kim]

Beautiful specimen, Tim! Isn't it fantastic how much the palm changes as it develops over the early years? 

[realarch]

An update, must have grown a foot over the last year. There is.the trusty shovel for scale on the left side of the trunk. 

Kim, oh yeah, it’s been fascinating to watch these things grow. 

Tim

[Harry’s Palms]

Many years ago when my daughter was young , we visited a nursery/ botanical garden on Maui . I’m not sure if it is still there , it was along a river in a valley , kind of off the beaten path. I bought some seedlings to bring home and toured the garden he had. One of the palms I bought was a Chambroynia Macrocarpa and he took me to the row of palms where he got the seed. They were huge , I think he told me they were 8 years old! You guys have an astounding growth rate over there. Harry 

Edited April 4, 2024 by Harry’s Palms

[peachy]

I planted one of these about 10 years ago (when it was still a dypsis)  When I moved 3 years ago it had done nothing but laugh at me. Sadly I planted it way down the backyard so I can't drive by and have a sticky beak to see how it's doing, or if it is even still there.

Peachy

[realarch]

Recently dropped two fronds within weeks of one another, not slowing down one bit. A monster in the corner.

Tim

[Harry’s Palms]

Wow that is huge for a Chrysalidiocarpu / Dypsis. Harry

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, realarch said:

Recently dropped two fronds within weeks of one another, not slowing down one bit. A monster in the corner.

Tim

A monster of a palm and look at that cycad Jurassic park style. Not to mention the darinii it’s amazing what  palms will grow like given copious amounts of water and heat.