Areca oxycarpa

[Cindy Adair]

This palm is quite small and hated our unusually long dry season this year.

It usually holds only a few leaves and might prefer a little more shade.
 

But now that we are getting our typical afternoon rains it is fruiting and flowering. 

This is a cute and pretty miniature for me so far. 

Who grows this one?
 

[WaianaeCrider]

I've managed to kill two so far.  Both planted in the shade w/irrigation.  Both lasted about a year then BOOM they died.

[Kim]

I have three, and they hold the brown leaves so long that I now trim them off.  They are maybe 3 ft. in height at present and seem generally happy with our frequent rains. Mine are also producing fruit, don't know that it's viable or not.  They are in shade most of the day which also puts them in a precarious position under falling Bentinckia condapanna and Satakentia  fronds, but no damage so far. Very cute little palms.

[Cindy Adair]

Interesting comment Kim about cutting off the brown leaves.

I also tried being patient, but before taking today’s photo I gave up and cut off a brown leaf that was way below the horizontal, but holding on firmly.

The first flowers rotted because they were still covered up so I am assisting from now on. 

 I notice the same trait with the stubborn brown leaves on my other one in a totally different location. 

[mike in kurtistown]

I grew one in a pot for years. It produced a few fruits, and I germinated three. The mother plant became very tall with very little greenery. on top. The seedlings looked quite healthy. Finally, in April 2022, I planted them in an area getting shade most of the day, and full sun for several hours in the  pm. 

Results. All plants looked good and began growth soon after planting. After several month, not so good - the mother plant and one of the keiki suddenly died. The remaining two still look fine but don't appear to be in a hurry to grow.

 

[realarch]

I agree, cute little palms and I also have to cut lower fronds off that seem to hang on forever. Sparse crown, but good color. The seed is bright yellow, and Kim, I suspect your’s is viable. Good germinators and pretty hardy for me. 

Tim

[realarch]

Those orange seeds in the photo are old and dried up. Fresh seed is yellow.

Tim

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks so much for the seed color information and the great photos.

As usual, yours are way more photo worthy than my babies and give me location ideas should I be lucky enough to succeed with maturation and germination of more!

I still have plenty of room to fill.