Dypsis baronii “black petiole”

[Billy]

So I got this palm from Joe Palma labeled as baronii “black petiole”. I’ve posted about this palm before but no one seems to know if “black petiole” is a species of it’s own or if it’s just a colorful baronii. Who knows. Doesn’t help that I can’t find any info on it. Super pretty palm whatever it is. 

[richnorm]

Just another variety on the baronii/onilahenis continuum.  Well worth having though!

[Frond-friend42]

[iDesign]

Here are mine for comparison...

- Palm on right was purchased from @Josh-O (at Fairview Nursery) as"Black Stem" in 2021 (1G size).  Josh has owned beautiful "black stems" in the past, and I paid a pretty high price for this one... since at the time it was literally impossible to get this plant.  Happily it appears to be thriving.

- Palm on the left was also purchased in 2021. This one was from Floribunda - sold as "Black Petiole" (seedling size).

I've heard mention of different sources of "black stem" baronii over the years (the "Vakona" version, one from a Reserve nearby the lodge, and the Rancho Soledad version... which was apparently the least successful). As they've grown mine have gone through similar looking stages so I believe they're both "legit".

To my eyes, the most distinctive feature is the bright white base of the spears as they come out (which contrast strikingly against the dark red base). Here are close-ups of that area on both plants...

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I also have a "regular" baronii (from Floribunda) and can put them side-by-side for comparison tomorrow If that would be helpful. I agree they looks very similar when young.

[DoomsDave]

2 minutes ago, iDesign said:

Here are mine for comparison...

- Palm on left was purchased from Josh (at Fairview Nursery) at "Black Stem" in 2021. Josh has owned beautiful "black stems" in the past, and I paid a very high price for this one... since at the time it was literally impossible to get this plant. 

- Palm on the right was also purchased in 2021, but these were from Floribunda, sold as "Black Petiole".

I've heard mention of different sources of "black stem" baronii over the years (the "Vakona" version, one from a park nearby the lodge, and the Rancho Soledad version, which was apparently the least successful). As they've grown they've gone through similar looking stages so I believe they're both "legit".

To my eyes, the most distinctive feature is the bright white base of the spears as they come out. Here's another view of that...

I also have a "regular" baronii (from Floribunda). Below is a photo of that one. If you'd like me to put them side-by-side for comparison tomorrow (in similar lighting) just let me know. They do look very similar.

Pant pant pant 

Huff huff huff

Licky!

 

[iDesign]

Another data point is to look is the "Black Stem" photo from @Tracy's photo tour of the Willoughby garden. If you look at this comment I made - and expand the photo - you can see what our plants might look like in the future - 

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And here's what I believe is most recent photo thread with grower updates...

 

[flplantguy]

Even young there are differences from the regular. I have no dark coloring on the petioles like you do but the red is the same.  At maturity they look very different so i will have both someday too, IF the original does well here.  It seems ok with the heat so far but its not like S Florida here at all.

[iDesign]

I just took some comparison shots between my "regular" baronii (from Floribunda) and my "black stem" baronii (from Josh). 

Again, the thing that jumps out to me is the stark color contrast of the new spears (which are white) against the dark red base. The other difference is that the "Black Stem" baronii has been growing much more slowly.

Comparison between two similar age plants (black stem is on the right)...

Close-up of the "regular" baronii (from Floribunda)...
* Fronds look weird because I'm holding them back with my hand, to better examine trunks.

Close-up of my similarly-aged "Black Stem" baronii (from Josh @ Fairview)...
* Note the bright white emerging spears, contrasting with the deep red base.

Disclaimer: This is the difference on my particular baronii plants. There are apparently a lot of variations of baronii out there. But hopefully this was helpful.

[Billy]

On 7/19/2024 at 9:07 PM, iDesign said:

Here are mine for comparison...- Palm on right was purchased from @Josh-O (at Fairview Nursery) as"Black Stem" in 2021 (1G size).  

- Palm on the left was also purchased in 2021. This one was from Floribunda - sold as "Black Petiole" (seedling size).

Stacey, both plants look like legit "Black Stem" to me. Curious to see what others think. Have you planted them out yet? 

[iDesign]

2 hours ago, Billy said:

Stacey, both plants look like legit "Black Stem" to me. Curious to see what others think. Have you planted them out yet? 

Sadly the black stems will likely be one of the later plantings... I'm most anxious to get my "Big Boy Dypsis" into the ground, then the smaller ones like these will come afterwards. Unfortunately it's now looking like Spring '25 at the earliest. 🙄

On a positive note,  my largest Black Stem (from Josh) pushed out its largest frond yet...

[Billy]

Here’s the palm I started this thread about. Sold to me as baronii “black petiole” but might just be a colorful baronii. In fact, it looks a bit like the “regular” baronii from Floribunda in @iDesign’s photo. Whatever it is, I’m glad to have it in my garden. It’s just started to show a new growth point emerging on the left. 

[Kim]

A friend germinated seed from his 'black stem' and planted out the young palms. When I saw them, they were maybe 30 inches tall and the variability of coloration was surprising. Everything from green to pink,  to red, to black, to ombré shades. My conclusion was you have to be selective if you want the true black, much as you want to be selective when shopping for a nice red Chambeyronia macrocarpa. True? Maybe. 🤔  I had a tiny black stem in Hawaii and it didn't make it. 

Somewhere I have photos of black stem grown in Hawaii before they were released for sale (VERY black), and also of the black stem I saw at Vakona Lodge on my last trip to Madagascar. I should dig them up, but don't hold your breath.

[Billy]

@Kim, I was under the impression that there was/is a palm out there under the name baronii “black petiole”. Whether there is a legit one or not I’m not sure, but I’m now convinced that what as bought as “black petiole” is just a colorful baronii. The palm sold to me (from @Darold Petty seed sourced from Bill Austin) as baronii “black stem”, however is indeed the real deal. 

[Kim]

@Billy   Time will tell. They are all beautiful palms, regardless.

[iDesign]

1 hour ago, Billy said:

Here’s the palm I started this thread about. Sold to me as baronii “black petiole” but might just be a colorful baronii. In fact, it looks a bit like the “regular” baronii from Floribunda in @iDesign’s photo. Whatever it is, I’m glad to have it in my garden. It’s just started to show a new growth point emerging on the left. 

I'm far from expert, but my gut feeling when I saw your original post in April was that it was likely a "regular" baronii of some type (with the disclaimer that baronii cosmetics can vary a lot). 

Your most recent photo did give me pause, since the emerging spear on the left trunk is showing that same striking contrast of white spear against dark maroon base. That's the biggest difference I've noticed in my own black stems... so looking ONLY at that one emerging spear on the left trunk I thought "maybe"?

But then I look at the right trunk and am back to thinking this plant is probably just a colorful baronii of some sort. With all of my black stems (both the Josh & Floribunda ones) the emerging fronds have always had that strong contrast of white emerging spear against dark maroon base... and I don't see that in the rightmost stem, nor in your initial photos. The right trunk in the latest photo also seems to be growing more "robustly" - which is what I'm seeing on my "regular" baronii as well (vs the much slower black stem).

Obviously time will tell, but based SOLELY on my own ownership experience, my guess is that this plant is a "colorful baronii of some sort"... and the plant you got from @Darold Petty is the true "black stem".

You probably saw this, but here is what my Floribunda ones all looked like at the "2 years from seedling" mark (with the telltale white spear against dark maroon base). Again, just my own experience... there could be different variations of "black stem" out there.

The good news is that your plant is a beauty - whatever it is!