Phoenicophorium borsigianum

[Cindy Adair]

This one is in shade hence the long petioles.  I actually like the look. 
 

 I have another in nearly full sun which doesn’t look so stretched.
 

 The ox rhino beetles have killed several before I gave up barrier methods and began twice a year imidocloprid. 
 

 

I would enjoy seeing photos of others in sun or shade. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I can’t help you with any photos as this is the first I’ve seen of this other than my palm books. Some palms look their best in shade or partial shade IMHO. Harry

[happypalms]

The palm is a winner Cindy but the show stopper is the bromeliad in the background!

[Cindy Adair]

3 hours ago, happypalms said:

The palm is a winner Cindy but the show stopper is the bromeliad in the background!

Thanks.

I had to look closely at the photo to remind me about the brom in the background.

I have many of these Vriesea splendens as they are a favorite.

They are inexpensive in PR and grow well wherever I have put them.

The “flaming sword brom” is aptly named for its striking red/orange bloom and it pups easily too. 
 

[D. Morrowii]

Here’s 2 I’ve been growing for a couple of years in pots. The one I’ve been trying to acclimate to more sun is pretty crispy. For me these have been tough to get acclimated. The bigger they get the harder they are to hide though. There is no way these would make it in the ground here in Central Florida without elaborate protection so I will eventually have to sell or kill them…I’m very happy to enjoy them in pots for a few years though. 

[Kim]

Cindy, what a gorgeous youth— love that shaded, stretched look!

Below are photos of my 5 in the morning drizzle, constantly displaying some yellowed fronds no matter what I feed them. 😩 Kind of hard to tell the height in these photos. For reference the path curving into the background is 6 ft. wide and the white fence is also 6 ft. Planted July 2011 from 1-gal. pots, they are exposed to quite a lot of sunlight, might have done better with more shade, but all the surrounding native trees died some time ago.

[Cindy Adair]

D. Morrowii, your beauties look like my other one growing in nearly full sun. 
 

I am sorry you must trade out for younger ones every so often.
 

You could always bug out for the tropics like I did when my cacao in pots starting hitting the greenhouse ceiling in Virginia. 

I just got completely soaked with rain when I ignored the forecast and traipsed down for this photo. 
 

The rain stopped the minute I reached my porch, but with thunder and more rain predicted I must stay inside. 

[Cindy Adair]

Kim, I love your wide winding path with black volcanic rock edging!  
 

And your grouping of borsig/robbers palms is perfectly spaced. 
 

Thanks so much for posting.

This species looks potassium deficient (or something) on my farm even if I fertilize it. 

On my one trip to the Seychelles I was so busy looking at the double coconuts that I barely recall the other endemics. 

Perhaps those IPS members who went there last Fall might respond as to the older leaf color in the wild there?
 

 

[realarch]

Cindy, at first glance Phoenicophorium and Verschaffeltia are almost indistinguishable. Your stretched version looks pretty cool. 

Leaf yellowing seems to be pretty common, especially in older fronds. A friend of mine who’s entire palm was yellow, thought that’s what they are supposed to look like. 

I’ve had good luck with a common palm fertilizer containing micronutrients that works pretty well. Takes a few months, but the new fronds respond to the food. 

This one get quite a bit of sun from mid morning to late afternoon. Sits on a slope with good drainage. The old super model shovel for scale. 

Tim

[John hovancsek]

I just love the leaves on this palm

[D. Morrowii]

@Cindy Adair I find the weather forecast is usually more accurate when I’m expecting it not to be lol

The thought of bugging out for the tropics has crossed my mind. Maybe someday. 

[Cindy Adair]

Tim, I know I have never seen leaves that deep green on this species. So nice.
 

I do have what seems to be a decent palm fertilizer sitting unopened in my cabinet.
 

If only buying it alone worked… I will try to actually apply it!

John your leaf looks as if it is in motion! I like that.

D. Morrowii, I had pretty much never done anything unpredictable before deciding to retire early and move to PR. No regrets.

[Kaname-kun]

One of mine in Fort Lauderdale. The other is about the same size but in more shade and so surrounded by Arenga hookeriana that I can't get a photo. About 2 years from a 1 gallon.

[Rick Kelley]

This one has been in the ground abut ten years. It got battered in a bad wind storm six months ago, so still looks pretty shabby. All my entire leaf palms suffer terribly in high wind. I've always had problems with older fronds turning orange-yellow. I recently shifted to a more aggressive fertilizing schedule that I hope will help green it up, but it is too soon to tell if it is making any difference. It has been blooming for several years, but never set fruit.

I like it so much that I added two more nearby about a year ago. While I'll agree the fronds closely resemble Verschaffeltia, it is impossible to confuse the two once you see the stilt roots on Verschaffeltia.

[Cindy Adair]

Rick your posts are always inspiring. Thank you!

The last bad wind event (Hurricane María in 2017) here was certainly bad, but I had only just moved and barely begun to plant. 

I know we will get hit again and seeing your recovery photos and those of Meg in FL and others remind me that palms are tough and just need some assistance on and off. 
 

Today one of my plans is to actually apply my as yet unopened palm fertilizer to my Phoenicophoriums!

[realarch]

Good grief Rick, that Phoenicophorium is a ‘Mutha.’ Looks like yours is in full sun like mine, but the petioles on your specimen are so much longer, I wonder if it’s from higher rainfall amounts in your area. 

Mine has been the ground for 12 years now from a 5G pot and is finally producing viable seed. ( like I need more plant material) 

It’s really turned into an attractive palm and yes, the differences between this palm and Verschaffeltia become apparent in only a few years. 

[Rick Kelley]

 

Tim,

Rain might contribute a little to the growth rate, but my guess is 80 huge dump trucks of black cinder had more to do with it. I could either buy a fancy red sports car or a great big pile of cinder.  Like 2600 cubic yards worth. Choosing cinder not only benefits the palms but has also served as my exercise program as I sink ever deeper into geezerhood.

[realarch]

Well Rick, I guess that could be a contributing factor! I can’t even wrap my mind around that amount of material. Explains why that cinder cone on the flanks of Mauna Kea suddenly disappeared. 

Lucky here, I just dug a hole, removed a few large rocks, and planted straight away. Took awhile to get its groove on, but it’s really picked up speed. 

On another note, my buddy Dan and I want to come down sometime soon and check out your garden, it’s been awhile. 

Tim

[mike in kurtistown]

I went to my bigger Phoenicophorium in an area that I have not kept up for a while and getting out of control in the wet rainy coast summer weather. It was almost buried by maile pilau, a fast growing invasive vine, that even wrapped around the top leaves at about 12 feet. It took about an hour and a half to clean it up. So, here it is now: Note - like Rick's and Tim's, it has been flowering for a while - I didn't realize it, but no sign of fruit.

[realarch]

Mike, looks pretty good considering the maile camouflage. It’s at a size where it will begin putting on significant growth. The ripe seed look like large red BB’s, tiny compared to Verschaffeltia. 

Tim

[JasonD]

Phoenicophorium is the most widespread and seemingly toughest palm in the Seychelles. They tend to look yellow even in habitat, especially in the sun.

[WaianaeCrider]

I"m JEALOUS.

Mine has been in the ground for 5 years and looks about the same.  It get filtered sun from keawe trees and water for a 1/2 hr twice a week.

First photo is from 2021

[palmfriend]

Hi,

one of my absolute favorite species.

When I say it the first time...

...in 2016 in the Yume-no-shima dome for tropical plants in Tokyo I was blown away.

Seeds were later ordered at rps to give it a try - new sprouts were immediately planted out and didn't make it...

Now with some more experience I got more patient and give my young palms a bit more time before taking the

next step (planting out)... Fortunately I got three survivors from that batch...

...and I handle them like raw eggs. With their current speed of grow I guess they need at least three more years in the bullpen...

Anyway, I am glad to have them!

 

Lars