The 4 Beccariophoenix species/variants - post pictures of yours

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

These are fun to grow. First picture is Alfredii, 4 years in the groundm all the alfredii I grow have tingles of purple on the petioles. Tree in the background is a Kukui nut (Aleurites moluccanus), a Hawaiian canoe plant that was used for making lamp oil.

 

Second picture below is fenestralis, this one is growing under an Inga edulis tree that seems to be fertilizing this tree, only two and a half years in the ground.

Third picture below is classic madagascariensis, 6 years in the ground.

Below is the 4th one, a variant of madagascariensis which I think some have labeled as a different species, also 6 years in the ground. The fronds are not as fine as the regular madagascariensis and they tip dramatically at the ends. Looks different from literally every single madagascariensis I grow. I am sure the botanists will lump this one into madagascariensis.

[kinzyjr]

My Beccariophoenix fenestralis during a cool winter:

[Tyrone]

16 hours ago, Mauna Kea Cloudforest said:

These are fun to grow. First picture is Alfredii, 4 years in the groundm all the alfredii I grow have tingles of purple on the petioles. Tree in the background is a Kukui nut (Aleurites moluccanus), a Hawaiian canoe plant that was used for making lamp oil.

 

Second picture below is fenestralis, this one is growing under an Inga edulis tree that seems to be fertilizing this tree, only two and a half years in the ground.

Third picture below is classic madagascariensis, 6 years in the ground.

Below is the 4th one, a variant of madagascariensis which I think some have labeled as a different species, also 6 years in the ground. The fronds are not as fine as the regular madagascariensis and they tip dramatically at the ends. Looks different from literally every single madagascariensis I grow. I am sure the botanists will lump this one into madagascariensis.

The 4th one. Was that called Beccariophoenix sp pointy seed? 

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

 

5 hours ago, Tyrone said:

The 4th one. Was that called Beccariophoenix sp pointy seed? 

Yes, that's the one. I wish I knew for sure that this is an actual pointy seed specimen, that is my hope but I'll accept it if people say it's just a regular B. madagascariensis. This particular specimen seems to be a droopier form of B. madagascariensis, it looked very different from B. madagascariensis when it was younger, no shuttlecock look at all and greener, but the older it gets the more it looks like madagascariensis. The fourth form grows in a transitional habitat between the humid lowland forests of B. madagascariensis and the dry, highland savanna areas where B. alfredii thrives. The exact location is not widely disclosed to protect the population (I have no idea where these are), but it is speculated to be in a remote region of Madagascar, where ecological conditions are distinct from the habitats of the three recognized species. RPS offered the pointy seed version at one point but that seems like it was a long time ago. I don't know anyone who grows it to compare but it's worth investigating here in Hawaii, someone must have seeding versions by now.

[Josue Diaz]

This is alfredii, 7 years in the ground from a 15g pot 

[quaman58]

Interesting look on the last one with droopy tips. I vaguely recall the pointy seed offer. I don’t remember whether they said it came from a different area or not than the standard madagascariensis. Great looking palms,all!

[96720]

This is my alfredii 

[BayAndroid]

Here's my B. Alfredii.

2 years in the ground from a 15 gallon. 

 

[Merlyn]

Here's one of my 5 big Alfredii, about 6.5 years from planting as a ~5' tall 3 gallon:

[RainforestCafe]

1 hour ago, Merlyn said:

Here's one of my 5 big Alfredii, about 6.5 years from planting as a ~5' tall 3 gallon:

Wow, that thing is a monster!

How much space does it take up? Those look like 20 foot fronds.

[Merlyn]

7 minutes ago, RainforestCafe said:

Wow, that thing is a monster!

How much space does it take up? Those look like 20 foot fronds.

Yep, pretty much 20-25 foot fronds if left to grow out full horizontal.  I cut all the lower horizontal fronds off just before Hurricane Milton, just in case.  None of the 5 big ones tilted with ~80-90mph winds this time, so maybe once they finally hit trunking size they grew enough roots to stabilize...I hope!

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

13 hours ago, quaman58 said:

Interesting look on the last one with droopy tips. I vaguely recall the pointy seed offer. I don’t remember whether they said it came from a different area or not than the standard madagascariensis. Great looking palms,all!

Yeah see reply I posted earlier, the pointy seed come from an area that is a transition between humid lowlands and upland savannah, so supposedly an adaptation of southern seed to cooler drier areas. 

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

6 hours ago, Merlyn said:

Here's one of my 5 big Alfredii, about 6.5 years from planting as a ~5' tall 3 gallon:

These are going to be way faster for you in the Florida heat, here it's cool, mostly 72-78F so much slower.

[Merlyn]

9 hours ago, Mauna Kea Cloudforest said:

These are going to be way faster for you in the Florida heat, here it's cool, mostly 72-78F so much slower.

Yeah, they grow big pretty quick here!  This one is my only Fenestralis, planted from a big 3g in April 2023.  It's done well so far with a couple of upper 30s frosts, but hasn't really been tested...yet...  It's more lime green in full sun here, where Alfredii is always deep green in sun or shade.  I planted it too close to the walkway on the right, but that just means I'll have to aggressively prune it back for clearance.

[Meangreen94z]

Here is an alfredii in Pearland, Texas. Two years from a 1 gallon. It survived high teens(F) a year ago, just a mound of mulch and a box thrown over top. Shockingly the fronds did not have much beyond tip burn and it took off this year as a result.

 

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

3 hours ago, Merlyn said:

Yeah, they grow big pretty quick here!  This one is my only Fenestralis, planted from a big 3g in April 2023.  It's done well so far with a couple of upper 30s frosts, but hasn't really been tested...yet...  It's more lime green in full sun here, where Alfredii is always deep green in sun or shade.  I planted it too close to the walkway on the right, but that just means I'll have to aggressively prune it back for clearance.

They start out light green but once their root network is established and they tap into the mycorrhizal network and the rest of the soil flora is well established around their roots, they take off with deep green. 

[Tyrone]

On 1/5/2025 at 2:36 PM, Mauna Kea Cloudforest said:

 

Yes, that's the one. I wish I knew for sure that this is an actual pointy seed specimen, that is my hope but I'll accept it if people say it's just a regular B. madagascariensis. This particular specimen seems to be a droopier form of B. madagascariensis, it looked very different from B. madagascariensis when it was younger, no shuttlecock look at all and greener, but the older it gets the more it looks like madagascariensis. The fourth form grows in a transitional habitat between the humid lowland forests of B. madagascariensis and the dry, highland savanna areas where B. alfredii thrives. The exact location is not widely disclosed to protect the population (I have no idea where these are), but it is speculated to be in a remote region of Madagascar, where ecological conditions are distinct from the habitats of the three recognized species. RPS offered the pointy seed version at one point but that seems like it was a long time ago. I don't know anyone who grows it to compare but it's worth investigating here in Hawaii, someone must have seeding versions by now.

I have two small plants of B sp pointy seed from back in the day. Here due to the cool they are slow growing, whereas alfredii in comparison is a rocket. In the last year I repotted them into much more free draining mix so hopefully they will speed up a bit. At the moment they still look closely like B mad but I will keep an eye out for the droopy leaflet thing. Tough little slow growing palms for me. 

[meridannight]

I have Beccariophoenix madagascariensis seedlings that I germinated this summer. They're not photogenic yet, but are looking good already as small nubblings (yes, I made up a word), so I'm hoping to post some pictures come summer. 

This summer I had an option to get either B. alfredii or B. madagascariensis seeds, and I am so glad I got the latter. B. alfredii is a beautiful palm, but also quite common. Not that that makes a palm less attractive or anything. B. madagascariensis came up very fast and at an excellent rate (north of 80%) and I have a whole bag of them I still need to plant into their own pots. 

[RiverCityRichard]

My two Beccariophoenix Alfredii’s. Both had to be stood back up after Hurricane Milton, but have done just fine since. Bottom one planted from a 5’ tall 15g in spring 2022. Top one planted from a bigger 15g last spring.

[Brad52]

My sole entry, obtained as Madagascariensis around 3 years ago.

[Shoowow]

Here's my Alfredii in S. Miguel, Azores, six years in the ground. Wish I had a few more.

[FlaPalmLover]

@sonoranfans has a big, nice one. 

[sonoranfans]

Lots a threads here for BA, my largest is in this one with pics from about 2 years ago.  

 

[awkonradi]

I love all the B. alfredii pictures, but especially those from hot-humid Florida!

[waykoolplantz]

two B Mad to left of dock...2 B Fen to right of dock  ...2 B Alfredii to right

will get individual pics when i get home

thx J Kinzy for the pic

[Looking Glass]

1 hour ago, waykoolplantz said:

two B Mad to left of dock...2 B Fen to right of dock  ...2 B Alfredii to right

will get individual pics when i get home

thx J Kinzy for the pic

Wow, those look tall compared to the older pics!   They used to look like a giant hedge row.  That pond probably acts like jet fuel for them. 

[mike in kurtistown]

Finally got some pics of mine here on the windward side of Hawaii Island. Some of thew pics aren't too good, but will give some idea of how big they get. Please excuse the grass and weeds. I have used a lawn chair for scale. First are my two fenestralis. I originally planted these three feet apart, but then I visited the garden of a long-time resident, and when I saw the size of their B. fen., I dug up the one right next to my fence and planted it in an open area (second picture).

My alfredii, one of three, is not looking so good:

 

Finally, my madagascariensis with a Dypsis nauseosa leaf in the way. I got seeds from RPS labeled "Beccariophoenis southern form". but I have always assumed that this was B. mad. One of three. Growth was slow at first, but it is catching up now.

Planting dates: alfredii - Nov 2012, fenestralis - Mar 13, replanting - Sept 2013, madagascariensis - May 2013.

 

[Bill H2DB]

   Here are mine in Holly Hill Fla. 

Ist 2019 and then 2024 .

[TropicsEnjoyer]

On 1/8/2025 at 1:22 PM, waykoolplantz said:

two B Mad to left of dock...2 B Fen to right of dock  ...2 B Alfredii to right

will get individual pics when i get home

thx J Kinzy for the pic

This is very impressive to see given their slow growth rate. 

Also at this point they’re the perfect size to pass off as coconuts. I wouldn’t be able to tell!

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

On 1/8/2025 at 1:01 PM, mike in kurtistown said:

My alfredii, one of three, is not looking so good:

 

 

 

Planting dates: alfredii - Nov 2012, fenestralis - Mar 13, replanting - Sept 2013, madagascariensis - May 2013.

 

Mike, out of mine, some of my alfredii seem to also be getting those ratty burned leaf ends as well, what's up with that? My elevation is maybe 500-700 feet more than Kurtistown. I have no issues with fenestralis and madagascariensis, but the alfredii must be getting some sort of fungus or maybe they are reacting to the low pH, they come from drier areas which means they might prefer higher pH.  

[Merlyn]

@Mauna Kea Cloudforest mine are in mildly acidic soil and happy there.  I have noted some Magnesium deficiencies, with yellowed leaf tips after winter.  Maybe not quite as much as the Phoenix Sylvestris and Roebellini in my yard, but noticeable.  I've been giving them a bit of extra Magnesium Sulfate in mid-winter just to avoid any yellow tips.  If your temps are cooler I suppose it could have some effect on bioavailability from the soil.  Just how acidic is your soil?

[sonoranfans]

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On the high plateau of Madagascar, the rainy season occurs primarily between November and April, with the majority of rain falling during this period, particularly in the form of afternoon showers and thunderstorms; the capital city, Antananarivo, located on the plateau, receives most of its annual rainfall during this time frame. 

 

Drainage may be a key in additon to pH in wet parts of hawaii.  Rocky or heavy soil could cause some root issues.  Mine do fine in soil pH of about 6-6.5 but its sandy an high drainage.  They grow along riverbanks at 3000-4000 feet in mostly sandy soils.  Continually wet roots on some palms causes deficiencies if the drainage is low.  My alfredii are very green all year, not a high maintenance palm.  Might be due to the florikan osmotic controlled release fertilizer I use though.

[quaman58]

Thought I’d offer up a few from “the hood”. My neighbor’s alfredii is just massive. It could be just the climate that we’re growing them in, but their proportions seem just enormous compared to madagascariensis and fenestralis. 

[quaman58]

We also each have a madagascariensis growing next to the sidewalk in our front yards. Unlike the alfredii, they are nice and predictable, growing straight up like a shaving brush, never getting in the way of passers by. His is a year or two ahead of mine, and has been flowering like crazy for the past three years. He’s got his irrigation and fertigation really dialed in, I’m sure that’s the reason for it. I installed fertigators just last year, so hopefully that will make a difference in my yard.

[quaman58]

Lastly, a fenestralis i’ve shown over the years. For some reason, it seemed a little out of sorts the last couple years, but this year seem extraordinarily happy. Flowering for the first time in four or five years. Nice and green for the most part. 

[Looking Glass]

I had both going for a while here….

Baby Alfredii could withstand all day direct sun early on, and grew at a medium pace in sandy soil.  But had poor wind tolerance out in the open though.  So I removed the one I had planted, after a year in the ground.   It never saw a major storm, but did poorly in our regular winds.  It also had issues with iron deficiency that corrected well with EDDHA iron…

2 years growth…

Young Fenestralis had poor direct sun tolerance early on, and I imagine would have even less wind tolerance, but grew at least twice as fast, if not faster.  Would have grown massive with the right spot that I didn’t have.  

19 months growth…

 

The proportions change as the trunks lengthen out on these, making them look smaller in pics, but they are both quite massive in person as adults.  Here’s the adult Alfi and two Fenesteralis, I’ve posted a million times, from Searl brothers down here….

 

 

[Jegs]

This is my baby Beccariophoenix Alfredii. I just received it right before winter and put it in my heated greenhouse. (Zone 8a)

I didn’t repot because it had a long journey to get to me. It arrived in great condition.

It took it about 2 months before resuming growth in my greenhouse, but now it is taking off. Has already put out full spear with the new one coming in nice behind it. 
 

The temperature in my greenhouse never falls below 65 degrees Fahrenheit at night and peaks at about 85-90 during the winter months. 
 

[steve99]

 My Alfredii is getting some size about it now.      First pic is 7th April 2017 - next is today.