RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII A RARE SPECIES OF THIS GENUS

Of the Shaving Brush Palm family, this is the hardest one to find.  And, many think it’s the prettiest and most desirable species.  Some consider it to be a variety of R. baueri.  We like to consider it a species.  Native to Raoul Island, an island well off the eastern side of New Zealand, this species has a medium sized trunk and reaches a height of twenty five feet.  The crown shaft is gorgeous but not as swollen as R. sapida.  I have some customers who report the crown shaft being a purple color.  On younger plants, the leaf stems are a red-brown color.  Cold tolerance is the low 20’s F.  It will take coastal sun or consider morning sun or strong filtered light inland.  We’re putting our 20 gallon on special – shown below.  Of note, the genus does not perform well as an interior palm.

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Phil Bergman

Owner at Jungle Music Palms & Cycads

Phil Bergman runs a nursery in San Diego County, Jungle Music. He writes articles on all sorts of palm, cycad, and tropical plants.

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