Rhopalostylis sapida (Nikau Palm)
Botanical Information
| Family | Palmaceae |
| Genus | Rhopalostylis |
| Species | sapida |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen), Shrub (evergreen) |
| Origin | Native to New Zealand. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | The seeds may be considered edible. Inner leaves and young flowers were eaten raw or cooked. Leaves were used to wrap food for cooking and old fibrous leaves were used for baskets, floor mats and waterproof thatch for buildings. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 9b - 11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c - H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -5 to 10 |
| Temperature (°F) | 23 - 50 |
| Height | 6 - 15 m |
| Spread | 4 m |
Description and Growing Information
| Shape | Upright and spreading. |
| Propagation | Propagation by seed. |
| Cultivation | Full and partial-shade. Well-drained and moist soil. |
| Habitat | Coastal to mixed low-land forest habitat on the mainland of New Zealand (prefers warmer areas of New Zealand). |
| Bark/Stem Description | The trunk is 15 mm, stout and covered in leaf scars. |
| Leaf Description | Erect leaves that are 3 m long. Multiple narrow leaflets that are 1 m long closely-spaced (sometimes overlapping) along central stem. |
| Flower Description | Multi-spiked flowers that the top of the trunk. |
| Colour Description | The leaves are green. The flowers are pink. The fruit is red. The trunk is covered in greyish-green leaf scars. |
Photographs
Photographed on the North Island, New Zealand.
Rhopalostylis sapida, fruit. Tresco Abbey Garden, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom.
Rhopalostylis sapida, form. Tresco Abbey Garden, Tresco, Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom.