Licuala's Grown in Cultivation

[Jeff Searle]

Recently on another thread, we were discussing some different Licuala species. I decided to share some pictures of some of the species I now grow. I thought with the news of the new book, Fieldguide to New Guinea Palms, this would be a good time to help raise some interest. Not all of my pictures are NG species, but native to many countries throughout the tropics.

 Also, if anyone would like to share some of their own Licuala's that they are growing, feel free to add your pictures.

Jeff

[Jeff Searle]

This first one is Licuala beccariana,wide leaf form. Native to NG.

[Jeff Searle]

Another Licuala beccariana, narrow leaf form. This palm came from the same batch of seed as the previous palm.

[Jeff Searle]

This photo shows both forms of Licuala beccariana.

[Jeff Searle]

This is Licuala cabalionii from the Vanuatu Islands. This has proven to be one of the more faster of species.

[Jeff Searle]

Upclose of the segmented leaves with the center one being the largest.

[Jeff Searle]

A small grouping of 3gallon size, Licuala peltata Sumawongii.( Licuala elegans) These are faster than it's sister species, Licuala grandis. These are native to southern Thailand.

[Jeff Searle]

Another shot at the same species, but larger plants. This might be one of the most cold hardy of all Licuala species. These will take lows into the 30's F.

[Jeff Searle]

Looking down a row of Licuala lauterbachii, native to Papua New Guinea.

[Jeff Searle]

This is Licuala concinna from New Guinea. This species originally came in under the name, Licuala sp. "WAH". This is a very dainty palm that does not hold many leaves and grows very slow.

[Jeff Searle]

Upclose of the same palm.

[Jeff Searle]

A small Licuala tansachana from Thailand.

[Ashton]

I'll take one of each please.

ashton

[Jeff Searle]

This shows a group of Licuala sp. "Wilailak". Native to Thailand, the owner that sent me seeds of this palm, thinks it is a new species from Thailand.

[Jeff Searle]

(Ashton @ Dec. 20 2006,21:27)

QUOTE

I'll take one of each please.

ashton

Ashton,

     No problem, when will you be sending a truck (and credit card) over?

Jeff

[Jeff Searle]

A more common species, Licuala spinosa. These are native to Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo and other countries as well. A very fast grower, cold hardy and the best one that holds up in full sun.

[Jeff Searle]

A row of very old Licuala grandis. Some are pushing 8' in height. These are in 20 gallon size pots.

[Jeff Searle]

A lone speciman of Licuala grandis, native to Vanuatu.

[Utopia Palms]

(Jeff Searle @ Dec. 20 2006,21:01)

QUOTE

This photo shows both forms of Licuala beccariana.

Hi there Jeff, thank you for the great photos!! Well what can i say SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!

Looks like we have another sp with identical seeds with 2 different form's.

The fine leaf form looks true to type but the other? ???

First I will have to check through my habitat photos and see what's going on?

Second thing is to check for natural hybrids as some area's in PNG have up to 7 or 8 different sp of licuala I've always wondered if these sp could cross pollenate.

This is going to take some time to work this one out!  This is very similar to what happened with Dypsis Bejofo!!

John may I ask for some help here, could it be posible that this sp has cross pollenated with the other Licuala sp that it grows with (L. Concina) it looks like it, or could this be a second form??

[Walter John]

Jeff and others

I read this week that there has been another discovery in Borneo of forest/jungle not touched by man. many new fauna/flora species, maybe a Licuala, the article wasn't too specific.

[Jeff Searle]

Hello Clayton,

     I told you that I have two forms......  Yes, I always found this to be quite interesting! Most of the plants in the group are the lrg. leaf form. Maybe about 30-40%.

Jeff

[Jeff Searle]

Another species of Licuala from NG. This is Licuala peekelii. A very beautiful species, rare to find and has a compact head of leaves.

[Jeff Searle]

Licuala aurantacea from Thailand.

[Jeff Searle]

This is another species from NG. Licuala sp. "YAL-braal". This species seems to flower and set viable seed, even as a small potted palm.

[Jeff Searle]

One last species from Thailand, Licuala kuntsleri.

[Jeff Searle]

Up-close of the petioles on Licuala kuntsleri.

[Jeff Searle]

This is what came to me many years ago as Licuala concinna.  There seems to be some confussion about this being the real L. concinna or not. It holds very few leaves, grows upright and is quite slow compare to many other species of Licuala's.

[palmazon]

I hereby dub you Dr. Greenthumb

[Jeff Searle]

(palmazon @ Dec. 20 2006,22:27)

QUOTE

I hereby dub you Dr. Greenthumb

Thank-you! But I certainly can show you alot of brown and suffering if you must.  It all plays into the big picture, "the more you learn, the more you learn that you don't know". But, I try!

Jeff

[Walter John]

Any inground photos Jeff ?

[chris.oz]

(Jeff Searle @ Dec. 20 2006,21:12)

QUOTE

A small grouping of 3gallon size, Licuala peltata Sumawongii.( Licuala elegans) These are faster than it's sister species, Licuala grandis. These are native to southern Thailand.

Jeff,

Love your collection of Liqualas !@

L elegans survives our cool winters down to +2C OK but  as our growing season is short,  they only produce 2-3 leaves per year.

Can you advise what level of fert to use ?

Do they tolerate / require much ?

I have very large quantities of  a commercial 18:18:18 liquid fert.   Actually 18:5:18 because the phosphorus is a pentoxide.

The other one which grows well in our conditions is L. fordiana

Heres some L grandis growing in an airport terminal nursery in Malaysia

[mike453]

Jeff,

 Great pictures and palms. Thanks for sharing them. The L beccariana wide leaf form is a spectacular looking palm. I want one! However I think they would make my Licualas jealous, and they sure don't need any more stress in their lives!

       Thanks again and regards, Mike

[Walter John]

Nothing inground ? Nil ?

[rthink]

Jeff, thanks a lot for your pictures. L. tansachana is very rare, even here in Thailand.

I've heard that Licuala sp. "Wilailak" is the same specie as L. peltata var. peltata. If you have both species, then I'd like to know if it is actually the same, please.  

[bgl]

Jeff,

You have an incredible collection and selection of beautiful Licualas!

Bo-Göran

[ariscott]

A wonderful collection. My favourite would be the rare licuala peekelii. Probably the one that I would never find. I have a soft spot for licuala, hence everytime I go to a nurseries or collectors and I find the ones I don't have - I have to buy at least one... .

Regards, Ari

p.s. You can post more licuala.... anytime.

[Utopia Palms]

Hi Jeff,

You grow a nice plant!!

Most of the licuala's must be over 10 years old now?

First let me say it's my fault that a few of these are mixed up as it is impossible to tell most of these sp from seed except for Licuala beccariana, and also whether the collector are collecting off the palm I ask for!!

So the first one is the one you have labeled as sp "yal bral" This one look's like it 's licuala sp aff platydactyla "sombol mum" this sp if it is has only 4 to 6 leaf segments also seed when ripe is red,but this is nothing to go off because most are red when ripe.

Can you check and see or list another photo of the leaf and of the palm?

And the other one is the last one labeled as licuala concina "slower grower" This one is Licuala sp "yal bral" or Licuala sp (acaulescent)

This sp is slow growing in pots but fast in the ground it also takes some cold,

This sp does not make a trunk "acaulescent"

Hope this fixes thing up. I will look for Anders barford papers and get you all the new names to put on them

it's about time I did this anyway! One good thing that has come out of this is the mystery with licuala beccariana as this one is impossible to mix up.  

Clayton

[SubTropicRay]

Jeff,

Nice plants.  Got a nice sized grandis for my mom?  The big trunked ones may be a bit much but something in between that and a three or five gallon.

Thanks,

Ray

[PalmGuyWC]

Hey Jeff,

Those are beautiful palms and photos.  How about sending me one that will grow outside in N. Calif??  Just kidding, but I did once own a L. spinosa and it actually did grow outside in the summer, had to go in the green house in the winter.  It finally croaked. I've heard L. spinosa is the most hardy.  Any min. temp. reports on it?

Dick

[Jeff Searle]

(Wal @ Dec. 20 2006,22:41)

QUOTE

Any inground photos Jeff ?

Hello Wal,

     Because I am still creating shade sections in the yard, I don't have too many species planted out yet. On my earlier thread about 1 year after hurricane Wilma hit, I showed at least 3 species planted. A large L. spinosa and L. peekelii, also a grouping of L. grandis. I have so many species of many different palms that need a shady location, I try to mix up the genera when a new spot opens up. I also had a beautiful L. peltata Sumawongii in the yard, but it got it's tail kicked during the storm. I still might loose it, even after 14 months!.

Jeff