Chambeyronia macrocarpa seed
LATIN NAME: Chambeyronia macrocarpa
COMMON NAME: Flame Thrower Palm
The flame thrower palm is the bold, single-trunked palm of the island forests of New Caledonia, one of the most striking of the rare palms. The stout, ringed, green trunk carries the long, arching, pinnate fronds, and the newest frond at the crown opens in a blaze of vivid red that slowly fades to the deep green, which is how the palm got its name. The small, cream flowers open in the long, branching sprays, to be followed by the clusters of the small, round, red fruits. The palm is a fine, bold, collectible choice for the warm, sheltered garden. It is a palm of the deep, rich, well-drained ground.
Scientific Research & Plant Biotechnology
In the plant science the flame thrower palm draws the eye for the newest frond that opens in the vivid red before it fades to the deep green. The way the young leaf keeps its red colour for a time has been examined closely, and the palm keeps showing up in the work on the rare palms, the ornamental palms and the plants of the island of New Caledonia. The stout, ringed trunk and the long, arching fronds have also made it a fine garden palm, and the flame thrower is a regular subject of the studies of the palms of the South Pacific.
Ecological & Economic Value & Wide Applications
The flame thrower palm earns its keep in the garden and the wider world. The vivid red of the newest frond is one of the great sights of the palm world, drawing the eye from across the garden, and the long, arching, pinnate fronds keep the palm handsome through the year. The palm is a fine, bold choice for the warm, sheltered garden, the courtyard and the large container, and the clusters of the small, red fruits feed the birds of the islands. It has been written about in the horticultural papers for the flame-red new fronds and the rare island origins, and it is a fine, long-lived palm of the deep, rich, well-drained garden.
The flame thrower palm is native to the island of New Caledonia, and the newest frond at the crown opens in a blaze of vivid red that slowly fades to the deep green. The stout, ringed trunk and the long, arching, pinnate fronds keep the palm handsome through the year, and the clusters of the small, red fruits feed the birds of the islands.
To grow the flame thrower palm from seed, sow the fresh, round seeds half buried in pots of moist, free-draining soil, one to each pot, keep them in a warm, sheltered spot and water gently. The seedlings appear within a few weeks and grow on steadily. With the warmth, the shelter and the rich, well-drained ground, the flame-red new fronds will open through the years.
Chambeyronia macrocarpa
Common name:
Flame Thrower Palm
Habitat and Distribution:
Native to the island of New Caledonia
Description:
This solitary palm has wide leaflets that are thick in texture. Average mature height of this species is twenty-five feet in cultivation. Trunk diameter is approximately ten inches. The crown shaft is a dark emerald green and the fronds are eight to ten feet long and arching. A mature tree will hold about eight to ten leaves. Chambeyronia throw about two to three new leaves a year and each one is exceptional. This is because they emerge with a gorgeous red color. This red varies from a deep, burgundy wine purple through all intermediate colors to an intense pink. This colorful new leaf will gradually turn to green over a 3 week period. About one in twenty Chambeyronia macrocarpas put out a new leaf that is consistently green. And, there’s no way to predict this. Also, be aware that the emerging new leaf color will change on sequential throws on the same plant. One new leaf might be dark purple while the next is pink.
Cultivation & Culture:
As a fast grower in the tropics, it still maintains a good growth rate in warmer temperate locations and has become very popular in urban landscapes. It enjoys full sun to partial shade and does best in moist well drained soils.
Comments:
If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind rare species then you’ll want to add this gorgeous palm to your collection as it’s truly one of the most beautiful in the world. It does very well in a pot so can be enjoyed as a wonderful indoor plant or if your climate permits, as a stunning addition to your landscape.