The Genus Heterospsthe in Cultivation - International Palm Society

PALMS 

Migfiaccio: Heterospathe in cultivation 

Volume 45(1) 2001 

The Genus 

Heterospsthe 

in Cultivation 

Csnrs Mrcrrlccro 

Department of Natural Sciences, 

Health & Wellness 

Miami-Dade Community College 

300 NE 2 Avenue 

Miami, Florida USA 33157 

cmigliac@mdcc.edu 

'1. Heterospothelato is 

cultivated throught the 

tropical world. 

Horticuturists have long grown a handful of Heterospathe species. Now that more species 

are entering the trade, it is important to re-examine this attractive genus for its 

horticutural potential. This article lists all the described species and reviews what is 

known about the eighteen species in cultivation. 

The genus Heterospathe is represented by , New Guinea Heterospathe (ca. L7 spp.) tend to be 

approximatelyfortyspeciesof primarilyrainforest small arborescent or acaulescent and clustering; 

palms from the Western Pacific - the Philippines, whereas species from the Philippines (ca. 11) tend 

Micronesia, eastern Indonesia, New Guinea, the I to be small and frequently clustering, and those 

Solomon Islands and east to Vanuatu and Fiji (Uhl i from the eastern part of tfre range of the genus (ca. 

& Dransfield 1987). While most species are found 1 

+ spp.) tend to be solitary and moderately tall 

in the understory, a few are canopy palms. The i palms. 

PALMS 45(1): 15 21 

15

PALMS 

Migf iaccio: Heterospothe in cultivation 

Volume 45(1) 2O0 

However, very few of the other species have 

appeared in cultivation until recently. In the last 

few years, small but commercial quantities of seeds 

and nursery-grown seedlings of H. "brassii" (a 

nomem nudum with no botanical standing), H. 

brevicaulis, H. cagayanensis, H. deliculata, H. glauca, 

H. intermedia (Fig. 4), H. micrantha, H. minor (Fig. 

5), H. negrosensis, H. phillipsii, H. philippinensis, H. 

sibuyanensis and H. woodfordiana have become 

readily available to growers. Because these species 

are "new to the trade" little is known about their 

cultural requirements. This paper, therefore, 

presents what is known at this time and identifies 

what may be some horticulturally valuable species 

worthy of greater use in the subtropical and 

tropical landscapes. 

A complete taxonomic review of Heterospathe 

would be particularly welcome in light of the 

current collecting activity in New Guinea and the 

Solomon Islands (Fig. 6) that is expected to result 

in description of new species and clarification of 

the taxonomy of existing species. 

Species in Cultivation 

The best known species in the genus is H. elata, 

the Sagisi Palm, which has been widely grown as 

2. Heterospothe solomonensis with unripe fruit. In 

cultivation 

Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, Florida. 

3. Heterospathe negrosensis, a 2o-year old specimen still 

without a trunk, Fairchild Tropical Carden, Miami, Florida 

There are 41 validly published species in the genus 

but for many years, only a handful have ever been 

cultivated outside their native countries. Presently, 

about 18 taxa are known to be grown primarily by 

palm enthusiasts (Tab. 1). Warm and humid 

regions of Australia and Hawaii are well-suited for 

growing this genus. South Florida would probably 

support the species that are tolerant of alkaline 

soils and occasional cold weather as long as the 

requisites of long-term container culture, amended 

soils and cold, dry wind protection are met. 

Southern California does not support any of the 

Heterospathe currently in cultivation (R. Rodolf & 

G. Stein, pers. comm.) because of its long and cool 

winters. Some of the higher altitude species (J'I. 

delicatulq and H. humilis) perhaps could be grown 

there but these have not been available in 

sufficient quantity for trials. 

For many years, Heterospathelata (Fig. 1-) has been 

the only widely cultivated species of this genusr 

particularly in South Florida. Occasional 

specimens of H. sibuyanensis, H. woodfordiana, H. 

elmeri, H. salomonensls (Fig. 2) and H. negrosensis 

(Fig. 3) have been sold at Fairchild Tropical Garden 

or South Florida Chapter of the IPS palm sales. 

16

PALMS 

Migliaccio: Heterospathe in cultivation Volume 45(1) 2001 

a landscape palm throughout the warmer 

subtropics and tropics. It produces prodigious 

numbers of seed that germinate on the ground 

under the parent or are carried away by birds and 

small mammals (Migliaccio, pers. obs.). In Guam, 

it is considered a weedy species and is crowding 

out native species in ravines (|ones L995). Seeds 

germinate readily but take many years to develop 

a trunk, after which growth is rapid, particularly 

in full sun. 

Heterospathe 

"brassii" presents an intriguing case. 

Despite the fact that seeds of this taxon have been 

distributed by the Palm Society as early as 1988 (as 

88-PS-562), and that seedlings with this name are 

presently available from Hawaiian growers, the 

species ttame "brassii" has no valid taxonomic 

standing. That is, no species of Heterospathe has 

ever been formally described with this name so 

that its true identity is unknown. This name first 

appears in print in an article written by the late 

Geoff Dennis in Palms of the Solomon Islands (Dowe 

1989) without any descriptive information. 

Accordingly, collectors should be wary of any 

plants identified as I{. "brassii." While germinating 

readily, seedlings of this taxon have been prone 

to fungal infection during cool South Florida 

4. Heterospathe intermedio, l6-years old, in cultivation in 

Luzon, Philippines (Photo by Carl Lewis). 

5. Heterospothe minor, growing in the author's garden, 

has a colorful new leaf. 

winters and the few individuals planted in shady, 

protected locations in the alkaline soils at Fairchild 

Tropical Garden have languished. This palm is 

reportedly native to the Solomon Islands. 

Heterospathe cagayanensis 

a variable species with 

acaulescent as well as 6 m tall, solitary trunked 

individuals. It has tiny seeds that germinate readily 

but are prone to damping off due to fungal 

infection. Montgomery Botanical Center in 

Miami, Florida has used weekly sprays of the 

systemic fungicide Phyton 29rM (Copper sulfate 

pentahydrate with 21,.360/o active ingredients) to 

prevent damp-off in Heterospathe. Treatment ends 

once seedlings are established (]udd, pers. comm). 

In Hawaii, this species has been shown to tolerate 

drought well once established (Singeo, pers. 

comm.). 

The dwarf species, H. deliculata, with its colorful 

inflorescence, has outstanding horticultural 

potential as a small container palm (Essig, pers. 

comm.). In South Florida, it grows faster as a 

juvenile than H. elata and without any special 

cultural conditions (Searl, pers. comm.). 

Heterospathe salomonensis (Fig. 2.) from the 

Solomon Islands and the Philippine species, H. 

17

PALMS 

Migf iaccio: Heterospothe in cultivation Volume 45(1) 200 

Tab. 1. Heterospathe species in cultivation. 

Heterospathe species 

"brassii" (name not 

validly published) 

brevicaulis Fernando 

cagayanesis Becc. 

deliculata H.E. Moore 

elata Scheff. 

elmeri Becc. 

glauca (Scheff.) H. E. 

Moore 

humilis Becc. 

intermedia (Becc.) 

Fernando 

micrantha (Becc.) H. E. 

Moore 

minor Bsrret 

negrosensis Becc. 

phillipsii Fuller & Dowe 

philippinensis Becc. 

salomonensis Becc. 

scituls Fernando 

sibuyanensis Becc. 

woodfordiana Becc. 

Native to 

Papua New Guinea; 

Solomon Islands 

Luzon, Philippines 

in lowland forests 


SE Papua New Guinea acaulescent and prostrate; leaves to 1.8 m tall; 

at low to mid-elevations inflorescence with purplish axis and flowers. 

(1100 m) in oak forests 

widespread in Philippines; 

Moluccas, 

Micronesia 

Camaquin, Philippines 

Moluccas 

widespread in Papua 

New Guinea; 900- 

1600m 

endemic to eastern 

Philippines 

Papua New Guinea 


endemic but widespread robust solitary trunk to 2-3 m tall and >3 cm 

in Philippines 

diam. 

Fiji; proposed 

as Threatened 

Philippines in lowland 

forests, 300-1400 m 

elev. 



understory of lowland 

forests 

endemic to Sibuyan, 

Philippines; known only 

from the type specimen 


Characteristics 

small palm with solitary trunk and pink new 

leaf. 

solitary to 2.5 m overall with stem to 50 cm tall; 

small fruit and persistent leaf bases. 

acaulescent or solitary to 6 m tall; leaves to 2 m; 

iuvenile leaf reddish. 

solitary slender trunk to 15 m tall; newest 

juvenile leaf pink-bronze. 

solitary; trunk; to 7 m overall height. 

solitary trunk to 4 m; leaflets pendant. 

dwarf; acaulescent; prostrate or clustering 

with thin stems; leaves simple or divided, to 1.5 

m on long petiole. 

solitary trunk to 12 m tall; glossy yellow-green 

petiole and rachis. 

solitary or sparsely clustering trunk 3-4 cm wide 

by 5-6 m tall; new leaf orange-red. 

solitary slender brown trunk to 5 m; shiny 

leaflets; new leaf orange-red. 

solitary trunk to 12 m ar'd to 18 cm diam.; 

pinnae broad and lax. 

clustering or solitary trunk to 3 m and 2-3 cm 

diam.; narrow widely spaced pinnae; newest 

leaf pink-bronze. 

solitary trunk to 5 m; newest leaf on juvenile is 

reddish. 

clustering, slender trunks 1.5 cm diam.;2 m 

overall height; young teaves reddish-brown. 

solitary trunk to 10 m tall and 12 cm diam.; 

leaflets scaly on underside; similar to H. elata. 

solitary slender, brown trunk to 4 m tall and 8 

cm diam.; approx. 10 leaves; leaf sheaths 

blotchy brown/black; new leaf deep red 

18

PALMS 

Migf iaccio: Heterospothe in cultivation Volume 45(1) 2001 

the plants tend to be less colorful (Searle, pers. 

; comm.). Once again, cold-hardiness and long-term 

, tolerance of South Florida's high soil and water pH 

I are unknown. However, the small overall size and 

, slow rate of growth makes this collectors' species 

best-suited to long term container culture. 

, Heterospathe minor (FiS. 5) is another species that 

, has been around a long time in cultivation but in 

, small quantities. Its orange-red new leaf and small 

, size makes it another candidate for long term 

I container culture. It has been grown successfully 

, in the ground in Hawaii but most plants die after 

r planting out in South Florida. 

': Heterospathe philippinensis is a very variable small 

species with both clustering and solitary forms. 

The clustering form would be very attractive as a 

i container palm in a shaded, humid setting. 

: The recently described H. phillipsii (Fig. 8), an 

, emergent palm named for the late Dick Phillips of 

Fiji, is one of the larger species in the genus. Its 

. attractive seedlings require lots of moisture and 

i shade but appear to be faster growing than most 

, Heterospathe. However, with its lax pinnae, it may 

be a bit straggly in the garden (Stone, pers. 

6. An unidentified acaulescent Heterospothe on 

Kolombangara, Solomon lslands (Photo by S. Zona). 

. 

elmeri and H. negrosensis, have been cultivated 

sporadically in South Florida for many years, but 

individuals of these species are rare in gardens, 

perhaps because of their slow growth rate, lack of 

reliable seed source and unremarkable appearance. 

While trouble free, they have not become popular, 

except with serious palm collectors. 

On the other hand H. glauca, with its pendant 

leaflets, is an exceptionally attractive palm worthy 

of a prominent place in the garden. However, its 

cold-hardiness and tolerance of South Florida's 

alkaline conditions are unknown. 

Heterospathe humilis (Fig. 7), a small clustering 

species may be good for cool, subtropical coastal 

conditions found in California or SE Australia 

(Essig, pers. comm.). It has been grown successfully 

as a pot plant in South Florida but usually dies after 

planting out. 

When seedlings of H, micrantha first appeared in 

South Florida several years ago, collectors were 

awed by its brilliant orange-red petiole and new 

leaf. Plants grow well in pots and have already 

been planted out. Once in the ground in shaded, 

humid locations, their growth rate increases but 

7. Heterospathe cf . humilisin cultivation in the author's 

garden. 

19

PALMS 

Migfiaccio: Heterospathe in cultivation Volume 45(1) 200 

comm.). Unfortunately, it is restricted to one 

population of 400-500 adults on the island of Vitu 

Levu in an area selectively logged for its 

hardwoods. Accordingly, it has been proposed as 

a Threatened Species - the only member of the 

genus considered for a special conservation 

consideration (Fuller & Doyle 1997). Fortunately, 

seeds of this palm are cultivated in a few private 

gardens in Suva, Fiji and have been distributed 

widely to botanical gardens and collectors in 

Hawaii, Australia and Florida. 

Heterospathe scitula is an exceptionally attractive 

clustering species similar to H. philippinensis but 

with fewer leaflets of variable width. Young leaves 

are reddish-brourn and trunks are slender - making 

this species also well-suited to container culture. 

However, many seedlings succumbed to fungal 

infections during the cool winter (two nights of 

4"C minimum temperature) in South Florida 

Interestingly, despite the fact that FL sibuyanensis 

has been occasionally cultivated for many years in 

Australia, Hawaii and Florida, specimens have not 

been collected in the wild since the original 

description in 1919 (Fernando 1990). Recent 

searches on the island of Sibuyan, Philippines have 

not turned up any individuals of this species, so 

collectors should be wary of seeds or plants with 

this name, particularly because this species closely 

resembles H. elata. 

Heterospathe woodfordiana, with its rich red new 

leaves, is another species worthy of wider use in 

the landscape. It has been more widely used in 

Australia and Hawaii as an accent palm but with 

some care, should also be able to be grown 

successfully in South Florida. Despite its beauty, its 

slow rate of growth and the lack of any regular 

seed source reduces its chances of wider landscape 

use. 

The newly introduced H. brevicaulls and Il. 

intermedia are now being cultivated in Australia, 

Hawaii, and South Florida but little is knor,rrn about 

their growing requirements or ultimate horticultural 

potential. 

Cultivating H etero sp athe 

Because most species are found in primary 

rainforests, conditions of high humidity and acidic 

soils (or potting media) will promote the best 

growth. If it is difficult to provide these conditions 

in the landscape, long term container culture may 

be a viable option. Growers in subtropical regions 

will also need to provide cold protection, especially 

from dry winds. Based on what is known now, 

this genus prefers filtered light in protected 

locations. The only exception is H. elata which 

flourishes in full sun. Regular applications of a 

balanced palm fertilizer and micronutrient sprays 

will also promote growth and strengthen plants 

against conditions of low humidity and 

temperature. Patience is also a requirement for 

growing palms in this genus as most are slowgrowing. 

Many species have new leaves ranging in color 

from pink-bronze, to deep red to orange-red, so 

that even as juveniles in pots, they provide a 

welcome splash of color in the nursery. 

Many Questions Remain 

Despite recent collecting activity in the Southwest 

Pacific, the following species remain poorly known 

or unknown in cultivation; H. annectens, a 

medium-sized solitary understory species with 

hairy leaf sheaths from Papua New Guinea; H. 

arfakiana from Irian Jaya, H. clemensiae, a 6 m tall 

solitary species found at 1800m elevation in 

northeastern New Guinea; H. dransfieldii, a 

clustering, slender-trunked dwarf species endemic 

to the island of Palawan, Philippines; H. glabra, a 

solitary palm from 1800 m elevation in New 

Guinea; H. kajewskii, a 15 m tall solitary species 

with 2.5m long fronds found at 1000m elevation 

on the island of Bougainville, Solomon Islands; I{. 

Iedermanniana from New Guinea; H. Iepidota, a 

solitary palm to 6 m tall from lowland slopes in 

Papua New Guinea; H. macyegori, a rheophyte 

from Papua New Guinea (see Back Cover); 11. 

mullerana, a large-fruited species from the Eastern 

Highlands of Papua New Guinea at 1600-2000 

m), H. obriensis, also from the Eastern Highlands 

of Papua New Guinea; the attractive H. parviflora 

from the tropical New Britain Islands of Papua 

New Guinea, H. pilosa from the Cyclops Mountains 

of New Guine4 H. pulchra from Papua New 

Guinea and called "exceptional" by Moore; H. 

rqmulosa with a 6 cm stem from Bougainville in 

the Solomon Islands; H. sensisi, a 15-20 m solitary 

species from the Solomon Islands; H. sphaerocarpa, 

an acaulescent species with 4.5 m long fronds 

from 1200m elevation in the Central Division, 

Papua New Guinea; H. trispatha, a slender 

understory palm endemic to lowland dipterocarp 

forests on the island:,of Luzon, Philippines; IL 

uniformis, a 7 m solitary species endemic to 

lowland forests on West Ambrym, Vanuatu; and 

H. versteegiana from New Guinea 

Summary 

As more species of Heterospathe are cultivated, it 

is hoped that commercial growers and collectors 

will share their experiences so that these attractive 

palms will find greater use in landscapes and that 

ex situ conservation efforts for taxa such as I{. 

phillipsii can continue to buffer the effects of 

widespread deforestation in the Southwest Pacific. 

20

PALMS 

Migliaccio: Heterospothe in cultivation 

Volume 45(1) 2001 

8. Heterospothe phillipsii in habitat in Navua District, Viti 

Levu, Fiji (Photo by S. Zona). 

Additionally, consistent practice of sustainable 

collection techniques and appropriate horticultural 

methods can also ensure the survival of 

Heterospathe spp. in the wild and in cultivation. 

These practices include collecting a few seeds from 

many individuals rather than all the seeds of a 

few specimens, harvesting only ripe seeds and 

processing them promptly, matching the cultural 

conditions to the plant's own habitat as closely as 

possible as well as carefully monitoring these 

palms from sowing to planting out. It is 

particularly important to obtain as much 

knowledge as possible of the ecology of these 

palms in the wild as this will help determine their 

suitability for cultivation. 

Acknowledgments 

I thank Dr. Scott Zona,Palm Biologist at Fairchild 

Tropical Garden, for his continuing encouragement 

of this project, assistance with translations 

of original descriptions and his editorial suggestions. 

Many collectors and horticulturists 

kindly shared their experiences; notable among 

them were Jeff Searle, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida; 

Barbara Judd, Montgomery Botanic Center; 

Winneo Singeo, Honolulu Botanic Garden; Rob 

Stone, Fiji; Mary Collins, Katherine Maidman and 

Ken Neugent, Fairchild Tropical Garden; John 

Bishock, Sarasota, Florida, USA; Norm Moody, 

West Palm Beach; USA; Howard Waddell, Miami, 

Florida USA; Rebecca Rudolf, San Diego, 

California, USA; Geoff Stein, Thousand Oaks, 

California, USA and Edwino Fernando, Luzon, 

Philippines. Carl Lewis, Cornell University, Ithaca, 

New York, USA contributed the photograph of fi. 

intermedia and Brent Beehler, Miami, Florida, USA 

assisted the author with locating and photographing 

the Heterospathe in Fairchild Tropical 

Garden. Dr. Fred Essig, University of South Florida, 

Tampa, Florida, USA, and the late Dick Phillips of 

Fiji generously shared their field experiences from 

years of collecting in the Southwest Pacific. 

Lrrrnarune Crrrr 

CnonlER, H., N.W. UHr- aNo J. DneNsrtpro. 1997. 

Index to Principes, Volumes 1-40. International 

Palm Society, Lawrence, Kansas, USA. 

Dowr,J. (ed). 1989. Palms of the Solomon Islands. 

The Palm and Cycad Societies of Australia. 

Essrc, F. 1,982. A new species of Heterospathe 

(Palmae) from New Britain. Principes 26:4-6. 

FnNnlvrNoo, F,. 7990. The genus I{eterospathe (Palmae: 

Arecoideae) in the Philippines. Kew Bulletin 45: 

219-234. 

FULLER, D., J. DowE aNn M.A. DovrE. 1997. New 

species of Heterospathe from Fiji. Principes 41: 

65-69. 

JoNEs, D. 1995. Palms Throughout the World. 

Smithsonian Institution Press. USA. 

MooRE, H.E. 1969. New palms from the Pacific, III. 

Principes 13: 99-108. 

UHr, N.W. aNo J. DraNsunrl. 1987. Genera 

Palmarum. A classification of palms based on 

the work of H. E. Moore, Jr. L. H. Bailey 

Hortorium and the International Palm Societv 

Lawrence, Kansas. 

21

The Genus Heterospsthe in Cultivation - International Palm Society

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?