Palm Video from New Zealand
New Zealand and coastal California share many aspects of climate — especially our temperature range and humidity. They tend to get more rainfall over there, especially in the warmer half of the year, than we do.
Many of the plants the Kiwis can grow, we Californians can, too. Palms are no exception. Our friends over at Palmtalk.org have shared a video shot at an established palm garden near Auckland called Landsendt. It’s “palm porn” in as literal a sense as any G-rated media can be. Remember, virtually anything seen in this video will also thrive in San Francisco and mild coastal areas of the Bay Area and central California. And it’s all safe for work viewing.
Landsendt sub-tropical gardens, Auckland New Zealand
Some of the special plants visible are the colorful-crownshafted Geonoma undata, from high altitudes in the Andes; majestic Ceroxylon quindiuense and C. parvifrons, also from the Andes; groves of New Zealand’s native nikau palms, Rhopalostylis sapida; and cycads like Encephalartos, Macrozamia, and Cycas. Other non-palms spotted include a Pandanus sp. from New Guinea’s highlands, a large-leafed Ficus species (F. dammaropsis? F. auriculata?), and — can it be? — a Cecropia species.
June 12th, 2010 at 5:42 am
Hi guys,
I shot the video, It is a Ficus dammaropsis. And Cecropia albida.
Dick the founder of the gardens has recently written a book tracking the beginings of the gardens to present day with many photos of the plants being collected in habitat in South America. More info can be found here: http://nzpalmandcycad.com/?pg=books
June 14th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Thanks!
What’s the habitat (especially altitude) of Cecropia albida? The idea that a Pandanus and a Cecropia could grow in a summer-cool, chilly-winter climate is very exciting for us.
August 1st, 2010 at 2:52 am
The Cecropia was found at around 3000 metres in altitude near the equator.