Monkey Hand Tree, Hand Plant Tree (Chiranthodendron pentadactylon)

Monkey Hand Tree, Hand Plant Tree
Chiranthodendron pentadactylon

I like this photo of my seedling a little better. It shows the little hairs.

Good picture. What method did you use to germinate it? And how old was the seed? I've heard they're only viable for a month or two.

Thanks. I refrigerated that particular seed for about 10 days. I then submersed the seed in a tea cage into boiling water for 3 minutes then simmer for 25 additional minutes. I used a knife and cut into the seed which was a little soft; I thought I had damaged the seed. I placed the seed in a pot with 1/3 bonzai mix soil and 2/3 potting soil. I kept the soil moist and placed pot in a south facing window in a warm room (my laundry room now makeshift nursery room). I am not sure how old the seed was but it still had the orange thing attached to it. I retrieved the seed from a seed pod that hadn't released all of its seeds yet but had fallen to the ground from the mature tree at the Quail Botanical Gardens. Actually for liability purposes, it was a friend who found the pod and took it home. I still have a few more seeds in the frige that I will try germinating soon. Since the above picture was taken, one more leaf has appeared (still really small).

This message was edited Aug 10, 2006 11:30 PM

Congratulations on your successful germination. I have tried cuttings and just planting the seed. I shall try the cool and boil method on next years crop. We now have two planted in our town.

Congratulations chrisconteras for germinating the handflower seed and growing the seedling. No such luck here in NZ I'm afraid. I tried cooling the seeds I'd been given then boiling and sanding back the black coating but no luck whatsoever.

I was given a tree about a metre tall and 2 seedlings. Now that they've settled into the climate here, they're doing well in their plastic bags.

Presently, I live in foothills of the Waitakere Ranges to the west of Auckland where the rainfall is quite high. In the near future, I'll be shifting to the foothills of the Hunua Ranges where the rainfall is somewhat lower.

Ironically, the handflower tree I've had growing here for years has produced a bumper crop of flowers this year. Also, the tui's (native birds) have taken to feeding from the flowers. Hopefully the flowers will be fertilised resulting in lots of pods. With a bit of luck, the new owners will allow me to return to collect any pods that appear on the tree.

The 6m high tree growing here has grown in a sheltered position.
The property I shall shortly be shifting to is in a much more exposed position.

Do any of you know anything about the conditions in which handflower trees grow?
Can they stand the wind?
Do they mind an exposed site?
If not, how much shelter do they prefer?

Cheers
Piwi