Lepidorrhachis Species, Little Mountain Palm

I have been growing this palm for several years & have specimens from just sprouted to about 2-1/2 feet tall. These have been a pretty si...Read Moremple growing palm for me, as I live less than 2 miles from the coast. It's rarely over 85F & the nights are normally cool. Aside from the narrow temperature range, they (like a whole lot of palms) appreciate filtered sunlight. Any direct, blazing sun had better be of pretty short duration. Most important is that they can never, ever be allowed to dry out. They will likely not recover from this. Quick draining soil for them is death waiting to happen. I have never been able to over water one, even in a pot. When happy, they throw about 3 leaves per year & are moderate growers. From seed to 5 gallon plant takes about 7 years. A really beautiful, special palm.

This is a wonderful, but incredibly fastidious little palm from a small island off the coast of Australia called Lord Howe Island. It is...Read More the same island other great Mediterranean climate palms come from, such as Kentia and Umbrella palms. However, this palm is from the mountain tops where it's pretty cool, and has developed a very narrow temperature and humidity tolerance. It survives here in So Cal only in the perfect microclimates- relatively humid areas of the partially shady garden where the temps don't get over 85 or under 35 (not too many places like that out here except near the coast). I found a spot in my garden that my plant liked for 8 years... only grows a new leaf every 2 years, though.. .but was healthy last I saw it (many years ago now). So far I only know of two that have survived to adulthood here in So Cal, and one of those died mysteriously a few years ago.. the other is doing great and there's a photo of it on this site.

Though this palm usually doesn't do well here, it is one of the few palms that can't possibly survive in other normally palm-friendly climates such as Florida or Hawaii- too hot and/or too humid.