Ponapea hentyi

Ponapea hentyi is a slender feather palm of the lowland rainforest understorey, found only on New Britain in Papua New Guinea and listed as Endangered. A thin trunk carries a prominent crownshaft and an open head of about ten drooping leaves, their light green leaflets broadly wedge-shaped and ragged at the ends, as if bitten off.

The juicy fruits ripen red. Growers may know it as Ptychosperma hentyi or Drymophloeus hentyi. Seed is seldom offered.

At a glance

• Native range: New Britain (Papua New Guinea)
• Mature size: 5–8 m, rarely to 10 m
• Growth rate: fast in suitable conditions
• Cold hardiness: needs constant warmth; avoid frost
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in the humid tropics; elsewhere a palm for a warm glasshouse

Care

Give it constant warmth and humidity, as in its rainforest home. No minimum temperature has been established, so keep it well protected from cold.

Why Palmpedia: Greenhouse-grown by us in Almeirim, Portugal, and supplied in 15 L to 35 L pots.