Veitchia winin

Veitchia winin, the winin or Malakula palm, is a tall, single-stemmed feather palm from the forests of northern and central Vanuatu, where it rises above the surrounding canopy. A slim, closely ringed grey trunk carries a long, pale green crownshaft and a crown of about ten deep green, gently arching leaves whose broad leaflets hang down in a single plane.

Large sprays of whitish flowers appear below the crown, followed by heavy bunches of small, bright red fruits. It grows fast, sheds its old leaves cleanly and is widely planted in tropical gardens such as those of Hawaii and southern Florida.

At a glance

• Native range: Vanuatu (Malakula, Espíritu Santo, Pentecost and Ambae)
• Mature size: 8–18 m
• Growth rate: moderate to fast; begins fruiting at four to six years
• Light: full sun as an adult; part shade or filtered light when young
• Water: keep evenly moist; established trees survive short dry spells
• Cold hardiness: about 0 °C for brief light frosts only
• Indoors / outdoors: outdoors in tropical gardens, as a specimen, in groups or along avenues; also grown in containers

Care

Plant in deep, freely draining sandy or loamy soil rich in organic matter, slightly acid to slightly alkaline, and keep it evenly moist. Give young plants part shade and older plants full sun. It tolerates salt-laden sea air, so it can be planted near the coast, and as a crownshaft palm it sheds its old leaves on its own. Trees are self-compatible, so a single plant can set fruit. It needs a frost-free climate and struggles where the cool season is long.

Why Palmpedia: Every plant is grown in our greenhouse in Almeirim, Portugal, and leaves us in a 15 L to 35 L pot.