Nikau Palms are beautiful, NZ native palm trees that are favoured for their elegant foliage, great aesthetics, and versatility. The Plant Company has prepared a number of quick read guides to help you get the most from your Nikau Palm.
The most important part of Nikau Palm care starts with planting, and our article, How To Plant A Nikau Palm, provides sound advice on how to do this properly. So, let’s now assume your plant is growing well and you want to keep it that way!
Winter is the perfect time for mulching around your plants. Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with mulch. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes. The Plant Company does not recommend adding fertiliser during winter as this is better applied in spring so less is wasted. However, adding organic matter such as compost is quite okay.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising the plants as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Native Plant Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Summer is when the plants need regular watering, and this should be undertaken every second or third day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Caring for Nikau Palms in autumn is about keeping the plants healthy. Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken during spring, summer, and autumn if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt.
Plants should be checked for pest or disease issues during each season. If anything is looking unusual, refer to our articles under Nikau Palm Issues And Troubleshooting.
Caring for Nikau Palms in autumn is all about weed control and keeping the plants healthy. Keeping the weeds down around the plant and removing poorly fronds will help keep the plants tidy.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong which will aid the plant immensely as it shoots new growth in spring. You can apply Native Plant Fertiliser but this should only be done it if can be watered in well.
Finally, monitor for pests and diseases, and if anything is looking unusual, refer to our articles under Nikau Palm Issues And Troubleshooting.
Spring is the perfect time for fertilising and mulching around Nikau Palms as they start to bounce into life. The Plant Company has fertilisers which have been specially blended for different plants and in this instance, our Native Plant Fertiliser will give them the correct boost and keep them fed for 12-months. A suitable alternative is our organic fertiliser which will also keep them well fed, but they will require a secondary application in autumn.
Organic matter such as compost or sheep pellets should be spread liberally around the plants and then overlaid with a mulch (if not done already) during winter or spring. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if solid fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have already been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser won’t hurt. If anything is looking unusual, refer to our articles under Nikau Palm Issues And Troubleshooting.
Summer is when Nikau Palms need regular watering, and this should be undertaken every second or third day on the hottest days. Plants that are establishing need particular attention as their root system will not have penetrated deep enough to secure consistent moisture yet.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and encourages more foliage as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it. Please note: The Plant Company does not recommend using solid fertilisers at this time of year unless plenty of water can be applied.
The other required activities for Nikau Palm during summer are weed control and monitoring for pests and diseases. Keeping the weeds down around the plant will produce a better plant overall. If anything is looking unusual, refer to our articles under Nikau Palm Issues And Troubleshooting.
Caring for Nikau Palms in winter is all about weed control and keeping the plants healthy. Keeping the weeds down around the plant and removing poorly fronds will help keep the plants tidy.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser and/or good amounts of organic matter have previously been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong which will aid the plant immensely as it shoots new growth in spring. You can apply Native Plant Fertiliser but this should only be done it if can be watered in well and is best held off until spring.
Finally, monitor for pests and diseases, and if anything is looking unusual, refer to our articles under Nikau Palm Issues And Troubleshooting.
Nikau Palms require feeding to keep them growing optimally. The Plant Company’s Native Fertiliser has been blended to give plants the boost they need and then sustained nutrition for the next 12 months. We recommend the fertiliser is applied to the soil surface in spring just as the plants start to grow actively. More importantly, we advise that no fertiliser is placed in the hole at planting, but rather spread around the soil surface so it can wash through the roots as it releases. The Plant Company’s Native Fertiliser ensures that nutrients remain in the soil around the plant rather than being lost through the soil profile to where the plant cannot reach it. This also applies to plants grown on sandy soils. The Plant Company’s Native Fertiliser is therefore very environmentally friendly and longer lasting than most other products in the market.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if Native Plant Fertiliser has been applied. If you think the plants need an extra boost or have some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush.
A Nikau Palm grown in a container requires different fertiliser to those grown outdoors in soil. In this instance, the correct fertiliser to use is either container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets. Each of these will provide safe, sustained, and complete nutrition to the plant for the next 12-months. Using other types of fertilisers can be detrimental to the plant and may result in plant injury or death.
Foliar feeding using a liquid fertiliser can be undertaken if you have time but this is not essential if container plant fertiliser or fertiliser tablets have been used. If you think the plant needs an extra boost or has some yellowing, however, a liquid fertiliser application won’t hurt. A great benefit of foliar feeding is that it helps keep the leaves strong and lush as the nutrition is right where the plant needs it.
Nikau Palms are showy plants that do require feeding to keep them looking amazing. A lot of articles have all sorts of advice on this subject which often requires multiple applications, so you use more of their products. The Plant Company prefers to take a simpler and more environmentally responsible approach. We believe the best organic option is The Plant Company organic fertiliser which is applied in spring and again in autumn and will keep them well fed. You can safely apply generous amounts of this fertiliser without risk of injuring the plants. More details about this organic fertiliser are provided with the product.
The soil pH refers to how acid or alkaline the soil is. Nikau Palms prefer a soil pH within the range of 6.5 to 7.2 which means they can tolerate both slightly acidic and slightly alkaline soils. As the pH of the soil moves away from this optimum range, the nutrients the plant is taking up (or not taking up) through the roots changes. If the shift in pH is too far, this can result in deficiencies of some nutrients and toxic levels of others. In either case this can cause the plant to become sick or even die a slow death.
The best way to know whether the pH is correct for your plant is to do a test. The Plant Company has pH test kits available that are easy to use and only take a few minutes to get a result. Preferably this test should be completed before planting so any pH issues can be corrected without risking the plant. A pH less 5.5 should have sparing amounts of dolomite lime applied along with Native Plant Fertiliser. A pH above 6.8 should have small amounts of soil acidifying fertiliser applied. In both instances the fertiliser should be thoroughly mixed into the soil before planting. A retest of the soil pH should be undertaken after four weeks and small adjustments made again. If the pH is in the optimum range, just use Native Plant Fertiliser thereafter.
When Nikau Palm are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is moist, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.
Often the disease will start to show several weeks after a prolonged rain event. It can also occur when plants are regularly over-watered, or planted in soils that are poorly drained or that hold too much moisture (e.g., clay soils). Therefore, good drainage is essential and sites where drainage is poor should be avoided. The article, Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil gives good advice on how to correct drainage.
Treatment for Phytophthora can be a hit and miss exercise as there are no silver bullets. However, if picked up early, The Plant Company has experienced some success using Transformer. Transformer has fungicidal properties and when used as a soil drench 2-3 times, plants can sometimes recover. However, if the plant is too far gone, The Plant Company recommends removing the plant entirely, then using Transformer as a soil drench before putting in a new plant. Of course, the drainage or watering issues will need to be addressed so the problem does not manifest again.
Leaf yellowing in Nikau Palm can result from over-watering, being grown in poor draining soil, or root rot. Other common causes are too much shade, or the plants have not been fed for a number of years. A liquid fertiliser can be used to correct issues quickly and should be supported with Native Plant Fertiliser during spring if you think this is the cause.
Please note: older leaves are shed as they age. They often go yellow, then turn brown before falling.
Some articles you might find useful are: Root Rot In Nikau Palms and What Is Wrong With My Nikau Palm?
There can be many reasons why a Nikau Palm looks sick or is dying and it is often an iterative process to determine why. The most common reasons are presented below and organised from most likely to least likely based on The Plant Company's experience.
Plants drowning in clay or heavy soils is very common. Plants are put into soils with nowhere for the water to escape to. Consequently, when it rains the hole fills up with water and drowns the plant. Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil affords good advice on how to remedy this.
Root rot disease is quite common. The leaves will wilt even when there is plenty of moisture in the soil or suddenly turn brown. The article, Root Rot In Nikau Palms affords more detail.
Fertiliser placed in the bottom of the hole at planting. Doing this can draw moisture away from the roots and cause root burning. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Nikau Palms, for more information.
Wrong fertiliser or too much fertiliser applied. Killing plants with kindness is very common. The best solution here is to generously water the plant every day and flush the soil with water repeatedly. See the article, Best Fertiliser For Nikau Palms, for more information.
Herbicide misadventure. Spraying too close with glyphosate is quite common and plant death is often imminent.
Plants have not been watered or watered too infrequently. See the article, Watering Nikau Palms, for more information.
Plants have been frosted. They can tolerate only a light frost once they are above 1 m in height is the general rule.
Excessive shade – Nikau Palms require full sun or good amounts of dappled light to grow well. If you think this is an issue, simply move the plant to a spot with better light. Do not move it into direct sunlight from heavy shade as this can also damage the plant. Rather, transition the plant to the brighter light by placing it is semi-shade for a week first.
The tips of leaves on Nikau Palms go brown for a few reasons. The most common cause is over-watering. When you see brown turning to yellow as it heads down the leaf, that is a sure sign of over-watering, or poor drainage. The second cause is through bring brushed against or through wind. Nikau Palms are easily damaged by such activities and show this through tip browning. Usually, it will be more prominent on one frond than others. The third and most likely cause is old age. Nikau Palms shed their leaves as they get older. During this process, nutrients are moved from the older leaves to younger ones, and this accelerates leaf decline which starts at the tips, though overall yellowing of the frond is more apparent when this is occurring.
Our article, What Is Wrong With My Nikau Palm? may also provide insight into other issues.
The most common cause of death in Nikau Palms is due to root rot. When Nikau Palms are grown in wet soils or exposed to prolonged wet through over-watering, the disease, Phytophthora, can take hold. Phytophthora attacks the roots and causes the plant to eventually die. The tell-tale symptoms are yellowing of the leaves, drooping foliage even when the soil is moist, and plant collapse. This can happen over several months during any season and progressively gets worse. This is all resulting from the root system being progressively weakened by the pathogen. Gardeners will often mistakenly think the plant needs more water. Unfortunately, adding water only accelerates the problem as prolonged wetness was generally the cause in the first place.
There are a host of other reasons that might be causing issues with your plant, and our article, What Is Wrong With My Nikau Palm? details other likely causes.
Nikau Palms are easy to grow, but you need to have the basics right. Choose a sunny spot and prepare the soil by adding compost or sheep pellets. Feeding your plants in spring with Native Plant Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. They should also be watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.
The most essential item for growing a Nikau Palm is good drainage. On poorly drained sites or with gross over-watering they will often succumb to root rot. The Plant Company wants you to have great success, and to that end we have produced a suite of articles that covers everything you need to know about growing Nikau Palms.
Nikau Palms are regarded as a sub-tropical plant and can only cope with a very light frost when they are well-established. The Plant Company recommends they need to be at least 1 m tall before risking them with frost. Frost Cloth is a good option for protecting vulnerable plants if you are worried. The Plant Company also recommends holding off planting until spring if you are at all worried that new plants might get frosted, and then protecting them until they are a good size or when frosts are forecast.
Rhopalostylis sapida, commonly referred to as Nikau Palm, is native to New Zealand. It is found throughout the North Island of New Zealand and down to Banks Peninsula in the South Island. It is also found on both the Chatham and Pitt Islands. Nikau Palms are an important part of many ecosystems where they provide food for birds and other fauna.
Soils rich in fertility and organic matter that are well-drained will grow amazing Nikau Palms. The soil should be well prepared with either compost or sheep pellets mixed in at planting or spread on the soil surface after planting. It is important that the soil being planted into won’t restrict root growth and for this reason, clay soils are not well suited to Nikau Palms. Clay soils also tend to be very wet which will negatively impact the performance of the plant, and can ultimately result in plant death. The Plant Company recommends that poor draining or clay soils be avoided for Nikau Palms.
Feeding your Nikau Palm in spring with Native Plant Fertiliser will replenish nutrients and keep them fed for 12 months. Liberal amounts of organic fertiliser can also be used. Do ensure that plants are watered regularly during dry periods to keep them flourishing.
Nikau Palms can cope with coastal environments and limited salt spray. However, if the soil is too saline, this can prove detrimental to the plants and result in them becoming stunted and not performing. If you elect to plant in this environment, The Plant Company recommends ensuring the soil is well prepared with organic matter such as compost, and water regularly during dry periods, especially while the plant is establishing. If the soil is near pure sand, this can become problematic both from a watering and nutritional perspective. Our articles, How To Water Nikau Palms and Best Fertiliser For Nikau Palms, provide useful advice on these subjects.
The answer to this question depends on how much shade. In shaded conditions Nikau Palms tend to stop growing and can be become “stretched” with poor form and weak fronds. The leaves will tend towards a darker green colouring, and flowering diminishes. In full sun they tend are more compact with better leaf architecture. That said, Nikau Palms will grow well with just 4-5 hours of direct sun during the day, or with large amounts of dappled light. The Plant Company recommends they are grown in full sun for best results.
Nikau Palm do not grow well on wet or heavy soils, including clay soils. In such circumstances, they are likely to die a slow death, and to succumb to the root rot disease, Phytophthora. The article, Why Is My Nikau Palm Dying? affords more information on this disease. You might find articles, How To Test If My Soil Is Poorly Drained and Fixing Poor Drainage On A Clay Soil useful.
Nikau Palms look amazing when grown in pots and managed appropriately. Their slow growing nature means you will get years of pleasure before they need to go into an outdoor space.
To grow a Nikau Palm in a pot, choose a pot that is no less than twice the size of what the Nikau Palm is currently growing in and that has plenty of drainage holes in the bottom. Fill the bottom of the pot to about 1/3 of the way up with potting mix. Do not use soil or compost when growing plants in a container and do not add fertiliser. The Plant Company potting mix has all the nutrients required to sustain the plant for the next 12 months.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. Place the plant in the hole without removing any of the growing media or cutting the roots. You can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. If the roots have been circling the inside of the pot or they look totally root bound, you don’t need to cut them (refer to, Managing Rootbound Plants, for why we don’t cut them). Add more potting mix and firm this around the plant using gentle pressure, then water well. They should be watered twice a week during hot weather and weekly or fortnightly during cooler periods.
The key to having an amazing Nikau Palm in a pot is to both keep it fed correctly (see article Best Fertiliser For Nikau Palms Grown In A Container) and not to over-water it. Over-watering is the most common reason Nikau Palms fail.
A Nikau Palm can be moved if there is minimal root disturbance. They have a lot of fine roots that are often destroyed when transplanting. That makes them susceptible to drying out. Moreover, because they are so slow growing, it can take a long time for the root system to re-establish. Therefore, success with this process relies on extracting the plant with as much of the root system as possible during early winter. The hole it is put into should have compost mixed with the soil to enhance the water holding, and not be allowed to dry out. If the plant is being put into an exposed position, the failure right is likely to be high.
Nikau Palms are typically grown as specimen trees, either singly or in clusters. Their great aesthetics make then popular in modern gardens where an architectural flair is desired. They are also well suited to pool gardens, planting at entrances, tropical gardens, and for including in NZ native themed plantings. Perhaps some of the best landscape designs have them lining an entry in a grandiose manner.
Nikau Palms attract a good range of NZ native birds. The sticky nectar produced by the flowers attract Tui, Bellbirds, and Silvereyes. Bees, bats, and native lizards will also feed on the nectar during flowering. The fruit in turn attracts Wood Pigeons and Kaka.
Nikau Palms do not have a tap root, but rather have roots than spread across the top 30-40 cm of soil. On sandy soils, they may penetrate deeper, but it is still a spreading mass. Because of the shallow root system, they can be particularly vulnerable to drying out. Therefore, pay particular attention to them during dry periods.
Nikau Palm trees do not have invasive roots when compared to other species. However, if you plant it on top of soil drainage lines, the roots are probably going to grow into those lines eventually. If, on the other hand, you’re worried about it lifting concrete, we have not observed this occurring. The Plant Company therefore regards this plant as having non-invasive roots. Rather, the roots tend to shallow and spreading.
Nikau Palms look amazing when planted as clusters or in lines to border an entrance. The Plant Company recommends spacing them 4 m apart when planted as a cluster, and 5-6 m apart when used to line an entrance.
Nikau Palms are generally regarded being slow growing. Their growth rate is significantly faster in warmer climates. A healthy Nikau Palm should double in size every two years until it reaches maturity if grown in the correct conditions. Be sure to start with strong and healthy plants at the outset as a sickly plant can take a long time to recover. Our article, What To Consider When Buying A Nikau Palm provides sound advice on this subject.
Nikau Palms typically grow to 15 m tall and about 5 m wide. The Plant Company has put a lot of effort into determining how big each plant will grow in an unrestricted growing environment. Far too often we see people planting a garden too densely and then having to spend a lot of time trimming or removing plants later. This is something we want our customers to avoid and we therefore provide size information so the planning can be right from the start. Be sure to check out our Nikau Palm varieties and the detailed information that accompanies both this, and our other plants.
Choose a full sun or partial shade position for your Nikau Palm. The position should be sheltered, frost free, and well-drained for best results. Dig a hole that is at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread Native Plant Fertiliser on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
The Plant Company has produced specific articles to help you grow an amazing Nikau Palm: How To Plant A Nikau Palm, How To Trim A Nikau Palm, Best Fertiliser For Nikau Palms, When To Water Nikau Palms, How To Mulch Around Nikau Palms, and Nikau Palm Issues And Troubleshooting.
Placing mulch around Nikau Palms helps keep the soil moist and significantly reduces weeds. The Plant Company recommends an organic mulch is used as this breaks down over time to provide nutrients and improves the soil. It is also better for the environment than the plastic-based alternatives. Whatever type of mulch is used, it needs to be free draining so the soil can “breathe” and allow water to penetrate quickly and easily. Heavy rates of lawn clippings are therefore not a good option as they hold too much moisture. The Plant Company has three very good options for mulch. The first is coco fibre matting which is made from the husks of coconuts. The second is Earth Mat which is made from recycled paper. Both of these break down to become part of the soil within two years. The third is black plastic matting which will last 20 years or more. Whichever mulch is used, The Plant Company recommends stones, bark chip, or other similar products be spread over top for aesthetic purposes.
Bark chips or shredded bark makes for an effective mulch provided it is laid thick. A minimum of 6 cm is required to effectively suppress weeds. However, over time this mulch will decompose, so it will need to be topped up every year to continue being effective.
Compost is not considered an effective mulch as weeds germinate easily and it is only short lasting. It is, however, a very good method of adding organic matter to the soil and should be applied before the mulch is put down.
Choose a full sun or partial shade position with good drainage for your Nikau Palm. The hole should be dug to at least 50-75% deeper and wider than the container the plant is currently growing in. A planting spade makes the hole digging a lot easier. The Plant Company recommends incorporating compost or sheep pellets into the soil to provide additional organic material, but this is not essential. Do not put fertiliser in the bottom of the hole, rather spread that on the soil surface after planting, and preferably do this when the plant is actively growing in spring.
Remove the plant from the container it is growing in by either pulling it free or by cutting the bag. We recommend cutting the bag or container, especially for larger grade plants, to minimise any chance of damaging the roots. If the roots have been growing in a circle or are all bound up you can tease them apart if you want but this is not essential. Similarly, you don’t need to remove any of the growing media. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting the roots, even if the plant is root-bound as this offers no benefit. This is explained in our article, Managing Rootbound Plants.
Now place the plant in the hole and make sure it is level with the soil surface before filling in around it. If it is above the soil surface, dig more out. If it is below, put in more soil and retest the level. Once the plant is set level with the soil surface, add more soil gradually and firm it around the plant using gentle pressure as you go. Scatter Native Plant Fertiliser across the soil surface after planting and the give the plant a good watering.
The Plant Company has prepared a suite of articles that covers everything you need to know about growing Nikau Palms. We pride ourselves on providing expert advice to accompany our plants so you get the best result possible. Let us impress you with our knowledge, quality, and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are excellent at what we do! Explore our Nikau Palm varieties and be impressed.
Everything you need to know about Nikau Palms is covered in our suite of articles about Nikau Palms. The Plant Company prides itself on providing expert advice to accompany our plants so you get the best result possible. Let The Plant Company impress you with both our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are excellent at what we do! Feel free to explore our Nikau Palm varieties and be impressed.
A wide range of plants can be grown with Nikau Palms. The Plant Company often recommends using other plant colours and textures to add variety and interest. Such plants include Lomandra, Astelia, Phormium, Westringia, Libertia, Dianella, and Coprosmas. When they are grown in pots, The Plant Company will often have Dichondra Silver Falls trailing from the sides.
Nikau Palm is the common name generally used for plants in the genus, Rhopalostylis. Within that genus are two species; Rhopalostylis baueri and Rhopalostylis sapida. Rhopalostylis baueri originates from Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands. Rhopalostylis sapida originates throughout the North Island of New Zealand down to Banks Peninsula, and from both the Chatham and Pitt Islands.
Rhopalostylis baueri is commonly referred to as the Kermadec Nikau, and is a palm with a heavily ringed trunk. It typically grows to 15 m tall. The common variety is Rhopalostylis baueri var. cheessemanii.
Rhopalostylis sapida is commonly referred to as Nikau Palm, and is a palm also with a ringed trunk. However, the rings are wider apart than on Rhopalostylis baueri. It also grows to 15 m tall. The varieties are Chatham Island Nikau and the Pitt Island Nikau.
Aside from the rings on the trunk, and subtle differences in both the flowers and size of the fruit, the two species of Rhopalostylis are very similar.
Only potting mix should be used when Nikau Palms are grown in a container. Often people will try and cut corners and use soil or mixes that contain both soil and potting mix with poor results. The same applies to when plants are potted up with compost as it holds too much moisture. Soil also contains weeds and tends to become compacted in a container, hence why it is not used in this manner. The Plant Company has nursery grade potting media which is pre-loaded with the correct amounts of fertiliser and micro-nutrients to keep the plant sustained with nutrition and actively growing for the next 12-months. After 12-months, simply add a couple fertiliser tablets to keep the plant fed for the next 12-months.
Nikau Palms are best planted any time from mid-autumn until late spring. During this time, they can cope with the stresses associated with planting (root damage mainly) more easily than if they have to also cope with heat and moisture stress as well. They can be planted in summer provided they are well-watered and the roots have plenty of growing media attached when planted. If watering is a challenge, The Plant Company advises planting any time from late-autumn through until early-spring. Make sure you have a good planting spade to make this job a lot easier.
Our article, How To Plant A Nikau Palm provides useful advice as do our suite of articles about growing Nikau Palms.
A full sun or partial shade position that is frost free, has good drainage and shelter, is essential for getting the best results with Nikau Palms. In heavily shaded conditions they tend to just sit and grow at an extremely slow rate, and often become “stretched” as they chase light. On poorly drained soils they will struggle and may die a slow death due to a lack of air around the roots. The planting position should also be well-sheltered which will help with establishment and produce a straighter and more balanced plant. The Plant Company recommends staking trees to offer support and to reduce any chance of wind damage.
The Plant Company has produced a suite of articles about growing and looking after Nikau Palms to help you get fantastic results.
Nikau Palm are propagated from seed. Fresh seed is soaked in water for 24 hours then scattered onto growing media. Vermiculite is used to cover the seed with a thin layer. The trays are kept warm and moist, with seeds germinating in about 2-3 weeks. They are usually reading for pricking out about six weeks later.
Sometimes you just don’t want to wait for a plant to grow, and you want the instant display now. The Plant Company has large grade Nikau Palms available, and often has even larger grades available that are not listed for sale on our website. Please contact us and our amazing team will let you know options and pricing for delivery to your desired location.
The Plant Company has the best Nikau Palm plants in NZ that are both competitively priced and of fantastic quality. Accompanying this, we have a suite of articles that covers everything you need to know about growing Nikau Palms. Our goal is for you to achieve awesome results and to impress you with both our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
A cheap Nikau Palm usually comes in a very small pot and has both small foliage and small roots. The small plant can be appealing when you are on a budget, however, think of such plants like babies. They only have a small root system, so they need careful attention for watering. They are also more vulnerable to diseases such as root rot, and our article, Root Rot In Nikau Palms, explains how devasting this disease can be. The Plant Company therefore recommends you only buy plants in a 2L pot (preferably bigger) to have the greatest chance of success, even if you are on a budget. Any savings by buying small are lost when they die, and you have to replace them! Moreover, the plants need to be “chunky”, have a strong root system, an intact stem, and show no signs of disease. Be sure to check out our competitively priced Nikau Palms and buy from the best.
Buying quality plants can be a challenge at times. However, The Plant Company makes this job easy by offering high quality Nikau Palms. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith given you are putting your trust in us. Therefore, we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. We propagate and nurture plants ready for their new home, and take pride in exceeding our customers’ expectations. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
The Plant Company has a large-scale production nursery and produces large numbers of Nikau Palms. If you are after bulk lots of plants, please be sure to contact us for pricing and availability. Our talented staff can not only manage all aspects of getting the plants to you, but any other plant related enquiries you may have. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
The Plant Company has great stock of high quality Nikau Palm plants. We appreciate that buying online is somewhat of a leap of faith, given you are putting your trust in us. Please rest assured that we only ship plants that we would happily buy and plant ourselves. Trust in The Plant Company to supply your Nikau Palm needs and allow us to impress you both with our quality and service. Our impressive Google Rating shows we are good at what we do!
Do not trim the top out of a Nikau Palm. The plant will not grow another stem and it will die once the fronds age and fall. Therefore, the growing point of this palm requires protecting during handling and other activities.
Nikau Palms are trimmed to remove excess foliage and unsightly fronds only. This activity can be undertaken at any time of the year. The key is to leave at least three or four fronds on the plant, even if they are unsightly. The fronds are what feeds the new growth. Therefore, the more growth you remove, the slower the plant will grow.
Do not trim the top out of a Nikau Palm. The plant will not grow another stem and it will die once the fronds age and fall.
Nikau Palms are not tolerant of drought or extended dry periods. They can handle very short periods of dry, but they do require consistent soil moisture to survive. If they are to dry out, plant death will happen soon after. This is primarily due to their shallow root systems. Young plants are far more vulnerable than older plants to moisture stress.
Nikau Palms require good levels of soil moisture to stay fresh and keep growing actively. They require watering both during establishment and during dry periods. The Plant Company recommends a generous watering every third day during summer, or every third day if the soil is a bit heavier. If plants start to wilt, you need to water immediately. The Plant Company advises watering in the morning or in the evening for water conservation purposes.
If your Nikau Palm is being grown in a pot, watering at least every second day during summer and once every week during winter is the general rule. This will depend on how hot the growing environment is and the size of the plant of course. A word of caution, over-watering is the most common cause of plant death with Nikau Palms.
Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.
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