Veitchia joannis

Veitchia joannis is a large and magnificent palm tree native to the Pacific Islands. It is still not widely available on the market. This species is characterised by a smooth and beautifully ringed trunk, and splendid foliage composed of large gracefully drooping arched leaves, resembling fern fronds. Not hardy, it must be grown in containers or large pots, which allows it to be protected from cold temperatures in winter. If provided with warmth and abundant water, this palm tree will be a great choice for decorating a tropical greenhouse, or a large, bright, and slightly heated room in winter.

Veitchia joannis belongs to the Arecaceae family. It is native to the Fiji Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, from where it has been introduced to Tonga and Samoa. This species perishes below -2 or -3°C (28.4 or 26.6°F), but adapts well to indoor cultivation as long as winter temperatures oscillate between 10 and 15°C (50 and 59°F) and the atmosphere remains humid. Young plants take some time to establish, and then growth accelerates. In the ground, Veitchia joannis can reach over 30m (98ft) in height, but it will hardly produce a trunk and will not exceed 3m (10ft) in all directions if grown in a container indoors or in a greenhouse.

This Pacific Palm develops a single trunk, called a stipe. This stipe is quite thick (25 to 40cm (10 to 16in) in diameter), swollen at the base, and grey in colour. It is strongly ringed with prominent leaf scars. At the top of this stipe, a beautiful drooping leaf crown develops. It is composed of 8 to 10 large doubly pinnate leaves, reaching 3m (10ft) in length. The leaf is divided into 70 to 80 pairs of slightly pendulous lanceolate pinnae with a toothed tip, regularly arranged in a single plane. Their colour is dark green on both sides. The petiole that carries each leaf measures 60cm (24in) to 1.2m (4ft) in length. It is pale green with small brown scales. Flowering occurs in summer on mature plants aged 10 to 15 years, under favourable cultivation conditions. It takes the form of arched and branched inflorescences, reaching 80cm (32in) in length. Each inflorescence contains both male and female flowers, which are whitish-green in colour. The bright red fruit is ovoid with a beak, and measures 4 to 6cm (2in) in length.

Veitchia joannis is an architectural plant that will make a statement in a tropical greenhouse, or in a very bright and slightly heated room. It tolerates container cultivation well and can be taken out on a patio from May to September, after an acclimatisation period. Like all palm trees, it is difficult to plant with others due to its strong personality. Provide it with a good spot on a patio, initially exposing it to shade so that it gradually adapts to the sun. Surround it with sculptural and colourful Phormium, precise and geometric agaves, or Cordyline, for example.