Brighamia rockii, the rarest of Hawaiian palms
Brighamia rockii
- Exposures
- Sun, Half-shade
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Brighamia
- Species
- Brighamia rockii
Other names:Brighamia remyi, Brighamia rockii f. longiloba
Brighamia rockii is extremely rare. Only a handful are believed to remain in their natural habitat—the cliffs and rocky shores of the Hawaiian archipelago. However, unlike the Hawaiian palm, Brighamia rockii is not yet very common as a houseplant.
How can you identify the Hawaiian palm Brighamia rockii?
Brighamia rockii is neither a palm tree nor a shrub. It is an erect, succulent herbaceous plant. Most specimens measure two meters tall with a spread of 60 centimeters. But some botanists claim to have encountered specimens over five meters tall!
The stem is thick and fleshy. Its base is swollen, like an elephant's foot, while the top is thinner. The thick part serves as a water reservoir. Soft green in color, the stem turns gray as it ages. The falling leaves leave scars on the pseudostem.
The pseudostem is crowned with a tuft of leaves, which gives the plant its palm-like appearance. The green leaf blades grow in a rosette. Oval and fleshy, they measure between ten and twenty centimeters long by nine to fifteen centimeters wide.
Brighamia rockii blooms in late fall. Trumpet-shaped flowers bloom in clusters of three to eight on a five-centimeter peduncle. White in color, they have a yellowish-green tube. But you'll have to get up early to see them! In fact, the flowers open only at night.
When the flowers are pollinated, they produce an oblong capsule. This fruit contains the seeds and releases them when ripe. However, the moth that pollinates the flowers has virtually disappeared, almost completely eliminating Brighamia rockii's chances of reproducing naturally.
The sap of Brighamia rockii contains a white latex. However, the plant is considered safe for humans. Still, keep it out of reach of your cat or dog. In the wild, the Hawaiian palm is a favorite treat for animals—a popularity that is contributing to its extinction.
Our care tips
Don't be surprised if your Brighamia rockii loses a few leaves in summer. Its growth period is reversed: it flowers in winter and rests in summer. The dropping of the lower limbs is natural. On the other hand, you should be concerned if the plant fails to produce new leaves.
Watering
Your Brighamia rockii tolerates drought better than too much water.
Water only when the substrate is dry at depth (at least 5 centimetres). Drain any stagnant water from the saucer.
Misting
Mist the foliage with non-calcareous water at room temperature. This will temporarily increase humidity and prevent pest attacks.
Repotting
Every year in the spring, repot your Brighamia rockii to give it more space.
Choose a pot with holes larger than the root ball. Pour clay balls or pebbles into the bottom to promote drainage.
Add a layer of potting soil. It should be light. For example, you can mix equal parts of potting soil for cacti and potting soil for green plants. Or mix one-third potting soil, one-third sand and one-third garden soil. Plant brighamia rockii in the center. Top up with substrate and tamp to keep the plant stable.
To encourage rooting, water at room temperature.
Brighamia rockii appreciates humidity. Place its pot on a saucer filled with wet clay balls.
Fertilization
To promote the growth of your Brighamia rockii, apply fertilizer in spring and summer.
Fertilize your Brighamia rockii with a green plant fertilizer to support growth. Remember to halve the dose prescribed by the manufacturer.
Prune
To encourage the growth of your Brighamia rockii, prune regularly.
You don 't need to prune brighamia rockii. Old leaves fall off naturally, leaving the leaf scars on the false trunk.
However, if you find the yellow limbs unsightly, you can remove them with clean pruning shears. Cut off the petiole two centimetres from the stem. It will fall off after a few days.
Diseases / Threats
Information
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Exposures
- SunHalf-shade
- Substrate
- Sandy soil
- Planting method
- In pots
- Categories
- IndoorHerbaceousFlowerySucculent
- Tags
- BeginnerFloweryCold-sensitive
- Origin
- Polynesia
- Hardiness (USDA)
- 11b (7.2°C ≤ T° < 10°C)
- Leaf colors
- Dark greenLight green
- Flower colors
- WhitePale green
Discover plants from the same family
Hawaiian palm
Brighamia insignis
Find out more
Find all our tips in the Monstera application
