Nikau Palms, South Island, New Zealand

“The nīkau palm is the southernmost member of the palm family and New Zealand’s only native palm species … The nikau palm is unique to New Zealand”.

– Department of Conservation website.

Nikau palm, detail of palm frond. Larnach Castle South Seas Garden, near Dunedin.
Photo by SO.

Nikau palms. Larnach Castle South Seas Garden.
Photo by Exploring Colour.

Nikau palm by path. Larnach Castle South Seas Garden.
Photo by SO.

Nikau palms. Larnach Castle South Seas Garden.
Photo by Exploring Colour.

Nikau trees are abundant in the northern West Coast area of the South Island. This photo is taken at Karamea.
Photo by SO.

Nikau palms, Karamea.
Photo by SO.

Nikau palm trunk detail. Photo by SO.

The nīkau is very slow-growing. Research conducted in lowland forests near Auckland found it takes 40–50 years to begin to form a trunk and about 200 years to reach 10 m tall. On average two fronds are shed per year leaving behind a leaf scar on the trunk which can be used to give a rough indication of age since the trunk began forming. – Department of Conservation website.

 

Words by Exploring Colour with supplementary information from the Department of Conservation website. Photos by Exploring Colour & SO (2017)