Veitchia vitiensis

The Veitchia vitiensis is a delightful rare Fijian palm tree, certainly tropical in temperament, but quite easy to grow in a veranda, a greenhouse, or a very bright interior. This slender species is characterized by a particularly thin false trunk and a crown of large, semi-erect, and pinnate aerial leaves. Not hardy, it is grown in a container or a large pot, which allows it to be protected from the cold in winter.  This species likes fresh, rich, and light soils as well as a semi-shady exposure.

The Veitchia vitiensis belongs to the Arecaceae family. It is native to the Fiji Islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean, where it grows in small populations in primary forests, often on hill slopes. This species of humid tropical climate perishes below 0°C, but adapts well to indoor cultivation as long as winter temperatures range between 10 and 15 °C and the atmosphere remains humid. Young plants take a little time to establish themselves, then growth accelerates a bit. When planted in the ground, Veitchia vitiensis can reach a height of 12 to 15 m, but it will not exceed 3 m in height by 1.50 m in width if grown in a container indoors or in a greenhouse.

This Palm tree develops a single trunk, called a stipe, very thin and tapered (25 cm in diameter at the base, but 4 to 5 cm in diameter under the leaves), gray in color, strongly ringed with prominent leaf scars. At the top of this stipe, a beautiful, sparsely dense leaf crown develops. It consists of 8 to 10 large, slightly arched pinnate leaves, reaching 3 m in length. The leaf is divided into 30 to 40 pairs of lanceolate, rather wide leaflets, arranged almost horizontally.  Their color is a bright green. The petiole that carries each leaf is short, pubescent, and brown in color. Flowering occurs in summer, on mature plants aged 10 to 15 years, and under favorable growing conditions. The inflorescences emerge under the leaves. They are erect and branched. Each one bears both male and female flowers, whitish-green in color. The fruit is rounded to ellipsoid, measuring up to 19 mm in length.

The Veitchia vitiensis, with its neat appearance of a small palm tree, will make a statement in the veranda, tropical greenhouse, or a very bright room. It thrives well in containers and can be taken out to the terrace or balcony from May to September, after an acclimatization period. Like all palm trees, it is difficult to pair with other plants due to its strong personality: reserve a corner by a pool or a prominent spot on the terrace, initially exposing it to shade so it gradually gets used to the sun. Surround it with  Phormium, graphic, sober, and colourful, with agaves precise and geometric, or even with Cordyline for example.