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Juania australis - Chonta Palm



Origin: Juan Fernandez Islands

This is a rare feather palm with a green trunk from the Juan Fernandez Islands in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chile. It is dioecious (has male and female plants). In time (a long time) it will form a trunk and make a wonderful plant to enjoy in any garden.

This is the first time that I have imported this palm that is now grown in cultivation in Chile. However it still remains extremely rare and should be considered one of the world's rarest palms in both its habitat and also in cultivation. I will be fortunate enough to receive 10 more plants in the late July.

The unusual characteristics of this palm are its low tolerance for high temperatures. It would appear its temperature range would be from -5 degrees Celsius up to 25 degrees Celsius. This should therefore make it an ideal candidate as a specimen palm for most parts of Ireland. Being an island palm it is ideal for coastal locations.

For those of you who have had the pleasure of visiting Dr David Robinson's wonderful garden in Howth you may remember having seen the Juania australis doing very well. This augurs well for the other plants that are now planted around Ireland! 

This is a plant for the palm enthusiast and collector, as it needs to be planted and maintained with care to get established. I can confirm that I left one of my plants outdoors all this winter (2005-2006) with absolutely no protection whatsoever and it has come through unscathed. I now await to see how it grows on this summer.

Please note the photo of the Juania australis was taken by me in the (only) town plaza of San Juan Bautista on Robinson Crusoe Island in March 2005.


Size of plant   Price  Availability 
80cm  € 150.00  1 available 
125cm  € 350.00   2 available 
Dicksonia News


May 2008 News Update -

New stock of Juania australis, Agave montana, Agave gentryi, Trachycarpus wagnerianus, Trachycarpus martianus 'Nepal Form' and many more.
Xanthorrhoea glauca GrassTree -

Picture of X. glauca in my garden 2005

X. glauca Grasstree - Prices start at €275.00
Dicksonia fibrosa Tree Fern carvings now available -

Sample photo of carving that we have in stock:

Beautiful, natural, sculptures in many forms from Dicksonia fibrosa and Black Mamaku