Rhopalostylis sapida H.Wendl. & Drude

Trunk to c. 10 m. × 25 cm., green between rather closely spaced lf-scars; crownshaft to 60 cm. long, smooth and green, slightly bulging. Lf to 3 m. long; lflts to 1 m. long, closely set and ascending sharply. Spathes c. 30 × 15 cm., between pink and yellow, smooth, falling as first fls open. Ultimate branches of infl. to c. 20–(30) cm. long, c. 1.5 cm. diam. with buds on, at first pale cream-coloured; fl.-buds tightly packed, lilac. Fr. c. 10 × 7 mm., elliptic-oblong, brick-red. Seed long-oval, tightly invested in smooth, whitish endocarp which is marked by mainly longitudinal vascular strands; hilum broad at chalazal end, tapering to a narrow groove beside the micropyle.

It is a warm temperate plant. They grow in moist forests in New Zealand. It grows naturally as far south as 44°S. It can only tolerate light frosts. They will grow in cool climates. It grows from the coast to 700 m altitude. Young palms need protection from the sun for the first 4-5 years. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. In Hobart Botanical Gardens.

The young unopened flower is cooked and eaten. The palm heart is eaten.

Plants are grown from seed. Seed can be slow to germinate.