Rhopalostylis sapida - Nīkau Palms Dying

shocking that even your palm trees are suffering...

Sandra:

These palms are native to rainforest of New Zealand and Norfolk Island in the South Pacific. They need a tremendous amount of water and typically like cooler weather. Rhopalostylis baueri which is the palm on the far left is native to Norfolk Island which is warmer; however, still grows in rainforest. I have a R. baueri in my front yard and I give it water almost every day or it would not survive.

Sad, Sad, Sad, Delonix

We are hoping for rain. We need a lot more rain than we received to break the drought. January we have barely received any rain. Last January (2014) we only received a trace (which isn't even measurable rain).

I think the story there is that water is now so expensive the parks Dept.is probably consolidating areas that are too still receive much water and letting go of fringe areas to fend on their own- or meager watering. Those other palms and the Jacaranda's are the main plants. Bad for the Shaving brush palms to have been planted with them since those other plants can thrive on much less water.

Many of Balboa Park's plants are watered with reclaimed water. I think it may have been the horrible heat with not enough water which made them suffer and die. As you know they need tons of water at the whole root system to thrive.

It still boggles my mind that they planted these palms here instead of at the bottom of Palm Canyon. At least at the bottom of the canyon there's a permanent stream even when it some what dries up in summer there's still some moisture on the surface...and it's shadier down there.