Family: Arecaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Rhopalostylis baueri (Norfolk Island palm) is a graceful, slow-growing palm native to Norfolk Island and the Kermadec Islands in the South Pacific. It is known for its smooth, slender trunk topped with a lush crown of long, arching, feather-like fronds. In cultivation, it is valued as an ornamental landscape palm for tropical and subtropical gardens, where it provides a refined, elegant appearance. It is commonly planted in parks, botanical gardens, and residential landscapes for its aesthetic appeal and ability to create a soft, tropical look.

Risks & Threats
This species is considered low risk and is not known to be invasive in Hawaiʻi. It does not show strong tendencies to spread aggressively or outcompete native vegetation under local conditions. While it may establish in cultivated or landscaped settings, it has limited evidence of naturalization or ecological impact in island ecosystems. As with any introduced ornamental plant, responsible planting in managed landscapes is recommended, but overall it is considered a safe choice with minimal environmental concern.

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in subtropical to Mediterranean climates
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Forms dense stands in native range
  
• Tolerates many soil types
  
• Seeds dispersed by birds and intentionally by people

Low Risk Traits:

• No reports of invasiveness or naturalization
  
• Unarmed (no spines, thorns or burrs)
  
• Palatable to grazing animals
  
• Ornamental
  
• Not reported to spread vegetatively
  
• Slow growing and long time to reproductive maturity
  
• Seeds unlikely to be inadvertently dispersed