Pitt Island Nikau
Rhopalostylis sapida, Chatham Islands form
Pitt Island Nikau is a bold, distinctly New Zealand feature palm well suited to Auckland gardens. As it matures, it develops the distinctive clean trunk and upright crown of a nīkau, with stronger performance in Auckland conditions than standard mainland forms.
At Auckland Palm Centre, Pitt Island Nikau is a palm we specialise in growing and keep as a long-term nursery line. We hold stock in a practical range of sizes, from younger plants through to larger landscape grades, so we can match the right plant to the garden, project, and timeframe.
Quick guide
Best for: Feature planting, grouped planting, native and subtropical gardens, and privacy screening
Light: Sale-ready APC stock is sun-hardened; even smaller grades can go into full sun at the right time of year with reliable watering
Wind: Good tolerance once established
Coastal sites: Good for many Auckland coastal gardens once established; reliable watering still matters in dry summer periods
Available grades: 10L, 17L, 45L, 80L, 135L, and 300L
Buying help: Ask us to help match the right grade to your site, budget, and timeframe
Why choose Pitt Island Nikau
Pitt Island Nikau has a bold form and a distinctly New Zealand character. As it matures, the upright crown and clean trunk give it strong presence in the landscape, while the dense crown is also useful for adding structure and medium-term screening in the garden.
It can work as a single feature palm, in grouped planting, or as part of a native or subtropical garden. In the right position, it can soften a fence, provide useful privacy screening, and give lower planting time to establish underneath.
Pitt Island Nikau works well as:
• a feature palm in residential gardens
• grouped planting for structure and soft screening
• a native or subtropical landscape specimen
• a repeated planting in larger schemes
• a palm for commercial or project landscapes
• a long-term structure plant among lower subtropical planting
A strong nīkau for Auckland gardens
Pitt Island Nikau is one of the more dependable nīkau forms for Auckland gardens. In our experience, it establishes more strongly, grows faster, and is more robust in Auckland conditions than standard mainland nīkau.
Pitt Island Nikau is the name commonly used for the Chatham Islands form of nīkau. Pitt Island is one of the Chatham Islands, and in New Zealand horticulture this form is also often referred to as chathamica.
Although seedlings and very young plants need shade or filtered light, our sale-ready Pitt Island Nikau stock is sun-hardened at the nursery. Even our smallest sale grades can be planted in full sun at the right time of year with reliable watering, while 45L and larger grades can be planted confidently into full sun, even in peak summer, when irrigation is in place.
Pitt Island Nikau is also a good coastal palm for many Auckland sites. Once established, it can handle coastal conditions and salt exposure well, especially where irrigation is reliable through dry summer periods. In very exposed seafront positions, allow for slower establishment and some cosmetic wind or salt burn; larger hardened grades are usually the safer choice.
For best results, plant into free-draining, moisture-retentive soil and avoid dry, compacted, or poorly drained positions.
Grade and size guide
Auckland Palm Centre holds Pitt Island Nikau in a practical range of grades, from smaller planting sizes through to larger landscape plants, so you can choose the right balance of budget, immediate impact, and time for the palms to grow.
Typical APC grade ladder:
10L → 17L → 45L → 80L → 135L → 300L specimen grades
The 45L grade is our main Pitt Island Nikau line and often the best all-round choice. It has enough size to give clear presence in the garden, while still offering strong value compared with larger landscape grades.
Which size should I choose?
10L and 17L: Best where budget matters, larger numbers are needed, or there is time for the palms to grow
45L: Best all-round balance of size, value, and established appearance
80L and larger: Best where stronger immediate impact is wanted from the start
Why buy Pitt Island Nikau from Auckland Palm Centre
Pitt Island Nikau is one of our core palms. We specialise in growing it and keep it as a long-term nursery line, with stock held across a practical range of sizes.
That means we can help with more than simply supplying the plant. We can help match the right grade to the site, compare smaller and larger options, and choose stock suited to the garden, timeframe, and budget.
You can also visit the nursery and choose the exact palms you want. We tag them with your details, then deliver those same palms to you. This is especially useful with larger grades, where plants of the same size can still differ in height, fullness, and shape.
Reasons to buy Pitt Island Nikau from APC:
• specialist knowledge of the plant
• stock held in a practical range of sizes
• practical advice on site, grade, and establishment
• the option to select the exact palms you want before delivery
• delivery options for larger plants and project orders
Soil, water, and establishment
Pitt Island Nikau are reliable garden palms when they are planted well and kept watered through establishment.
Plant at the same height as in the nursery bag; do not bury the crown. Improve the planting area with compost, keep the soil evenly moist while the palm establishes, and mulch around the root zone to reduce drying.
The main early risk is letting the plant dry out too much after planting. With good establishment care, Pitt Island Nikau develop into durable, long-lived landscape palms. Remove only dead fronds and avoid over-pruning.
Current availability, transport, and project supply
Contact Auckland Palm Centre for current Pitt Island Nikau grades, pricing, and availability. We can help match the grade to the site, access, planting objective, and budget.
Smaller grades can often be taken home by car, and we can help load suitable plants onto utes or trailers. For larger grades, or where you want the easiest option, we can deliver to your site. You can still choose the exact plants from our stock at the nursery; we will tag them with your name and deliver those exact selected plants to you. We also stock the compost, pumice, and fertiliser we recommend for planting, and can deliver them with your palms if needed.
For larger orders or project work, contact the nursery to discuss current grades, quantities, and delivery options.
Frequently asked questions
Can Pitt Island Nikau grow in full sun?
Yes. Our sale-ready Pitt Island Nikau stock is sun-hardened at the nursery. Even the smallest sale grades can be planted in full sun at the right time of year with reliable watering, while 45L and larger grades can be planted confidently into full sun, even in peak summer, when irrigation is in place.
Is Pitt Island Nikau good for privacy screening?
It can be very useful for medium-term privacy screening. Young and mid-sized plants hold a dense crown for many years, so they can soften a fence or help provide privacy while lower long-term planting establishes underneath. It should not be treated as a permanent low-level hedge, because the foliage gradually lifts higher as the palm matures.
Is Pitt Island Nikau suitable for windy sites?
Yes. Pitt Island Nikau has good wind tolerance once established and is one of the more dependable nīkau forms for Auckland gardens. Good planting and watering during establishment still matter.
Is Pitt Island Nikau suitable for coastal gardens?
Yes. Pitt Island Nikau is a good coastal palm for many Auckland sites and can handle coastal conditions and salt exposure well once established. In very exposed seafront positions, reliable irrigation and larger hardened grades are preferred, and some cosmetic wind or salt burn may still occur.
How fast does Pitt Island Nikau grow?
It is slower than fast tropical palms such as King Palm, but in our experience it establishes more strongly, grows faster, and is more robust in Auckland conditions than standard mainland nīkau. Growth will still vary with site, water, and care.
What is the difference between Pitt Island Nikau and mainland nīkau?
Pitt Island Nikau is the Chatham Islands form of nīkau. In our experience, it is more robust, establishes more strongly, and grows faster in Auckland conditions than standard mainland nīkau.
Why is it called Pitt Island Nikau, and why do some people call it chathamica?
Pitt Island Nikau is the name commonly used for the Chatham Islands form of nīkau. Pitt Island is one of the Chatham Islands, and in New Zealand horticulture this form is also often referred to as chathamica.
What sizes of Pitt Island Nikau are available?
Auckland Palm Centre holds Pitt Island Nikau in a practical grade range, from 10L and 17L plants through to 45L, 80L, 135L, and 300L grades. Contact the nursery for current sale-ready availability.
How much water does Pitt Island Nikau need after planting?
Keep the soil evenly moist while the palm establishes. The main early risk is letting the plant dry out too much after planting.
Where can I buy Pitt Island Nikau in Auckland?
Auckland Palm Centre grows and supplies Pitt Island Nikau from its nursery at 40 Paremoremo Road, Lucas Heights, Auckland.