Tahitian Screwpine

Pandanus tectorius

Also known as: New Britain Island Screwpine

Native to:
Australia, Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Is., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Cook Is., Fiji, Gilbert Is., Guam, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Line Is., Maluku, Marianas, Marquesas, Marshall Is., Nauru, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Niue, Palau, Philippines, Pitcairn Is., Samoa, Santa Cruz Is., Society Is., Solomon Is., Tokelau-Manihiki, Tonga, Tuamotu, Tubuai Is., Tuvalu, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, United States, Vanuatu, Wake I., Wallis-Futuna Is.

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Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Pandanaceae
Genus:
Pandanus
Species:
Pandanus tectorius
USDA Symbol:
PATE2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Tree
Height:
900 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Medium
Bloom Colors:
cream, white

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
birds, crabs, fruit bats
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Salt Tolerant:
Yes
Fragrant:
Yes

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
sandy, nutrient-poor, well-drained soil
pH:
6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
excellent drainage required
Moisture:
dry to moderate
Notes:
commonly found in coastal and island environments

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
None required
Germination Time:
30–180 days
Notes:
Seeds germinate erratically and may take several months; fresh seed germinates best. Soaking in water for 24-48 hours may improve germination.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

Pre-treatment: For seeds: No pretreatment is necessary but it is recommended to cut off the fleshy end of the seed to reduce decomposition. Soaking for five days in water (changing the water daily) hastens germination. For cuttings: Each cutting must have a healthy terminal shoot bud. Stems are cut to 15 to 20 cm lengths, and all mature leaves are removed except the terminal leaves. Leaf buds in the axils of leaves are not removed and will form new leaves once the cuttings are well rooted. Cuttings are directly stuck into containers filled with moistened medium. No rooting hormones are used.

Establishment: Pandanus tectorius trees are either male or female. Female trees produce a large, segmented fruit somewhat resembling a pineapple. Male trees produce large clusters of tiny, fragrant flowers surrounded by white to cream colored bracts. The fruit is about the size and shape of a squat pineapple, and consists of 40 - 80 sections called keys. Each key has a fleshy end and a hard end containing 1 or 2 seeds. The fruit takes several months to ripen, turning from greenish to yellow, orange or reddish and very fragrant when ripe.

Source: npn.rngr.net