Nannorrhops Ritchiana

[Scott]

I've been trying to get one, but no luck here. If it's not a Queen, or Washy, good luck.

I'm thinking of making the long trek to Jungle Music Saturday - if they'll be open.

Anybody have any experience with these, any pictures?

Thanks,

Scott

[BS Man about Palms]

Jungle music is always open Saturdays.  Kevin Weaver usually has some (KW palms) he is in Lake Elsinore.

[PalmGuyWC]

Scott,

If you can find one, try to get at least a 5 gal size.  I found mine at David Barrys's nursery in Brentwood many years ago and they were all 1 gal size. They are very slow growing when small, but speed up over the years.  It's one of those plams you plant and then forget it, but leave plenty of room as they can get large.  I have four and 3 of them are still smallish and scrubby, but one has grown to be a monster with many trunks.

I live in a hot/cold inland valley from San Francisco and Nannorrhops seems to love it here.  Over the years, it's taken from 117F to 14F with no damage.  My big one is on a well drained mound and it's been blooming and fruiting for several years. I've been kind of out of the palm loop for several years, but I was told mine might be the largest in Calif. With all the trunks, it's over 20 feet wide and maybe 18 feet high and still growing.

When young and planted, mine got a lot of sun, but now it has competition from other palms and some shade, but it keep plugging along, in fact I think it's speeded up in growth with the competition.  It's a monster palm.

Dick

[ghar41]

You may want to check in with Phil Nickel in Bakersfield.  I don't know if this is a longer drive for you than it is to San Diego.  He has a wonderful selection of cold hardy palms.  I purchased a 1 or 2 gal, I can't remember, from him years ago and it is growing really well here.

Dick, I visited your place last year when the palm society met there.  I was told by someone to go over and look at the large Nannorops.  I stood there looking for a large, multitrunked palm for a minute or so before I realized the BEHEMOUTH blocking the sun in the background was THE plant.  Godzilla!!!  

[PalmGuyWC]

Hi Glenn,

Yes, I was surprised too how large this particular Nannorrhops  kept growing and growing.  I've thought about why this particular one grew so large.  The first thought is that it is genetic, just a super palm with good genes.  My other thought is.....This plant had no competition in its early years and a lot of sun.  The others I planted were soon shaded over in their earlier life and still are, but even in mostly shade they look ok, but haven't grown very fast.

The giant now has competition from a Thrithrinax campestrus, a  Brahea armata, and a Jubaea.  They all compete, and I sware, they all seem to be growing faster competing.  I think a little "micro enviroment" has been createated there, but just my guess.

Dick

[ghar41]

This is the plant I planted from a 1 or 2 gallon, spring of 03, so it has had 4 growing seasons.  It is about 4 feet tall.  Sits in the absolute hottest, meanest spot in my backyard and flexes it's muscles!

[Jeff Searle]

(PalmGuyWC @ Dec. 11 2006,13:27)

QUOTE

Scott,

If you can find one, try to get at least a 5 gal size.  I found mine at David Barrys's nursery in Brentwood many years ago and they were all 1 gal size. They are very slow growing when small, but speed up over the years.  It's one of those plams you plant and then forget it, but leave plenty of room as they can get large.  I have four and 3 of them are still smallish and scrubby, but one has grown to be a monster with many trunks.

I live in a hot/cold inland valley from San Francisco and Nannorrhops seems to love it here.  Over the years, it's taken from 117F to 14F with no damage.  My big one is on a well drained mound and it's been blooming and fruiting for several years. I've been kind of out of the palm loop for several years, but I was told mine might be the largest in Calif. With all the trunks, it's over 20 feet wide and maybe 18 feet high and still growing.

When young and planted, mine got a lot of sun, but now it has competition from other palms and some shade, but it keep plugging along, in fact I think it's speeded up in growth with the competition.  It's a monster palm.

Dick

Dick,

     Thats amazing to hear how big your nannorrhops is! Just can't believe it.  Is there any chance of you posting a pic. for all of us?? I'm growing some 1gallon size plants now. Their about 1 year old now. Mine get watered every day out in the nursery. They probably would like alot less, though. Thanks again.

Jeff

[Scott]

I had recently (November) bought one from Jungle Music. It's a little one with strap leaves still in a band container. I'm keeping it in a protected area until it'll grow big enough to withstand the elements.

How long do you think that'll take? 3 years ??? ?

[Palmtrader]

Try to get the silver form if possible they seem to be hardier. They don't transplant very easily and as new fronds develop the older ones die off giving them an untidy look. Here in Spain they like as much heat as possible and loads of water. Hard work but very rewarding when they get bigger. Their is a magnificent specimen at Fairchild.

[PalmGuyWC]

Hi Jeff,

I'm new to this site and don't know how to post pictures yet.  If you go to the N. Calif. web site at Palmsnc.org and click on the species list, you will see some pics of my Nannorrhops.  One is a pic of one of my smaller ones, and the rest are of my giant.  It's much larger now as the pictures were taken some years back.

The trunks usually bifercate when about head high or higher.  One stem will be vegitative and the other will be terminal and bloom. After fruiting, the blooming stem will slowly die back to the vegitative trunk.  (takes about 3 years). After fruiting, I usually cut the blooming stem back to its base for apperance sake.  The growing stem will eventually produce another blooming stem on the opposite side.

Fairchild Gardens used to have some very old Nannohrrops until they were killed by LY.  The old trunks had a zig zagg apperance as the old blooming stems were cut back.  Bloom on one side of the vegitative trunk one time, on the other the next.

If you look closely at the close up, you will see one trunk produced 3 heads instead of two. (Only time this has happned).  Subsequently the center head was terminal and is holding fruit as I write this.  Unfortunately since the giant has been blooming and produceing what appears to be viable seeds for several years, we have been unable to germinate any.  They rot eaisly.

While on the subject, I wonder has anyone has had any luck in moving a Nannohrrops, or dividing one?  I have one that gets to much shade, but it has three rhizomes growing from the center and looks like it could be divided fairly eaisly.  Any suggestions?

Nannahrrops must be a very primitive palm because it's blooming habit sure expends a lot of energy in blooming and fruiting.  It just seems like a very inefficient way of reproducing.

Dick

[MattyB]

Scott, here's a couple of pics.  Not very good quality but you get the picture.

[MattyB]

stuff a pillow

[palmman97]

i have them in 7 gal the green form and silver in 3 gal if intrestead e-mail me @ saladarey @suddenlink.net    pick up only

[Scott]

Andy - judging by the strap leaves, I think I have a green one, but I really want the silver blue.

Matt - Thanks for posting the great pic. Actually, it's the largest pic I've seen of the Nannorrhops. In the second pic that stuff looks like foam, or insulation!

Seems like one might want to make sure this one has plenty of space to grow in over the years.

Thanks!

[MattyB]

Oh, yeah they'll sucker and branch.