Laccospadix Australasica

[ZoneTenNut]

Anyone having luck growing this palm, especially in south florida? I know they are difficult here, but was wondering what I could do to promote its success. I put a one gallon in about 4 or 5 years ago and it has barely moved. Its alive, but languishing.

[DoomsDave]

Here in So Cal, No much luck.

They just croak in the ground.  They love the pots, I think they don't like Clay Soil.

(Not to be confused with Clay Aiken from American Idol.)

dave

[Tyrone]

Grow fine here. Treat them the way you'd treat a small Howea. They'll never get big like a Howea and they don't really emerge from the canopy as such either. Shade to part shade, good drainage and lots of water will make them look good. In a truly tropical climate they may languish as they're an upland palm, but if there is a distinct cool season somewhere in the year they should be fine.

regards

Tyrone

[paulgila]

i have one in my garden that is in a pretty shady spot.

its been in the ground for 3 years & is doing well.

i saw a large speciman(8-10' tall) in huntington beach,so it seems that they are probably better for so cal than florida.they apparently like cool over-night temps.

[ZoneTenNut]

(Tyrone @ Dec. 10 2006,03:04)

QUOTE

Grow fine here. Treat them the way you'd treat a small Howea. They'll never get big like a Howea and they don't really emerge from the canopy as such either. Shade to part shade, good drainage and lots of water will make them look good. In a truly tropical climate they may languish as they're an upland palm, but if there is a distinct cool season somewhere in the year they should be fine.

regards

Tyrone

Tyrone,

I have the shade/part shade, good drainage,  and lots of water. Summers are long, hot, and humid, but we do have a distinct cool winter season. It seems to do better in the winter, but has hardly grown at all. Do you know if it needs a more acid soil, as ours if more alkaline here? I also keep it mulched heavily.

[ZoneTenNut]

(pohonkelapa @ Dec. 10 2006,15:09)

QUOTE

i have one in my garden that is in a pretty shady spot.

its been in the ground for 3 years & is doing well.

i saw a large speciman(8-10' tall) in huntington beach,so it seems that they are probably better for so cal than florida.they apparently like cool over-night temps.

pohonkelapa,

I know the long hot humid summers here are part of the challenge growing this palm in SF, so to be sure this is one of problems. How would you describe the growth rate of this palm in your garden. Slow, Moderate, Fast? Mine is extremely slow.

[Bennz]

I only have seedlings, but there are some very fine examples of mature specimens in northern parts of NZ. Very well suited to mild maritime temperate climates. Possibly in same category as other Southern palms such as Howea, Hedyscepe, Rhopalostylis in requirements?

[Matt in SD]

I have a nice one that is just starting to trunk.  I think it is the clumping variety as there are two trunks and I've pruned off 4-5 suckers over the last few years.  It holds a lot of leaves (10-15 nice leaves maybe), and it has grown, but it's definitely a slow grower.  The tips of the emerging leaves on mine are spaced about 1 foot apart in the spear, so there are usually 3-4 leaves emerging at any given time, but it only opens 3-4 leaves a year.  So 12" of spear movement in 3-4 months for a nearly mature palm is VERY slow.  I have a few palms that grow that much in a week.

Not sure if my photo attachment is going to work, but I'm trying...

Matt

[paulgila]

yup,its working.

looks like a new leaf opening with nice color in the back

of the clump--sweet!

[Tropica]

Sounds like mine's going to be a one gallon for quite a while... at least the Actinokentia divaricata will have company.

[Tyrone]

(ZoneTenNut @ Dec. 10 2006,19:57)

QUOTE

(Tyrone @ Dec. 10 2006,03:04)

QUOTE

Grow fine here. Treat them the way you'd treat a small Howea. They'll never get big like a Howea and they don't really emerge from the canopy as such either. Shade to part shade, good drainage and lots of water will make them look good. In a truly tropical climate they may languish as they're an upland palm, but if there is a distinct cool season somewhere in the year they should be fine.

regards

Tyrone

Tyrone,

I have the shade/part shade, good drainage,  and lots of water. Summers are long, hot, and humid, but we do have a distinct cool winter season. It seems to do better in the winter, but has hardly grown at all. Do you know if it needs a more acid soil, as ours if more alkaline here? I also keep it mulched heavily.

Where they come from in the tablelands behind Cairns is quite rich volcanic soil. Quite new geologically speaking for Oz. Also because they're a rainforest inhabitant the amount of leaf litter is considerable, so I'd assume, though not completely sure, that the pH would be on the acid side. They grow fine in my garden with pH around 6.5. I've never tried them on alkaline soil to be able to comment. What is your pH where you are?

regards

Tyrone

[Eric in Orlando]

I'll try posting this again. It doesn't seem to want to post the photo directly.

Here is one I plantted at my mom's house about 10 years ago from a 1gal. They grow well here if you give them shade and some water during dry times but they are fairly slow growing;

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu242....54

[DoomsDave]

(Matt in SD @ Dec. 11 2006,16:48)

QUOTE

I have a nice one that is just starting to trunk.  I think it is the clumping variety as there are two trunks and I've pruned off 4-5 suckers over the last few years.  It holds a lot of leaves (10-15 nice leaves maybe), and it has grown, but it's definitely a slow grower.  The tips of the emerging leaves on mine are spaced about 1 foot apart in the spear, so there are usually 3-4 leaves emerging at any given time, but it only opens 3-4 leaves a year.  So 12" of spear movement in 3-4 months for a nearly mature palm is VERY slow.  I have a few palms that grow that much in a week.

Not sure if my photo attachment is going to work, but I'm trying...

Matt

Smash the swooning sofa, soak the crying towel!

Envy, covetousness, all of that.

Well-done!

dave

[ZoneTenNut]

(Eric in Orlando @ Dec. 12 2006,09:03)

QUOTE

I'll try posting this again. It doesn't seem to want to post the photo directly.

Here is one I plantted at my mom's house about 10 years ago from a 1gal. They grow well here if you give them shade and some water during dry times but they are fairly slow growing;

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu242....54

Beautiful palm and very encouraging this has done so well in our soil here. Gives me some hope for mine. However, after five years in the ground, mine is still one gallon pot size. Thinking more and more that it is an issue more in the alkalinity of the soil.

[Phil]

When you talk about Laccospadis, you must define which variety you have.  As I see it, there are about three forms:

1.  Mountain Form, suckering:  This plant suckers freely, does not throw a new red leaf, has less shine to the leaf, and is a great grower in So Cal.  It is hard to find.  I have one 12 feet tall, has seeded a few times.  

2.  Mountain Form, non-suckering: Single trunk, looks like above, reminds one of a small Howea f., no red leaf, easy to grow but slow.

3.  Lowland Form: Suckers a bit, shiny leaves, new emergent red leaf, slow growing, is the plant typically seen at nurseries under the name "Laccospadix a.", and more susceptible to cultural problems in So Cal.

Of the thee above, #1 is by far the best.   If you find one, buy it.  Maybe we'll get seeds this year; they appear at Christmas.

Phil

[LJG]

Phil, as I understand it, the large ones at RSN as #1.