251 replies to this topic

[BS Man about Palms]

So. I decided to start a thread with my New Caledonia palms since they don't seem terribly bothered by my winter. Several should have been planted earlier... but oh well. Plus, you get to see the weeds..warts and all. I do have some "holes" in the collection, but those are generally ones I don't think I'll have too hard of a time finding. I really love the new Cal stuff as they are cool hardy and colorful!

I'll get the potbound, heavily weeded palms out of the way early...to reward the patient readers... haha

First, under that nice leaf is a Burretiokentia koghensis in a 5 gal pot.



And here is a Burretiokentia hapala in a 5 gal also.

[BS Man about Palms]

Here are the Basselinia faveri's awaiting a plant out... maybe this year...? Yes, I know in my dreams...




PS- sorry for the delay starting this thread, I had to answer the door so MattyB could use the bathroom....................................... under the guise of a visit.

[BS Man about Palms]

Here are the slow growing gems....

First, having seen a "batch" of seeds of both growing, I am convinced there are two types of Chambeyronia lepidota , highland and lowland? The look a little different and the germination and growth are worlds apart. the highland is 3-4 times the speed and germination.

Here is my "highland" Chambeyronia lepidota.

as it were.

And the rocket ship of a palm, a Moratia cerifera.


Might be slower than a Kentiopsis piersoniorum!!!

[BS Man about Palms]

Now I'm going to do the cheesy trick of one palm per post so the collection looks more impressive!

Basselinia pancheri.

[BS Man about Palms]

The spear tip on this is now about 5 1/2 feet tall or so.. (just under 2 meteres)

Chambeyronia sp houliou.

[BS Man about Palms]

Now on to the 4 horseman of the Kentiopsis!

Kentiopsis pyriformis.


(I have just decided to go get "extra" pics of these!!) stand by..

[NakaB]

Before getting extra pics please change shoes. Ain't right.

[BS Man about Palms]

Sorry about the shoes... the new Cal stuff brings out the color!!!

Here is the Kentiopsis oliviformis.

[BS Man about Palms]

The actually "fast now" Kentiopsis magnifica. In all seriousness, it is currently growing about the same speed as my oliviformis!





I don't need to mark the spear anymore, I can watch it grow!

[BS Man about Palms]

And of course, my favorite... this one will only get more colorful as it grows...

Kentiopsis piersoniorum.

[BS Man about Palms]

Now for a Cyphophoenix elegans. I have decided this is among the 5 easiest to grow palms from New Caledonia. It takes sun, shade, cool, pretty hot, just keeps going.

(those reports are from various places, my place does not have those ranges..)



aww heck, I should weed this area and take a lower pic... stand by again...

[BS Man about Palms]

OK. THIS is better!

Cyphophoenix elegans.

[BS Man about Palms]

But I'm not gonna weed anymore to take a pic of this Cyphophoenix nucele.

[BS Man about Palms]

Fine! I'll go try to get a crown shot of this Basselinia gracilis (probably eurostachys)

till then..

[BS Man about Palms]

Well, I GUESS it was worth it. It does look pretty good!

Basselinia gracils (probably eurostachys) crown.



Then another view with the Kentiopsis magnifica to the right and the Kentiopsis oliviformis to the left.

[BS Man about Palms]

Now, what WAS Viellonia alba, is now Cyphophoenix alba.... I think... Yes?

[BS Man about Palms]

Burretiokentia dumasii. (have a larger one off site..)

[palmcurry]

Mr.Sanford,

This is a money thread. I had to get out a bag of chips for proper viewing. That Basselinia gracils is a lovely specimen. What is it's growth rate like? Are they the same rate as C.elegans?
Speaking of which, what are the other 4 palms on your list as easy grows in SoCal??

Post on, Sir.

[BS Man about Palms]

And here is a standard... well maybe a little watermelon type, Chambeyronia macrocarpa.



It never really seems to keep green leaves and I'm still experimenting why, in a pot too long (hope not, I'm screwed if thats the case!)...lol.. Too much sun, soil or I'm leaning toward its a little too cool for its liking here..dunno.

[Darold Petty]

Bill, in post # 3, the highland Chambeyronia lepidota,
What is the pot size?
Did the seed come from RPS ?
How old is this plant ?
Thanks !
PS perhaps you could borrow some red shoes from Dave.

[BS Man about Palms]

Wow! I almost forgot!

Here is a pair of Actinokentia divaricata.



closer of one..

[BS Man about Palms]

Bill, in post # 3, the highland Chambeyronia lepidota,
What is the pot size?
Did the seed come from RPS ?
How old is this plant ?
Thanks !
PS perhaps you could borrow some red shoes from Dave.

Darold, I got it as a a "germinated spike" from Floribunda about 1 1/2 years ago... I think. Len may remember, he got some at the same time... I can look, but less than 2 years! And its in a 1 gallon.

I LIKE MY COLORFUL SHOES!

[BS Man about Palms]

Mr.Sanford,

This is a money thread. I had to get out a bag of chips for proper viewing. That Basselinia gracils is a lovely specimen. What is it's growth rate like? Are they the same rate as C.elegans?
Speaking of which, what are the other 4 palms on your list as easy grows in SoCal??

Post on, Sir.

Thanks Vince, as you might guess, the thread source I have is bound to end... like now. I will get, have had, or can't find now... Chambeyronia hookeri, Burretiokentia vielardii, and Basselinia glabrata. But on the whole, they should not be hard to get... The REST, MUCH HARDER! not to mention, keeping them alive!


As for the other 4? I would say,
Chambeyronia macrocarpa (all types)
Burretiokentia hapala
Actinokentia divaricata
Kentiopsis oliviformis
.....uhh, past this becomes a bigger list of slightly harder to grow, but doable palms..but the 5 aforementioned are pretty easy if you have any sort of decent place to try.

That gracilas/ eurostachys is harder to grow..I think I just have a good spot, They need some humid warmth ....most I see look like poo. Inland its too dry, and they are overwatered some to try to keep the leaf tips from burning, on the coast, the temp is too cool and they are almost all overwatered. Mine puts out like 3 or so leaves a year, maybe more and I don't even have it on the irrigation. It just draws from the surrounding soil... I will sometimes shoot water its way when watering outside, but I have yet too really soak it.
ALSO, the "big leaf" versions are MUCH easier to grow than the "all fine leaf" ones...thus I think it is a eurostachys.

Edited by BS Man about Palms, 23 January 2011 - 01:03 PM.

[BS Man about Palms]

I guess I can post the Basselinia tomentosa that was, but is no more...

[BS Man about Palms]

Please feel free to post any nice ones you might have!!


Oh yes, I thought it was funny that I had to think a second that I couldn't put my Lemurouxphoenix in this thread!!!

Edited by BS Man about Palms, 23 January 2011 - 01:09 PM.

[dan.vagnoni]

WOW. Now this is a thread! That K magnifica is a beaut. How big was that when you got it? or rather how old?

[DoomsDave]

And here is a standard... well maybe a little watermelon type, Chambeyronia macrocarpa.



It never really seems to keep green leaves and I'm still experimenting why, in a pot too long (hope not, I'm screwed if thats the case!)...lol.. Too much sun, soil or I'm leaning toward its a little too cool for its liking here..dunno.

I think it's getting more sun than it likes. I've got one that's doing the same thing, still growing well, though.

Post on!

[John in Andalucia]

Bill, I will always admire your Kentiopsis collection, and almost regret selling my last K. pyriformis seedling!

Don't make me get my Lavoixia out the box! Those babies are just about to make a spike!

[ariscott]

Nice Bill.... I have to say I don't have many NC stuff... I have Cambeyronia hookerii & macrocarpa, Kentiopsis pyriformis & 2 seedlings of Kentiopsis magnifica. The rest I haven't tried.... I do want Burretiokentia vielardii though. One day maybe....

They are so colourful...

Regards, Ari

[Gonzer]

Nice William. I didn't realize how many Syagrus seedlings you have in your yard!

[BS Man about Palms]

Dan, when I found that magnifica it was a pretty big 5 gal palm (So Cal Size)at JDA's, it was almost twice as big as the others they had. That was probably 4 years ago, maybe 5. It has only been in the ground about 2 years now, it was a little wobbly when planted, but within 6-9 months it was pretty stable. I think it grows faster than the Kentiopsis oliviformis because the mag. gets more sun.

Thanks Dave, kinda what I thought, but coastal I thought might forgive more. I also don't really give it too much water, I was thinking of boosting the water output.

John! Please post an update here or the one you started!!

Ari, New Cal palms rarely disappoint.

Actually Gonz, those are rare... you probably saw grass/weeds or washys...

[palmcurry]

Chambeyronia hookerii





Opening it's second leaf since I planted it in May. Really like these palms.

[Kim]

Hey, thanks for putting this thread together. This might be my dream list for the front garden makeover! I think these palms will love foggy Point Loma conditions.

[mjff]

What is the lovely weedy grass in the photos in posts #11 and #13? You think it is cold hardy to the low teens? I might have to get some seed from you.

Great collection. Too bad they would all probably be toast here by the end of November most years.

No ranch hands for scale? I prefer them to shoes.

[BS Man about Palms]

Vince, looking great!

Kim! I think you can plant most of these in full sun in your front yard...(once acclimated) I think you only get morning or 2/3 day sun out front??

Martin...those weeds are valuable... I think to the right goat herder.

[LJG]

Bill, hard to imagine it being Basselinia eurostachys and not gracilis. The only reason I say that is becuase your plant looks great. I lost three large Basselinia eurostachys. They never looked good. Plus they suckered and yours seems single.

[BS Man about Palms]

Bill, hard to imagine it being Basselinia eurostachys and not gracilis. The only reason I say that is becuase your plant looks great. I lost three large Basselinia eurostachys. They never looked good. Plus they suckered and yours seems single.

Len, my understanding is that the Basselinia gracilis with the "wide" leaf, etc was the eurostachys, and the "all fine leaf" was the gracilis. Whichever it is, I probably agree with you if you have noted as I have, all the ones even remotely doing well have that "mid petiole wide leaf". I would love to try more Basselinia if I could get them... or anything else from there I don't have! And you know as I do, 2 more from New Cal growing in So Cal that are hard to find (if not impossible) and doing great! (for those not aware, a Cyphokentia macrostachys and a Clinosperma bracteale)

[BS Man about Palms]

Duh! How could I forget (I kinda thought I would miss some..well one so far.)

My largest Cyphosperma balansae in a 7 gal pot.





Forgive the night picture...

[BS Man about Palms]

My smaller Cyphosperma balansae that is at least in the ground! (plus its been ransacked by Racoons at least twice! )

Planted as a small 1 gal, more as an experiment to see if what I think is true, these are happier in the ground than in a greenhouse or a pot.... so far, looks to be true.

[richnorm]

Not wishing to be a smart arse but isn't it B. eriostachys rather than eurostachys? Moratia got lumped into Cyphokentia.