Jump to content
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT LOGGING IN ×
  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Plant/shrub ID


PalmatierMeg

Recommended Posts

Today I found this shrubby plant for 1/2 price at an unnamed location. I liked that it appears to have a caudex and very architecturally interesting eliptical dark green leaves. While the caudex is gray, new stems are speckled with dark spots. Can anybody give me the scientifically name of this plant (I got only bovine stares from nursery staff and the idiot supplier called it "houseplant"). If it can survive my ferocious sun/heat/humidity I'd like to put it on our new lot. Thanks.

post-1349-059210000 1331839023_thumb.jpg post-1349-033246200 1331839038_thumb.jpg

post-1349-046782100 1331839049_thumb.jpg

Trunk/caudex

post-1349-095535500 1331839103_thumb.jpg

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Polyscias scutellaria (aka Polyscias balfouriana). One of the tropical "aralias" or panaxes...this and its close generic kin have long been standard material in tropical and warmest subtropical areas (e.g., Hawai'i and Florida) especially for hedging and also for specimen use.

Michael Norell

Rancho Mirage, California | 33°44' N 116°25' W | 287 ft | z10a | avg Jan 43/70F | Jul 78/108F avg | Weather Station KCARANCH310

previously Big Pine Key, Florida | 24°40' N 81°21' W | 4.5 ft. | z12a | Calcareous substrate | avg annual min. approx 52F | avg Jan 65/75F | Jul 83/90 | extreme min approx 41F

previously Natchez, Mississippi | 31°33' N 91°24' W | 220 ft.| z9a | Downtown/river-adjacent | Loess substrate | avg annual min. 23F | Jan 43/61F | Jul 73/93F | extreme min 2.5F (1899); previously Los Angeles, California (multiple locations)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought it looked like a panax as well, although its the largest leaf panax that I have seen. If so, they propagate easily from cuttings if you want to have more of them. They grow really fast (at least other panax do) and make great hedges

Link to comment
Share on other sites

it does look like aralias

Aralia is the old name for these plants (still commonly used). Polyscias is the accepted name now. Arno King did a good article in the latest edition of SubTropical Gardening magazine on them. They are somewhat an old fashioned plant here and you see many old woody examples growing around old wooden 'Queenslander' homes. I have a few growing in my garden as I really like them.

Andrew,
Airlie Beach, Whitsundays

Tropical Queensland

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had nightmare about them as we had to remove lots of them that grew all twisted before we started a garden back in Gove. I have one big leave one, because it was given to me... But I won't buy them.

Edited by ariscott

Ari & Scott

Darwin, NT, Australia

-12°32'53" 131°10'20"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only seen as a houseplant here in San Francisco, and they are super slow growing here because it never gets hot for more than a day or two. Looks good indoors with bright light, does it take full sun in south Florida or Queensland? Interesting to get a perspective of the Polyscias as a weed to be discouraged, when they're so unusual here. Sounds like it should do well if protected from frost, getting fairly large if not clipped.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Only seen as a houseplant here in San Francisco, and they are super slow growing here because it never gets hot for more than a day or two. Looks good indoors with bright light, does it take full sun in south Florida or Queensland? Interesting to get a perspective of the Polyscias as a weed to be discouraged, when they're so unusual here. Sounds like it should do well if protected from frost, getting fairly large if not clipped.

Yes they do best in full sun in coastal Queensland as we have plenty of humidity in the summer months. They will also grow ok in the shade too but the variegated forms may loose some colour. They are highly variable from the big dinner plate leaved form (Ari was talking about) to ones with fine almost Maidenhair fern like foliage.

Andrew,
Airlie Beach, Whitsundays

Tropical Queensland

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...