I need an Aussie Palm that can take heat, cold, dryness and doesn't get to large....

[John Case]

am I asking too much?

[Peter G]

one of the Livistonas should do the trick

[John Case]

most Livistonas get pretty large, don't they?

Also, the soil is mostly sand and hardpan.....

[NApalm]

A ptychosperma elegans would have done the trick but I don't think it will take the cold

[John Case]

NApalm,

you are correct....the site will get temps at 25 or so in January for a few days, usually. However, it will be a south facing orientation with a stucco wall reflecting the suns heat back on to it......and indeed, it will also experience 120 or so during the summer....

Right now, in the Livistona species I am looking at decora, chinensis, and rigida,...I can rig a drip system to the site.....

still looking for that magic species from Oz!

Thanks,

JC

[Stevetoad]

Livistona decora! Love that palm

[DoomsDave]

Beep, I think you are asking for too much.

I can't think of anything that fills all your requirements from OZ.

[Ben in Norcal]

You know what I am going to say having seen my yard John...cunninghamiana!!! None of the others fit all your requirements either, so might as well be my favorite!

[NApalm]

What about laccospadix australasica?

[DoomsDave]

What about laccospadix australasica?

I thought of that, but it hates the dry, won't grow well at my place

[Dave-Vero]

Livistona decora does well in Orlando, where winter temperatures are erratic. The 1980s got cold enough to eliminate citrus in the area. Also, Florida cold tends to be dry and short-lasting. Weeklong cold spells happen, but they're unusual. Soils are mostly sand. You might look into Australian Lepidozamia cycads.

[Bencassa]

Linospadix ticks all those boxes so long as it wont be seeing a lot of sun.

[Tropicgardener]

Linospadix doesn't like dry though......

[Bencassa]

In habit they can go for months without a drink. Once established they are really pretty good with the dry.

[floridascape]

Livistonia austrailis, druedii, ...hedyscape?

[Kennybenjamin]

What about laccospadix australasica?

I think napalm is on the mark here and this is the palm you should try. I have 1 or 2 growing here with zero water supplementation and we are experiencing serious hot and dry conditions. The specimens I refer to are growing great!

[NApalm]

Mine gets no additional water from rainfall for the past 3 years. Granted we usually have more rainfall than California (im generalising), but it might just work. Just my 2 cents (1.6c USD)

[Pip]

I probably live in the most similar climate to California found in Australia. Here is what Linospadix minor looks growing in the shade of the Australian forest garden in the Adelaide Botanic Garden.

[John Case]

Dave,

Certainly, Lepidozamia is on the list......one more palm in the front yard is the goal to complement the Chaemerops humilis v.argentea ad the Brahea armata In the other vignettes.....

The Aussie garden will be the biggest of the 3 as there seems to be more diversity in plant types than the Middle/South American and African choices I must make.

I already have Archontophoenix at the one area that gets a little protection from the extremes of season (and they are doing well),....planning on Grevillea, Hakea, Banksia, and other smaller plants for the area that gets brutalized by the winter and summer lows and highs. I am luck to live a half hour from the Ruth Bancroft Garden in Walnut Creek. They have a tremendous selection of drought tolerant plants available.

All of this is being done because I no longer want a lawn in the front yard. 3 reseedings in 10 years and all of the water/mowing that resulted in a very poor look has made me make this change.

[John Case]

BTW,

I truly appreciate all of the attention and help everyone is offering.

JC

[John Case]

Ben,

I didn't show you the little grove of A. cunninghamiana I have on the SE corner of the house....yours are so much nicer.....they will not make it on the front yard unexposed...during the winter the cold wind coming down from the East slope of Mt. Diablo is brutal, dry and freezing....

[Ben in Norcal]

Ben,

I didn't show you the little grove of A. cunninghamiana I have on the SE corner of the house....yours are so much nicer.....they will not make it on the front yard unexposed...during the winter the cold wind coming down from the East slope of Mt. Diablo is brutal, dry and freezing....

Next time! My whole dang yard is cunninghamiana as you know so it could get interesting this winter. Going to focus my protection strategies on the A maxima and A. purpurea, along with the big Howea...so it could get interesting over here. We're testing lots of things this winter...the Beccariophoenix as you know, the Pseudophoenix, various more tender Syagrus, Ceroxylon, Chambeys, and more. Hoping for a mild one!

[Josh-O]

Livistonia rigida's are awesome

[John Case]

Josh,l

I agree!

I had one a few years ago and killed it by not paying attention to the water....The dogs disconnected the dripline and you know the rest. I am leaning that way unless someone comes up with another!

Thanks!

JC

[dalmatiansoap]

Livistona muelleri

[Stevetoad]

L fulva is my favorite.

[John Case]

Not a good choice for a dryer garden.......I do not think it will survive the 120 temps it will experience in the summer afternoons....

[John Case]

Steve,

While L. fulva looks good, I think its water requirements are higher than I am willing to provide.......

Thanks.

JC

[Jonathan]

Heres a link to the nearest weather station to L. fulva habitat http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_035290_All.shtml

I've camped at the Blackdown Tablelands twice and I can tell you its not wet...at least during the dry season, which is most of the year and you wont scare this palm with heat!

Cheers,

Jonathan

[Daryl]

L.fulva is more dry tolerant than L.rigida...

Also, Laccospadix is remarkably drought tolerant

Daryl

[John Case]

Daryl,

Is it possible that I killed my previous L. australicas with too much love (and water?)

[Tyrone]

Anything from an Aussie rainforest will not like 25F minimums. I think Lacco's and Lino's will croak at those temps. Try Livistona australis, decora etc and get used to the size.

[John Case]

Tyrone,

I already have an australis in the backyard and the more I ignore it, the better it looks. For the front yard it may be a bit thorny, though.....

decora, fulva, rigida, chinensis are on the short list right now, with a possibility the a L. australica may fid a spot as well.

Still working on the problem and may go with a Lepidozamia species if the palm search goes bad.

This is a good problem to solve. I am planning to be at Kevin Weaver's sometime on Wednesday.....maybe something will come up there....

Thanks all!

JC

[John Case]

OK, how about a N. Normanbyi?

[Darold Petty]

Have you considered a Xanthorrhoea species ?

[John Case]

Darold,

In the context of this garden, I haven't; but your suggestion is possible,....if I can find one that will not require a 2nd mortgage.....

How are things?

JC

[Josh-O]

try Livistonia Benthamii

[Darold Petty]

Things are good, I'm just back from 3 weeks in Ecuador, photos and text in the next few days.