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Another attempt at this genus...


Mandrew968

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My first attempt at this genus was the finicky Hyphaene compressa. I didn't know it at the time, but now I hear these are not the easiest palm to grow in South Florida, unlike the weedy and ubiquitous coriacea. One of my favorite aspects of this genus is the dichotomous branching that most species exhibit(another reason why I wouldn't grow a coriacea). When I was first getting into palms, I did a little research and then hunted down a Hyphaene compressa, as the photos of this one were what drew me to the genus in the first place--that, and it's reputed to be the largest species.

A few years later and a couple summer swale inundations and my Hyphaene was toast; I found out( after the fact) that not only does this species like very little water, but my palm curator friend at MBC told me the species is hit or miss, no matter how long it has been in the ground. She then told me of a very large specimen in their garden that just up and died on her for no apparent reason...

Fastforward to a week ago. I was at a nursery and was 'hunting'... I come across one of my new favorites from this genus--Hyphaene petersiana. I say new favorites because people's tastes change, and after seeing more than a few of these around South Florida landscapes, I can say it's definitely my favorite Hyphaene. Funny thing is, the dichotomous branching that initially got me interested in this genus, petersiana does not exhibit! No, no branching on this palm--but what is indeed so alluring with petersiana, is the color. I would have to say of all the silver palms in the world, Hyphaene petersiana may just have the best coloring of them all. Oh and did I mention they are absolute monsters too? :winkie: Big and tall palms, for sure!

So I pulled the trigger on this palm--was not the biggest in the lot, as I picked for color, not size. I dug an over sized hole and backfilled the hole with a sandy medium, mixed with a palm fertilizer and watered her in, best I could. The very next day, it rained for 24 hours straight--a real toad strangler! :bummed: We will see, but I don't think I should be too worried as this species is supposed to be much less tempermental in our climate. The lack of branching means it will have less of a chance of crowding out the sun for my Copernicia gigas which is a 'win, win'.

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good luck on the Hyphaene compressa.

Nice C. Gigas BTY :drool:

ohh how I wish I had your climate....

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Carlsbad, California Zone 10 B on the hill (402 ft. elevation)

Sunset zone 24

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good luck on the Hyphaene compressa.

Nice C. Gigas BTY :drool:

ohh how I wish I had your climate....

Thanks Josh, but I am beyond luck with my compressa-it bit the dust over a year ago.

Thanks for the positive comments, guys :)

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  • 6 months later...

I took these shots yesterday. Man, this palm is fast! I am very happy with the color too. Not sure why this palm isn't grown more just for its color. 

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  • 1 month later...

Thanks! I am thankful it is so fast. I also look forward to the huge silver beacon it will eventually become.

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  • 7 months later...

This palm you can forget about and then, on a casual walk about, rediscover the glory you needed when you decided to plant it in the first place.

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  • 2 months later...

I love this palm and it makes me smile every time I look at it. Growing nicely and amazing color.

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  • 6 months later...

Update from 2 minutes ago. Despite it being a desert palm, it's not hating this week straight of constant rain...

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  • 7 months later...

Well, Irma did it's thing and it was substantial, in total.

This Hyphaene went to leaning pretty hard-most palms that got rocked, all were leaning in the same direction. I trimmed some fronds and propped it up a few degrees, and counted my blessings...

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  • 1 year later...
  • 8 months later...
On 1/14/2018 at 4:20 PM, Mandrew968 said:

Well, Irma did it's thing and it was substantial, in total.

This Hyphaene went to leaning pretty hard-most palms that got rocked, all were leaning in the same direction. I trimmed some fronds and propped it up a few degrees, and counted my blessings...

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Any update? Thanks

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  • 2 years later...

It started creating shade so I began mulching. Also put in some companion groundcover-7 species of elephant chewing gum. Some are growing faster than others and eventually I may move some of these to another part of the yard.

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  • 2 weeks later...
9 hours ago, Blueman said:

Is that two separate plants, or has one put off a second trunk?  I read pertersiana is supposed to be solitary trunked.  

It made two spears and then split into two heads. Doubt it does it again. Yes, this is usually the case in the wild as the elephants only leave one main trunk...

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