W. filifera in North Florida

[Matthew92]

Update on my filifera seedlings. Some have made good growth (despite their past situation) and it's been warm enough lately that I just now transplanted them out of those bad draining pots. They are now in larger pots with a good amount of perlite to help drainage. Hopefully they survive this transplant. I was able to preserve all the roots, but on a couple of them, all the soil fell off. I hope for them to grow large enough in these pots and then plant them on the side of the road that leads into our cul-de-sac. It's a dry and sunny spot that currently has scrawny, stunted crepe myrtles that are on the decline. I plan to put a W. filifera in between each crepe myrtle.

Here's the spot where I'd like to plant them. Since that picture was taken in 2014, those crepe myrtles have really become worse looking. They lost their leaves very prematurely this last fall where we went 1 and 1/2 months without rain. It's a hot, dry, and sandy spot- I think the filifera will do well there.

[Brad Mondel]

My young Fili made it through the winter just fine. I kept him on the front porch so he would stay dry. He is actively growing now and enjoying the spring sunshine! My robustas in the ground defoliated but are now growing back. We had a low of 14F this winter. 

[Matthew92]

The ones I posted earlier are doing awesome and growing FAST. I think they love the high heat. Upper 80's to around 90 lately.

[Alicehunter2000]

Looking good!

 

[Matthew92]

W. filifera sightning in NW Florida. Not sure if it has a touch of robusta genetics in it, but definitely very distinct from the W. filibusta and robusta growing nearby.

[Matthew92]

For some reason, I have seldom seen Washingtonia volunteers in my area. However, I did happen upon this nice one just recently.

 

[bubba]

Never realized how much thicker W. filifera was compared to W. robusta. My recollection is that W. filifera is also substantially more cold hardy. Will these grow in South Florida and how fast? Any specimens in South Florida? Really good looking palm and surprised I have not seen any down here. 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

W. Filifera is about 7 degrees more leaf hardy and 10-15 degrees more bud hardy than Robusta.  Once Filifera develops a trunk there isn't much that will kill it. While Sabal Palmetto and Mexicana are more leaf hardy then Filifera they cannot survive any temperature below 2F but Filifera can and does with surprising results. 

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

On 2/11/2018, 6:09:52, bubba said:

Never realized how much thicker W. filifera was compared to W. robusta. My recollection is that W. filifera is also substantially more cold hardy. Will these grow in South Florida and how fast? Any specimens in South Florida? Really good looking palm and surprised I have not seen any down here. 

https://www.google.com/maps/@25.9499249,-81.6998652,3a,75y,215.28h,93.02t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s3Rov1M-nn5H03aawWGB-UQ!2e0!5s20150301T000000!7i13312!8i6656 heres one at marco island. you dont see many in florida becuse of the humididty.  thers also some huge ones in largo at the botanical gardens