Clinostigma samoense

[Tyrone]

Hi everyone.

RPS has Clinostigma samoense seeds available. How tropical are these? I may have some hope of growing Clinostigma harlandii and C savoryana, but how does samoense rate in comparison?

Just wondering, what people think.

Best regards

Tyrone

[bgl]

Tyrone,

Hopefully someone else will respond as well, because (needless to say!) I have no experience with the cold hardiness factor! But, just a few thoughts: C. samoense is a true rainforest palm. It's going to need constant and abundant humidity & rainfall in order to look good, and maybe even to survive. It's definitely not going to like your high of +46C (115F!!), and it's also not going to like your low (right around freezing). As far as I know C. samoense will not survive outdoors in Southern California, an environment that's pretty close to yours I think?

Bo

[epicure3]

While Clinostigma harlandii and C savoryana do fine here in southern Cal. samonese is just too tropical to live here. There may be someone here that is eeking one out but it's too much of an effort to try, I would think.

[Palmarum]

Clinostigma samoense is very tropical. I have seen specimens receive cold damage at mid-40 degrees F. A sustained freeze would be fatal. The good side to this palm is its rapid growth rate. Any damage taken could be easily overcome the following spring and summer.

Ryan

[Walter John]

I lost mine due to lack of water. I discovered too late that C.samoense wants water all the time.

[deezpalms]

I had 2 samoense and 2 ponapense in 5 gal.'s all of which made it thru last summer and died this winter. The ponapense actually held on a few weeks longer than the samoense. I kept them in a protected, warm area of my garden and they did great from spring thru fall but as soon as we got down to the 40's they started to turn brown and didn't stop till' they crossed the border! I figured as much but for the price Floribunda sells them I thought I might as well try them.

[bgl]

This is just so you guys are aware of what you're missing out on! And yes, I know, I posted the same photo in the old Forum - I never get tired of these C. samoense!

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I can't answer the cold hardy question either but have a few things to say about C.sam.  I have seen them croak when they are still in the juvenile bifid leaf stage from spider mite infestation.

When young, they need copious water.  As they mature and develop some wood, they need less as they have a better developed root system.  In my very sandy soil it was a real battle to get a small C sam to the size it is now. (several feet of wood and about 20' tall to the tippy top)  Still, even with water evey day, it will never look as happy as Bo's.  But I am proud of it.

It has survived 120mph winds and several nights in the 42F range.  The wind made it ugly for several months but it looks good now.  The cold never bothered it probably because it warmed up nicely in the daytime.  It never got hotter than maybe 97F.

Jerry

[PalmsZA]

When young, they need copious water

Right - I better get watering!

[Tyrone]

Thanks guys. I think I'l put it into the "why bother" category as it won't survive for me.

Nice pics Bo.

C savoryanum and harlandii are my only bets with this genus.

best regards

Tyrone

[deezpalms]

That's right Tyronne! Now all I need to do is find either one bigger then a 1g!!

[Tyrone]

(deezpalms @ Jun. 23 2006,13:44)

QUOTE

That's right Tyronne! Now all I need to do is find either one bigger then a 1g!!

Here you can't even get them at any size. No ones even heard of them. My only chance is RPS from seed. I've got 30 savoryanum seed at the moment. Does anyone have any tips germinating this one?

regards

Tyrone

[bgl]

Tyrone,

Havn't germinated C. savoryanum seeds (yet), but if they're anything like C. samoense, they're quick and easy (a few months). I germinated a bunch of C. samoense, all from one seedbatch, and this is the result. Actually, there are many more, not visible in the photo. Most of these C. samoense are now at least 6 ft tall, less than a year after germination!

Bo

[Walter John]

(bgl @ Jun. 24 2006,02:03)

QUOTE

Tyrone,

Havn't germinated C. savoryanum seeds (yet), but if they're anything like C. samoense, they're quick and easy (a few months). I germinated a bunch of C. samoense, all from one seedbatch, and this is the result. Actually, there are many more, not visible in the photo. Most of these C. samoense are now at least 6 ft tall, less than a year after germination!

Bo

that's just not fair

[DoomsDave]

Every time I see a pic like Bo's, and realize it won't grow here in Cali, well, Hawaii here I come.

Everyone I've talked to says:  Fogeddabouddit.

Savoryanum will grow well here, though it's not easy to keep happy in my experience.

dave

Alas.

[Carlos Simón]

Hi,

I have four species of Clinostigma here in the subtropic ( Hierro island, Canary islands ) and the average of growth is very similar in all the species!

Clinostigma samoense is really fast but sure C. ponapense is faster.

Mostly all my Clinostigmas are one year old from seeds. C. samoense is two years old and it´s two leaves bigger that the seedlings of the Bob´s picture!

I don´t think C. samoense is so sensitive. My plants are outside and salt spray and strong winter winds did not damage them.

It is worth to try it!!!

Regards,

Carlos Simón

[Carlo Morici]

Carlos, I am delighted to learn that you are growing four species of Clinostigma. As far as I know none has ever been tried in the Canaries and you are the right person to test them (Carlos lives in a warm and humid seafront location in El Hierro: an almost perfect site for collecting palms !) Please keep me informed and take pictures while they go ahead.

I am growing seedlings of C.samoense and C.savoryanum in my property and I should plant them in the ground as soon as inspiration hits me. I did not test yet C.samoense in winter as mine was in a greenhouse, but C.savoryanum was absolutely hardy. Mine was a tiny weak seedling in November and it grew through winter without problems.

C.samoense might probably do well here, at least in coastal locations with drippers dripping everyday. I foresee some sun scorched crownshafts in summer, as seen in the hottest months on the Kona side of the Big Island.

I can't stop thinking about planting one or a few at the Palmetum in Santa Cruz, by the pelagodoxas, but it is too warm and too sunny at the moment and drippers only drip when they happen to drip.

Carlo, Tenerife

[doranakandawatta]

This is just so you guys are aware of what you're missing out on! And yes, I know, I posted the same photo in the old Forum - I never get tired of these C. samoense!

9 years later, still not tired of these Clinostigma!

Next month I'll plant these babies. Straight in full sun?

[doranakandawatta]

BUMP,

Just because searching old threads with Canary members , I remember a wonderful garden there I saw on Palmtalk maybe in 2013 ..

[bgl]

Philippe,

Good luck with the C. samoense, and they should be fine in full sun. They certainly take full sun in Hawaii. As a matter of fact, I think they require it. But they may also need constant rainfall to go with the full sun (no, it's not a contradiction!  ).

Bo-Göran

 

[doranakandawatta]

1 hour ago, bgl said:

Philippe,

Good luck with the C. samoense, and they should be fine in full sun. They certainly take full sun in Hawaii. As a matter of fact, I think they require it. But they may also need constant rainfall to go with the full sun (no, it's not a contradiction!  ).

Bo-Göran

 

Bo-Göran, do you remember posts of one Palmtalk member living in Canaries Island and having a lovely garden ? 
I remember I have been surprised seeing a real tropical garden there ( through his posts) but I can't get his name.

Now, Patrick Palms, from England, is asking about palm growing in Canaries, I can't find these old posts and pictures

[bgl]

There are definitely some lovely gardens in the Canary Islands, but the only name I can think of is Carlo (Morici), who has been active here on PalmTalk for many years. Carlo would definitely know.