Livistona chinensis "trunk hardy" here!

[mdsonofthesouth]

So been watching little spears come up which was expected, but I never thought the "big" trunks would too! So essentially my protection was for roots and did nothing for trunks, growing points and crowns. This clump saw many single digit temps last winter and was exposed so its been through some stuff! 

 

I originally gave up on it and now Im curious as to what the long term is!

[mdsonofthesouth]

 

Pretty cool looking fronds from last years spear. The clump is growing on me for sure!

[ChrisA]

That’s pretty amazing.  If they can handle those kinds of temps there, maybe I can get away with one here!  What exposure does yours get (i.e. microclimate, sunlight, canopy)? I hear they’re fast growing in subtropical climates but slow exponentially where they experience colder winters, though I didn’t know they could handle single digits.

 

Thanks!

[mdsonofthesouth]

5 hours ago, ChrisA said:

That’s pretty amazing.  If they can handle those kinds of temps there, maybe I can get away with one here!  What exposure does yours get (i.e. microclimate, sunlight, canopy)? I hear they’re fast growing in subtropical climates but slow exponentially where they experience colder winters, though I didn’t know they could handle single digits.

 

Thanks!

 

NNW placement on my house. Saw many single digit nights and 200 to 250 hours bellow freezing with that lovely event in January. It is planted near the house and concrete porch, no canopy. I mulched most of the trunks and built an enclosure for the coldest nights, but once it 99% defoliated it got exposed but still had a roof. This winter I am going to give it 100% exposed status and see what happens as will all my NW and SW palms save for my chamaerops pair.

 

[PalmatierMeg]

As long as the growing points stay underground they (this is a solitary palm sold to you artificially clumped) may be able to survive a Mid Atlantic winter. Once they trunk and the growing point is exposed to ambient winter temps these palms will be toast. But that moment may not come for years as they are burned to the ground every winter. In any case you are performing an interesting and enlightening experiment in palm growing. Glad to see them coming back for you.

[mdsonofthesouth]

7 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said:

As long as the growing points stay underground they (this is a solitary palm sold to you artificially clumped) may be able to survive a Mid Atlantic winter. Once they trunk and the growing point is exposed to ambient winter temps these palms will be toast. But that moment may not come for years as they are burned to the ground every winter. In any case you are performing an interesting and enlightening experiment in palm growing. Glad to see them coming back for you.

 

Some in the clump had 6 to 8in of clear trunk before winter ended. I trimmed to speed growth. Essentially they do the same clumping as chamaerodea elegens for holiday baskets when planting. I didnt want to separate them, rather feed them a little more aggressively.

Edited June 6, 2018 by mdsonofthesouth

[PalmatierMeg]

5 minutes ago, mdsonofthesouth said:

 

Some in the clump had 6 to 8in of clear trunk before winter ended. I trimmed to speed growth. Essentially they do the same clumping as chamaerodea elegens for holiday baskets when planting. I didnt want to separate them, rather feed them a little more aggressively.

I agree they shouldn't be separated. The process might kill them all.

[mdsonofthesouth]

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I agree they shouldn't be separated. The process might kill them all.

 

Thay was my worry. Was already tough getting the chamaerodea elegans clump apart safely. These palms are where they'll be until they die. Going to see how much trunk I can get on them.