a cold sensitive silver-blue form of Bismarckia nobilis

[Eric in Orlando]

This Bismarckia is growing in Rockledge, FL, just south of Cocoa on the west side of the Indian River Lagoon. It is interesting as it seems to be one of those tender, cold sensitive forms even though it is not a green leaf form. It is also a thinner specimen. Lots of other Bismarckia planted in the area and none with cold damage. Even the coconuts, royals, bottles and Adonidia around here look good. I remember in the early to mid 1990s when Bismarcks were first being planted there were specimens that would show severe burn below about 30F even though they were silver blue and not green. (Also, it is definitely a Bismarckia and not a Latania.)

[howfam]

This Bismarckia is growing in Rockledge, FL, just south of Cocoa on the west side of the Indian River Lagoon. It is interesting as it seems to be one of those tender, cold sensitive forms even though it is not a green leaf form. It is also a thinner specimen. Lots of other Bismarckia planted in the area and none with cold damage. Even the coconuts, royals, bottles and Adonidia around here look good. I remember in the early to mid 1990s when Bismarcks were first being planted there were specimens that would show severe burn below about 30F even though they were silver blue and not green. (Also, it is definitely a Bismarckia and not a Latania.)

 

Eric in Orlando:

Could this be a hybrid of the blue and green forms. I've seen them here in Jacksonville and they behave the same as this one./howfam

Edited November 7, 2018 by howfam

[palmsOrl]

Interesting to read confirmation of the existence of the cold sensitive  blue silver bismarckia.  I had one of these, planted at my parents old house, purchased in 1997.  The leaves burned severely the second temperatures went even a touch below freezing.  So it defoliated in my suburban Orlando location virtually every year, but grew out of the damage very quickly by summer.

[kinzyjr]

Conversely, some disagree that the blue/silver form is hardier.  See the comment by @edbrown_III on this thread: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/57642-dumbest-things-youve-heard-about-palms/

 

[Eric in Orlando]

Cold hardiness can vary in silver blue forms. I don't hear much about them burning easily and most of these tender specimens now are larger palms. They seemed to be more common back in the early to mid 1990s when Bismarckia were first becoming commonly available. Central Florida had some upper 20s freezes back then and some Bismarckia burned bad and others untouched. As has been mentioned before, seedlings can have a purple coloring and supposedly the more purple coloring the more cold hardy and intensely silver colored the palm will be. I think what is mostly being grown now is the more cold hardy forms. I have never heard of a cold hardy green form. Those will burn below 30F but always come back.