Sabals in the Desert?

[velutina]

I want to try Sabal riverside in Las Vegas.

Do you think this would work? Too hot? Not humid enough?

Thanks!

Edited January 8, 2010 by velutina

[FRITO]

should be fine long as you keep it watered and out of western sun. from Ive heard from our fellow desert palm growers in AZ thats is the worst.

Sabal uresana should be a great canidate for Vegas.

[iamjv]

Have seen sabals growing in Tucson, and I do think they were on the eastern side of the buildings if memory serves me. Of course you could always grow sabal uresana as they'll do great there! Jv

[mjff]

I want to try Sabal riverside in Las Vegas.

Do you think this would work? Too hot? Not humid enough?

Thanks!

I would think any of the desert sabals would work (uresana, rosei, pumos, etc.), but I have a Riverside here and it did fine over the summer. We were very hot and dry this summer with one stretch where the highs were 107, 108, 107, and 105. I lost count of the number of 100+ degree days this year. My other Sabals were similarly unfazed by the heat, and I have just about every species of them, all in full sun.

[chocapik]

Have seen sabals growing in Tucson, and I do think they were on the eastern side of the buildings if memory serves me. Of course you could always grow sabal uresana as they'll do great there! Jv

Hi everyone,

Martin, with hot temp like that, do you water your Sabal or they are just waiting for the next cloud praying it poours down ?

[mjff]

Have seen sabals growing in Tucson, and I do think they were on the eastern side of the buildings if memory serves me. Of course you could always grow sabal uresana as they'll do great there! Jv

Hi everyone,

Martin, with hot temp like that, do you water your Sabal or they are just waiting for the next cloud praying it poours down ?

If it hasn't rained, I water once a week during the summer, and about every 3 weeks during the winter if we are having a warm and dry winter. It's been so cool and wet this year I don't recall the last time I watered. Probably August.

[chocapik]

[mjff]

I find it's a lot easier to kill them by over-watering than under-watering, especially if they are in heavy clay that doesn't dry out. A lot depends on your soil. If it is really sandy and well-drained, you will need to water more frequently than if you have soil that soaks water up like a sponge and stays wet. The younger ones that don't have a deep root system may need more frequent watering, since the soil dries out quicker near the surface.

[bubba]

The Sabals I have seen in the Desert look better than the ones we have in Florida.

[DoomsDave]

Vel:

I think that any of the hardier Sabals are plausible in the Big Gaga, but, the real problem is the cold at least as much as the heat. Vegas, I've heard, goes down to 11 F sometimes, or thereabouts, which, I think is a challenge even for hardy Sabals.

I assume you're a habituated Vegasian, but, for those who aren't, the soil in Vegas is full of boron, which is poisonous to most plants, and heavy leaching is required, or raised beds.

So I've heard anyway.

Whatever you plant, let us know, take a pic, post it here, so we can all coo over it, and we'll hope, with you, for the best.

[mjff]

Vel:

I think that any of the hardier Sabals are plausible in the Big Gaga, but, the real problem is the cold at least as much as the heat. Vegas, I've heard, goes down to 11 F sometimes, or thereabouts, which, I think is a challenge even for hardy Sabals.

I assume you're a habituated Vegasian, but, for those who aren't, the soil in Vegas is full of boron, which is poisonous to most plants, and heavy leaching is required, or raised beds.

So I've heard anyway.

Whatever you plant, let us know, take a pic, post it here, so we can all coo over it, and we'll hope, with you, for the best.

My Sabal Riverside laughed at the 12F we had last week as did all my other Sabals with the exception of a small S. bermudana that has some frond damage. Can't speak to the soil conditions, but neither the heat or the cold should be a problem.

[DoomsDave]

Vel:

I think that any of the hardier Sabals are plausible in the Big Gaga, but, the real problem is the cold at least as much as the heat. Vegas, I've heard, goes down to 11 F sometimes, or thereabouts, which, I think is a challenge even for hardy Sabals.

I assume you're a habituated Vegasian, but, for those who aren't, the soil in Vegas is full of boron, which is poisonous to most plants, and heavy leaching is required, or raised beds.

So I've heard anyway.

Whatever you plant, let us know, take a pic, post it here, so we can all coo over it, and we'll hope, with you, for the best.

My Sabal Riverside laughed at the 12F we had last week as did all my other Sabals with the exception of a small S. bermudana that has some frond damage. Can't speak to the soil conditions, but neither the heat or the cold should be a problem.

Whoa!

I guess not!

[Xerarch]

Have you been to the Springs Preserve since it opened? There are a few sables growing in there, I'm not sure which kind but you may want to check them out. I don't remember seeing many others in Vegas.

[simona]

This is not Vegas but I'm sure planning to give a try for my Sabal seedlings out here, beginning of spring.