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My 'Mexican Gold' is in full show-mode right now. In spite of the fact that it's probably the cold-hardiest "big" single-season Heliconia in the trade, it remains something few have even heard of. It really is the type of big Heliconia that can take your breath away, particularly when it's in a bit of shade and that intense orange-yellow color seems to shine like a torch. The leaves are large, glossy and luxuriously wide and a rich green. It is quite precocious but better behaved than something like H. schiedeana in California. My clump occupies about a 6'x6' circle at present since the stems do lean out a bit, it is not a tight, vertical type like H. x rauliniana or 'Hot Rio Nites.' But it's a clumper, not a runner, which is a plus for most people. Not sure how this does in cooler areas, but I had great success with it in southern Mississippi when I lived there, and now in the Palm Springs area. The species identity of this cultivar is still something of a mystery. Fred Berry and Bob Langford found this one in Mexico and never were able to identify it properly by species. So Bob Langford said they just propagated it under the cultivar name they used, 'Mexican Gold.' Somebody else later attached H. latispatha to it, but there's no science behind that attribution. It could be a hybrid of any of the Mexican species, and there are quite a few of those, such as H. bourgaeana, H. champneiana, H. uxpanapensis, H. latispatha, et al. Whatever it is, it's quite a beauty, with really substantial, chunky inflorescences. Really quite spectacular to see it in person, and it's very easy to take care of it. The largest of these open inflorescences on my clump right now is about a foot tall. They make excellent cut flowers in big tropical arrangements.

I'm sure there is a way to identify the seeds that have multiple embryos, but it would likely require damaging the seed overall. Others may have a method that doesn't involve this or an X-ray machine. I've had a few that sprouted with multiple embryos. Usually, one becomes dominant and overtakes the other. It would be hard to fit two adults right next to each other anyway.

i just noticed a twinner,what should i do.out of 250 seeds i busted open i got 5 polysbut it defeats purpose busting em open...right.is there a way to identify one in shell?

@JLM Looks like it is on the mend for the foreseeable future. Let us all hope we don't get double-tapped this winter like we did in 2010.

Bizzy Update - 7/26/26 Frond has fully opened. Next one coming in behind looks to be normal, although probably stunted. Severely lacks that silver coloration, which im hoping will gradually return with each new frond.

Looks like some sort of infection in the crown that has now completely pushed out. Growth should be normal from this point forward.

Here are some photos of flushing zamias in the garden, Zamia neurophyllidia A couple of Zamia splendens colorful one leaf flushes, A Zamia flushing bronze, And finally a Zamia inermis flushing after a thorough haircut.

A triple of Trachycarpus would look good enough and could get by with the shorter growing season.

Someone was snacking?

Just another week in paradise! 🥵 (predicted) aztropic Mesa, Arizona

Bad luck! We worry about freeze damage before it happens, but forget there are plenty of other hazards that can damage or take out palms, hail, wind, falling trees, extreme heat etc. Dodged that one, it seems. Bottomed out at -2.3C which matches my lowest of 2024. It didn't go below freezing until 3am however and warmed quickly once the sun came up. That will be no worse than the -1.9C earlier in the month which apart from Alexandre had nothing covered for. Now have a full day sun to put some heat into the housebricks, driveway etc's thermal mass. Should make a difference. Yesterday was the dreaded cold sunless day forecast to clear at dusk.

Yes. P macarthurii is now considered a synonym of P propinquum - they are the same. They can be quite vigorous, but not too difficult to manage. You can always chop off stems you don’t want.

That’s all we need to see it’s possible, I have transplanted Johannesteijsmannia and had a little success so I guess get enough root ball and as little disturbance as possible they will live. The inflo may get a little longer.

You gotta watch those blokes who flood you with seeds, it’s a plot to stop you growing good exotic palms, it’s keeps you busy while they grow the exotics 🤣

Ian goo to keep an eye on it see if it sets seeds, iam sure it is cool tolerant.

Just look at Dubai with what they have created in desert. A tropical oasis, just add water and a big watering system and they created a paradise in a city. The climate has changed and now it’s possible to grow palms once unthinkable of growing in a certain area. Also with so many new palms available from so many different regions there’s something for most climates. Time is only thing that slows a garden down, many people see my garden and would like the same but they are not prepared to wait 10 years or more for that, unless you have mega dollars to buy advanced palms time is the only way to do it. I had a plant collection from age 17 and every time I moved I lost plants due to cold as I was moving further inland away from the coast with frosts. Now no frost so it’s grow whatever I can get my hands on and hope it lives! Richard

I do not know the species here? Large, feathery/fernlike is a good start.

Hi, thanks for the quick response. Would that be what they commonly call here a Macarthur palm (P. Marcarthurii), I understand the same species? That was my first guess, many growers told us it was a P. Elegans, but I understand those do not cluster. Some even told us it was an Adonidia… Will P. Propinquum be easy to manage to that they don’t overtake the small strip we have? Thanks again, I’m clueless about palms, doing the research for the backyard project. Any suggestions for underplantings that will play well with these palms…?

Nice reddish new leaf. I have several in the garden and they have never displayed a colored new leaf. No matter, beautiful little palms. Tim

Can anyone help me with this? Not getting fully formed new growth. Located in coastal NC. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Dave how has it done with cold weather? I’ve have been reluctant to plant one as I read on PT they don’t do well once it gets below 30. I think you mentioned in the past they grow much faster than Regia.

Thanks Scott.. Crazy, teeny things

That's exactly what royal seeds look like. They are purple/blue when mature and ripe. Those look a little smaller than what I remember, but might germinate anyway. Fruits are usually 1/4" to 3/8" in length. aztropic Mesa, Arizona

When I had more than a couple it was actually my hope to get some up to the Mt Dandenong Ranges Botanical Gardens. Just not sure I’m ever going to get them to a size to be able to hand them over to public gardens where they may not be cared for until they’re good to plant out. The gardens up there certainly do have a better temperature and rainfall profile for G undata than I do at sea level.

Fronds are plumose!! I am famous for not fertilizing when I have a problem with a palm and post it people generally say it needs fertilizer of some kind!! It does get plenty of water because I have a hose that leaks that I haven’t had time to fix so I move it back and forth from one side of the palm to the other!! The thing that stumped me is how short the fronds are and how far apart they are I guess that will change with age