Carpoxylon macrospermum

[elHoagie 276]

three one-gallon plants inside my greenhouse.  No damage so far after 33F.

[Kim 3,964]

5-gal. planted mid-August 2006.  Covered by clear plastic portable greenhouse with colored lights strung through the vents.

Lowest low outside a few feet away, 31F, dry.

One very pale yellow leaf.  Overall plant looks slightly pale.  Too soon to celebrate or write an epitaph.

[MattyB 2,158]

Carpoxylon macrospermum

5 gallon, in pot, in cold frame (poly film + 40% shade cloth)

37F on multiple nights, no dramatic damage but some hints of spotting due to ongoing nightly cold.

[quaman58 2,379]

Didn't have the guts to leave mine outside during this spell. Has been outside the rest of the time however, down to 34F without any noticeable wear. Of greater interest to me is that has continued to steadily push a spear up during the cold weather. This is certainly no tropical "wimp".

[Jeff Searle 1,203]

Carpoxylons will take alot of cold, easily down in the low 30's. Planted in the ground will also make them tougher.

Jeff

[Kim 3,964]

It's official:  Elvis has left the building.

[PALM MOD 585]

Maybe this should be moved to the "Memorials" section.

[Jason in Orlando 20]

(Jeff Searle @ Feb. 15 2007,21:50)

QUOTE

Carpoxylons will take alot of cold, easily down in the low 30's. Planted in the ground will also make them tougher.

Jeff

Jeff,

Do you ever experience frost or freeze in your location, or more specifically, have the Carpoxylons actually gotten a frost or freeze?  

Thanks in advance.

Jason

BTW, is your name pronounced Searl or Searl-ee?

[MattyB 2,158]

Carpoxylon survived, in ground, over winter, with no protection in SoCals long cool winter.  Lowest extreme temps were 38F & 39F on a couple of nights.  It's still acclimating to sun so older leaves are somewhat crispy, but I don't think there was any cold damage done.

[Guest]

How long does it take for a Carpoxylon seed to germinate ?

[bgl 3,193]

No more than a month. And the seedlings are VERY robust. I put mine directly into 5G pots.

[MattyB 2,158]

Update. After seeing lows in the high 30's F. The Spring leaf came out smaller. It's acclimating to sun but I'd say it's a slightly stunted leaf. It has nice shape and color just a bit smaller. Plant is growing nicely otherwise. So far I'd rank it along side of Clinostigma savoryanum as far as cold tenderness.

[www.dadluvsu.com 277]

I left my 5g tall Carpoxylon out in this past February''s cold snap... My shadehouse bottomed out at temps of 45.9F and got the same leaf stunting effect Matt is describing... I think having plants in the ground is so much easier on them.

Pics of two different examples...

The stunted leaf

This was the leaf that came up immediately after the stunted leaf...

Here's another example of the cold damage to this young palm...

[LJG 1,288]

Mine was in the ground from a 7 gallon and died this winter. I hit 36 or so. I think this plant will be more along the lines of a Bottle Palm here in SoCal.

[MattyB 2,158]

Len, I'm curious, did you have yours in any sun? Mine was seeing about 4 hours of afternoon sun. Even on a cold day, if the sun was out the Carpoxylon was getting at least some warmth. I'm debating wheather or not to plant some more Archontophoenix on the west side of it which would eventually help shade it a bit, hopefully making it look prettier. But if shade is a death sentence then no way. What say you? Do it?

[LJG 1,288]

Part of the reason it died at 36 degrees was the fact it had too much sun. It went into winter a little burnt. It actually tired like hell to hang in there and that last cold snap in April KO'ed it. I have another larger one I will acclimate over the next year and try in a primo spot in my yard. So I have not given up.

[MattyB 2,158]

I filled the entire bottom of the hole and backfilled the bottom portion around the rootball with coarse sand to combat the beginings of any rot. Then the top portion of the rootball I backfilled with ammended topsoil and then mulched on top of that to hold in moisture. I did not water deeply all winter. Just sprayed the surface a bit to keep it moist on those dry weeks. Maybe I have the skills....maybe it was the spot...maybe it was just luck. I like to think that it's because I have luck. Crap, I just sprained my finger typing this ....I've gotta go.

[epicure3 95]

I filled the entire bottom of the hole and backfilled the bottom portion around the rootball with coarse sand to combat the beginings of any rot. Then the top portion of the rootball I backfilled with ammended topsoil and then mulched on top of that to hold in moisture. I did not water deeply all winter. Just sprayed the surface a bit to keep it moist on those dry weeks. Maybe I have the skills....maybe it was the spot...maybe it was just luck. I like to think that it's because I have luck. Crap, I just sprained my finger typing this ....I've gotta go.

LOL

[tikitiki 12]

I have a small one in the ground. Covered the crown with a mulch pile and after 32f two times in a row it looks fine except for some light spots after a frost.l it has limited canopy.

[nomolos 34]

Any hardiness updates?

Cheers

[joe_OC 1,598]

Len,

Any updates on the 2nd one?

Part of the reason it died at 36 degrees was the fact it had too much sun. It went into winter a little burnt. It actually tired like hell to hang in there and that last cold snap in April KO'ed it. I have another larger one I will acclimate over the next year and try in a primo spot in my yard. So I have not given up.

[LJG 1,288]

Joe it is in a 25 gallon pot and has been outside through 2008/2009 winter and starting thisone. Each year it looks worse. It can't replace damaged leaves with new ones. Doubt this plant will grow here long term.

[MattyB 2,158]

This one has seen 3 Winters, unprotected (except 30% shade cloth). It benefits from being planted in a reflected heat area of my side/South facing yard.

[quaman58 2,379]

Mine is not quite the size of Mattys, (doesn't sound right no matter how I word it); but it's been in the ground for 3 years now. It's under canopy between a Queen & a Beccariophoenix. This years leaves still look real good. A nearby Veitchia looks beat up, although it is less protected. They can take some cold, but the worry is always that they could get a fungal infection during Winter. I've seen evidence of "the pink" under old leaf sheaves a couple years back. What really was most stiking this year was the lack of Summer warmth it obviouly wants; it's growth this year was minimal and very late in the year. Other than that, it's remarkably tough. I just don't plan on having a grove of them, I seriously doubt it will ever look like ones in more tropical areas.

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck 552]

Maybe this should be moved to the "Memorials" section.

loL....

[Xenon 2,362]

Someone is growing a trunking Carpoxylon in Brownsville, Texas...

Carpoxylon in Texas

Jonathan

[CardiffPalmNut 36]

Matty - any updated, I have a large 2 gal I'm itching to plant out, would love your advice.

Mahalo.

[MattyB 2,158]

Bill,

Check the "random palm parts" thread. I posted a teaser pic of my Carpoxylon's newest frond. I've had good luck with this palm and it continues to do well as long as I keep the 30% shade cloth over it. Like most tropicals, it grows fast during late Summer and Fall and is pretty slow in Winter and Spring. The Foxtail canopy is filling out nicely so hopefully next year I'll be able to take the shade cloth off of it. I water sparingly in Winter so don't be afraid to let it go relatively dry, with no irrigation for several weeks as long as it's cold, similar to what a New Caledonian palm can take; not like a Brahea or anything. And probably most importantly, plant it in that primo reflected heat spot like your west planter by the house so it has canopy above it, but the roots can bake in the afternoon sun. Or more South facing would be better for Winter I guess.

[Mandrew968 1,774]

Am I way off by saying if you can grow a foxtail, then you can grow a Carpoxylon? Same cold tolerance and about the same dimensions(maybe carpoxylon will get bigger in time)--both need a decent amount of nutrients to keep up their color, and probably the same water needs? I don't grow foxtails...

[MattyB 2,158]

yes, in SoCal at least

[LJG 1,288]

I have killed two Carpoxylons, but Foxtails do fine for me. So no I say. I am glad to hear some have had better luck then me. My friend Dwain has had one in the ground for 4 years now.

[aussiearoids 368]

One of mine carked it ! Mikey thinks I let it dry out a bit to much

I posted a pic of my poxy one and it has gone up to plant heaven now

[MattyB 2,158]

Just to clarify, when I said "yes", I meant "Yes, you're way off". I agree with Len that foxtails are much easier to grow, then carpoxylon, for us.

[Mandrew968 1,774]

Lately, It has been hard to find one, locally(and in the ground) that's not turning yellow like a magnesium deficiency...

[naraj 14]

I had 3 seedlings survive 33 degrees F in the ground, unprotected, in Sarasota last winter. They didn't see any frost.

[sashaeffer 464]

Anyone here simply keep one in a pot and inside the house? wondering how it did for you.

[Moose 1,499]

Lately, It has been hard to find one, locally(and in the ground) that's not turning yellow like a magnesium deficiency...

Local magnesium deficiency? Its never been an issue in the Moose Land. Green, green, green ...

Scott - these are very large palms at maturity. It would be like growing Royals inside. I also think they relish humidity which challenges the California crowd.

[sashaeffer 464]

Lately, It has been hard to find one, locally(and in the ground) that's not turning yellow like a magnesium deficiency...

Local magnesium deficiency? Its never been an issue in the Moose Land. Green, green, green ...

Scott - these are very large palms at maturity. It would be like growing Royals inside. I also think they relish humidity which challenges the California crowd.

Aside from King palms which don't seem to slow down in growth even inside the house, I wonder if typically fast/tall palms would ever outgrow a room with tall ceilings since the environment would be so different than natural habitat. I just bought a 3ft Royal on Ebay late fall since they are so cheap to buy to see how it really goes. So far, it's no where near as as the Kings I have.

We just had a Palm conservatory open here this fall. Marjorie K. Daugherty conservatory part of Lauritzen Gardens here in Omaha so I was hoping to donate the more rare, colorful and exotic palms I have to them...if I kept them long enough to outgrow my house anyway.

[Moose 1,499]

Lately, It has been hard to find one, locally(and in the ground) that's not turning yellow like a magnesium deficiency...

Local magnesium deficiency? Its never been an issue in the Moose Land. Green, green, green ...

Scott - these are very large palms at maturity. It would be like growing Royals inside. I also think they relish humidity which challenges the California crowd.

Aside from King palms which don't seem to slow down in growth even inside the house, I wonder if typically fast/tall palms would ever outgrow a room with tall ceilings since the environment would be so different than natural habitat. I just bought a 3ft Royal on Ebay late fall since they are so cheap to buy to see how it really goes. So far, it's no where near as as the Kings I have.

We just had a Palm conservatory open here this fall. Marjorie K. Daugherty conservatory part of Lauritzen Gardens here in Omaha so I was hoping to donate the more rare, colorful and exotic palms I have to them...if I kept them long enough to outgrow my house anyway.

026.JPG021.JPG

Donating sounds like a fabulous idea !!!

[Zeeth 2,428]

Potted specimen in Tampa, about 1.5 feet tall. 28˚ with no frost: About 80% leaf damage, but the spear is intact and looks good. Similar damage to local foxtails.

Same size specimen, in ground at my garden in Palmetto: 30˚ with no frost. No damage.