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My top dozen...


TikiRick

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I have often been asked what are my favorite palms in my garden. So I attempted to rate the top twelve palms on the following parameters:

a. performs well in my soil

b. performs well with my climate (heat, cold, rain, hurricanes, etc.)

c. asthetically pleasing in my opinion

d. uncommon, at least in South Florida

I'll begin with number 12

Cocos nucifera 'macapuna'

Grew this from seed from the late Paul Drummond's garden.

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11.

Ptychosperma waitianum

Unfortunately no new emerging red/bronze frond at this time....

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10.

Allagoptera campestris

Loves the western sun/heat and dry soil here...

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9.

Syagrus orinocensis

I grew this from a 4" seedling not really expecting anything special. I love this palm! It is realtively fast grower, more open habit than most Syagrus and holds the glossy green trunk for quite awhile. No concerns with this palm.

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  • Upvote 1

Rick Leitner

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

26.07N/80.15W

Zone 10B

Average Annual Low 67 F

Average Annual High 84 F

Average Annual Rainfall 62"

 

Riverfront exposure, 1 mile from Atlantic Ocean

Part time in the western mountains of North Carolina

Gratefully, the best of both worlds!

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8.

Coccothrinax spissa

This palm is a slow one for me. I planted it out along the sea wall, expecting it to take the wind and salt spray from time to time. It has proven to be a hardy one. Bulbous base just beginning to emerge. This palm is about 8 years old from a 1 gallon. SLOW.

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Rick Leitner

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

26.07N/80.15W

Zone 10B

Average Annual Low 67 F

Average Annual High 84 F

Average Annual Rainfall 62"

 

Riverfront exposure, 1 mile from Atlantic Ocean

Part time in the western mountains of North Carolina

Gratefully, the best of both worlds!

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More of Coccothrinax spissa.....

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7. Heterospathe elata

This palm is as fast as any Veitchia or Wodyetia once established. Once again I am thinking about the wind and salt spray.

I have two elata's in the garden, and both do great. Loves the heat and heavy mulching. No tip burn even at 36F.

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Hand for scale of diameter of trunk. Great palm! Not certain why it's not used more here.

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6. Loxococcus rupicola

I was really unfamiliar with this palm. But I liked the fact that it was an understory and had an emergent red frond. I had no idea how rare it actually is. Seems to be doing fine for me here in deep shade and continual moisture.

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5. Syagrus botrophyora

This palm is wonderful. Smaller trunk than most other Syagrus, fast, and no nutritional deficiencies. I have three planted and all are fruiting. They are so tall now, I worry about wind as two of them toppled over in previous hurricanes.

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4. Chamberyonia macrocarpa

Who wouldn't like this palm. In all of the storms, this palm has not even broken a frond. A moderately fast grower, mine is in shade until about noon, then full afternoon sun. Has been fruiting for about 3 years now, and the seed take an exceptionally long time to germinate, but I have had about 75% success rate with germination. This palm simply kicks ass.

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Rick Leitner

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

26.07N/80.15W

Zone 10B

Average Annual Low 67 F

Average Annual High 84 F

Average Annual Rainfall 62"

 

Riverfront exposure, 1 mile from Atlantic Ocean

Part time in the western mountains of North Carolina

Gratefully, the best of both worlds!

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3. Coccothrinax miraguama

This palm rocks. I planted these out in 2000 from one gallon containers bought at the South Floridal Palm Show and Sale in November. They have not looked back since. One is angled from Hurricane Wilma, 2005, but both took the winds, salt spray, and climate great. The silver backs to these fronds is blinding. I love them. Fairly slow, however.

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Great burlap lattice like trunk covering.

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2. Neoveitchia storkii

This is the second most favorite palm in my garden. I love this palm's fronds how they tilt into one plane. I love that it takes the wind, is robust, and holds about 15 fronds total at all times. This is the first seed to set. The bulbous base to the trunk is an added bonus. I love everything about this palm...especially the deep violet/black crownshaft once the old frond is peeled away. I'm kinda freaky that way!

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Rick Leitner

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

26.07N/80.15W

Zone 10B

Average Annual Low 67 F

Average Annual High 84 F

Average Annual Rainfall 62"

 

Riverfront exposure, 1 mile from Atlantic Ocean

Part time in the western mountains of North Carolina

Gratefully, the best of both worlds!

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1! Pelagodoxa henryana

Planted again, from a 4" container in 2000, this palm is placed in perhaps the most warm spot in my garden, tucked away from those pesky NW winter winds. I have occassionally had to wrap this palm with blankets, place heat lamps beneath it, but so far, no damage. Now, I fear it's getting too big to cover. It is now over the roof line! I love the entire fronds, and appears to enjoy this spot! No trouble from this palm whatsoever.

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Honorable Mention goes to Reinhardtia gracilis...

This little guy is a great understory addition to any garden with continual humidity. I have various clusters of this palm growing in deep shade. Not keen to salt spray.

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Hope you've enjoyed my top dozen pick!

Rick Leitner

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

26.07N/80.15W

Zone 10B

Average Annual Low 67 F

Average Annual High 84 F

Average Annual Rainfall 62"

 

Riverfront exposure, 1 mile from Atlantic Ocean

Part time in the western mountains of North Carolina

Gratefully, the best of both worlds!

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Excellent Rick! That Chambeyronia macrocarpa is the best looking one I have ever seen.

I agree with your top pick. Now if I could just get some seeds to germinate. This is the third try...

Formerly Jeff in Costa Rica
 

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Great Collection Rick - thanks for posting

Old Beach ,Hobart
Tasmania ,Australia. 42 " south
Cool Maritime climate

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:greenthumb:

Zone 10a at best after 2007 AND 2013, on SW facing hill, 1 1/2 miles from coast in Oceanside, CA. 30-98 degrees, and 45-80deg. about 95% of the time.

"The great workman of nature is time."   ,  "Genius is nothing but a great aptitude for patience."

-George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon-

I do some experiments and learning in my garden with palms so you don't have to experience the pain! Look at my old threads to find various observations and tips!

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I thought your storkii would have been #1. It's my favorite palm of yours.

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"If you need me, I'll be outside" -Randy Wiesner Palm Beach County, Florida Zone 10Bish

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Have you had nuts from the Cocos nucifera 'macapuna'? are they as described " It does not contain water inside the shell and the flesh is soft and jelly-like." Sounds delicious!

Jupiter FL

in the Zone formally known as 10A

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Great count down!

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

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The Neoveitchia storkii is a great palm. It was really as toss up between that and the Pely. I chose the Pely only because I think it's more unusual than the Neoveitchia.

Regarding the Cocos nucifera 'macapuna' it does set seed continually. Because its between my house and my neighbors house (mine being tin roof, their's being concrete tiles) I keep it trimmed from all mature seed. Eventually I'd like to keep at least one batch to see if it germinates. I think it is from the Philipines and is unusual.

Rick Leitner

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

26.07N/80.15W

Zone 10B

Average Annual Low 67 F

Average Annual High 84 F

Average Annual Rainfall 62"

 

Riverfront exposure, 1 mile from Atlantic Ocean

Part time in the western mountains of North Carolina

Gratefully, the best of both worlds!

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Share on other sites

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