Syagrus amara

[Really full garden]

I have about seven 2yr.seedlings in large citrus pots that are now large enough to be planted out.I want to get them planted in April or May at the onset of our rainy season.Does anyone have photos of these growing on or near the beach? I understand that they are somewhat tolerant of coastal conditions.How tolerant?

                       Scott

[quaman58]

Scott,

I have one that is 3 years old here in coastal San Diego. Started slow, but is picking up speed. Not fast by any means, but more cold tolerant than I would have guessed. Came through "the freeze" completely undamaged. Don't have a recent pic, it's still got only long strap leaves. I think I remember Geoff saying that he had some pushing 10 feet or so. Don't know if they're pinnate or not..

Bret

[Really full garden]

Bret mine still has entire leaves as well. I think this is one of those palms that speeds up with age.The sooner I get them planted the better.

                                                              Scott

[Al in Kona]

I have a small Syagrus amara planted in the garden (see pic below) which has proven to be a slow grower - at least in gaining height.  It was planted from a 1-gallon size container with only entire-strap-leaves several years ago.  It has pretty much been left to fend for itself.  I'm going to make a point to fertilize it this week and give it some supplemental watering and see if that will be to its liking.  It is 1.5m (5 ft.) tall now.  Anyway, here it is . . .

[Really full garden]

Al, they do seem to be really slow,not at all like other Syagus sp..Thanks for the picture.

                                                           Scott

[galveston1602]

heres the best pic of one I have.  They are apparently pretty cool tolerant to live around here....     This one lives about a 1/2 mile from the beach

[Really full garden]

Allen thats amazing.I lived in Houston during the 70s and 80s.It was during the "ice age".The only exotics to survive in Galveston were a few Brahea armatas at a gas station near the beach.Considering how slow this species seems to be this palm has been there atleast 10 yrs.

                                                                                    Scott

[galveston1602]

Funny you should mention those brahea, I believe that they live there to this day.  reason I say that is that they are a pair of only maybe 6 total on the island that I have identified.

[bgl]

Well, Scott, I'm about 5 miles inland, so have no clue what the salt tolerance might be. I have 12 in a little grove, and I would probably give them about a 3.5-4.0 on a scale of 1-10 as far as growth rate goes. You can only see a few of them in this photo.

[Really full garden]

Bo how old are yours? I remember seeing these in the "Retreat" the Langlois estate on the water in Nassau,Bahamas.They always had dark green foliage despite the poor soil.

                                                                         Scott

[bgl]

Scott,

I planted them 10 years ago from 15G pots, so they were probably 4-5 years old at the time. Which would make them around 15 years old today.

Bo-Göran