Zone 10 Palms in the Orlando Area Mega Thread

[ck_in_fla 262]

On 5/31/2019 at 6:28 PM, pj_orlando_z9b said:

Didn't get a great pic as I took it through the window but this is them I believe. Nice. I wish they would have planted them further apart.

I drove by these earlier today and noticed that they had cleared out all the weeds and grass.  And, it looked like they may have added some amore Coconut palms (all small).  It was very congested and I was in a hurry, so I couldn't really get a good look.  But, perhaps this is a sign that the people are taking better care of these...    We can all hope.

[pj_orlando_z9b 1,244]

7 hours ago, Walt said:

Congratulations.  I know it's a thrill to see the first inflorescence.  I remember the first inflorescence my coconut made, and some small nuts followed, the all aborted.

 So far this year two inflorescence have opened on my coconut palm -- and the pesky squirrels ate the flowers! I have two more unopened spathe. I'm just hoping the squirrels stop eating the flowers, or else I won't have any more coconut fruits.

It will be fun to watch. I'm surprised squirrels go for them. I'll have to watch for that. 

[Walt 1,481]

2 hours ago, pj_orlando_z9b said:

It will be fun to watch. I'm surprised squirrels go for them. I'll have to watch for that. 

I see squirrels often eating queen palm flowers. I have lots of flowering queen palms, and I wish the squirrels would eat them and leave my coconut palm alone. I think your coconut palm flowers (when they open) will be okay. My problem is that squirrels climb from an oak tree branch that touches an upper coconut palm branch, and they climb onto my coconut palm to get down to the ground, and in the process they discovered the flowers.

[palmsOrl 2,045]

I finally drove by the house in Winter Park on Lake Howell Road today to check on the coconuts in the front yard.  A few years ago, there were two large ones as well as quite a few little potted Cocos in the front yard next to it.

Well, as you can see, there is only the one left.  I am guessing January 2018 took out the other, the tall stump still in place.

[GottmitAlex 3,953]

Double post.

Edited July 1, 2019 by GottmitAlex

[palmsOrl 2,045]

Found it!  I remember going to this golf resort in Howey in the Hills (attached map shows location in Lake County, FL) about 20 years ago with my parents and I remember this courtyard with a large royal palm.  At the time, the foliage looked sickly and cold damaged, but it was alive.

I looked it up and the resort is called the Mission Inn.   Well I found a more recent photo of the courtyard and there are two royals there that are looking pretty good.  The protected location must allow them to make it as Lake County is pretty far north and in the middle of the state. 

[Eric in Orlando 4,892]

Thats awesome!

The nearby Howey Mansion was built in 1927. Old photos show large Roystonea planted at it.

 

 

 

[palmsOrl 2,045]

Here is a small Adonidia growing at a Burger King on E. Colonial Dr. near downtown.

 

[palmsOrl 2,045]

Here a couple updated photos of the Ptychosperma macarthurii clump growing at a motel near UCF.  This palm has been here since at least 2003 and possibly a lot longer.  I assume it has been damaged heavily a number of times but it looks good now.  There is not a single seedling anywhere in the vicinity.

[NOT A TA 1,398]

22 minutes ago, palmsOrl said:

Here a couple updated photos of the Ptychosperma macarthurii clump growing at a motel near UCF.  This palm has been here since at least 2003 and possibly a lot longer.  I assume it has been damaged heavily a number of times but it looks good now.  There is not a single seedling anywhere in the vicinity.

 

The grounds look pretty well maintained there. Wouldn't surprise me if the landscape maintenance people prevent the possibility of seed dropping.

[palmsOrl 2,045]

That very well could be, though I did see a bunch of old seed husks piled in the middle of the palm.

[pj_orlando_z9b 1,244]

One of my neighbors majesty palms. Mine never seem to gain height. 

[palmsOrl 2,045]

Perhaps a 9b palm, at least the most cold hardy selections, but here is a stately Bismarck palm at a McDonald’s near downtown.  I keep waiting for all of the fruits to ripen and fall.  In addition, you can see that the landscaping below it is zone 10 stuff, ixora and sea grape.

(Ooops, already posted this one early in the thread)

Edited July 4, 2019 by palmsOrl

[Rickybobby 1,249]

Keep me coming !!

[GottmitAlex 3,953]

9 hours ago, pj_orlando_z9b said:

One of my neighbors majesty palms. Mine never seem to gain height. 

It looks very nice. Especially since its trunk is not as wide as other majesties which kill the coconut look. This one is a showstopper.

[Eric in Orlando 4,892]

If you are heading to downtown Orlando on I4 from the north and get off at the Colonial Dr./Highway 50 exit, there is a Cocos and a Roystonea growing in the backyard of one of the old mansions on Lake Concord. There is also Wodyetia or Archontophoenix too. Impossible to get a photo from there. Good microclimate being on the south side of the lake. Here is streetview from June 2018, damage from the Jan 2018 freeze. They have recovered since then. 

 

[pj_orlando_z9b 1,244]

I know not truly a z10 palm but here is my beccariophoenix alfredii. Not a super fast grower but a very consistent pace. Truck for scale...Sep 2018 vs July 2019.

[FishEyeAquaculture 339]

A visit to Sea World yesterday, no idea on the species ID for these two separate palms...any ideas?

[FishEyeAquaculture 339]

Licuala? 

[FishEyeAquaculture 339]

Archontophoenix?

[Eric in Orlando 4,892]

2 hours ago, FishEyeAquaculture said:

A visit to Sea World yesterday, no idea on the species ID for these two separate palms...any ideas?

Looks like Kentiopsis oliviformis.

[Eric in Orlando 4,892]

The others are Licuala grandis and Archontophoenix alexandrae.

[FishEyeAquaculture 339]

26 minutes ago, Eric in Orlando said:

Looks like Kentiopsis oliviformis.

I was really hoping someone would say that’s what those were...stunning palms!

[Eric in Orlando 4,892]

7 hours ago, FishEyeAquaculture said:

I was really hoping someone would say that’s what those were...stunning palms!

Where at Sea World are those? I haven't been there in awhile.

 

 

[FishEyeAquaculture 339]

1 hour ago, Eric in Orlando said:

Where at Sea World are those? I haven't been there in awhile.

 

Infinity Falls

[palmsOrl 2,045]

I just drove by my parent’s old house in Maitland today.  Roystonea regia on the left and R. borinqueana on the right, both planted as large seedlings in March 2003.  You can also see the Bismarckia and Archontophoenix cunninghamiana that were planted in the early 2000s.

[palmsOrl 2,045]

New royals at a house on Pansy Ave in Winter Park.

[palmsOrl 2,045]

A small business on Howell Branch Road in Maitland.

[palmsOrl 2,045]

That majesty has been there since the mid to late 90s.

[Eric in Orlando 4,892]

Ptychosperma elegans in Winter Park. These are growing at a medical office on Fairbanks between I4 and 17/92. Its a great microclimate ; southside of a multi story building facing south and on the south side of Lake Killarney. They have been there since the mid 1990s, there were others but only 2 left. They dont get the best care and the others have died from drought and nutrient deficiencies. They do set seed but no seedlings underneath them. 

[palmsOrl 2,045]

Wish I had the funds to buy tons of fertilizer and distribute it around town to all of these public plantings that could use a little boost.  I might actually do this someday.

Thank you for sharing a closeup of these, Eric.  They are looking reasonably happy.

[Eric in Orlando 4,892]

Ptychosperma elegans has a better chance of survival around Orlando than Adonidia. They can tolerate long cool spells better though overall hardiness is about the same. 

[palmsOrl 2,045]

I have noticed as much and have had the same experience Eric.  After an average winter here, they seem to put out a stunted leaf or two in spring then don't miss a beat.

I saw another Cocos in the ground (about 6-8') near the corner of Oregon and Mills Ave (about a block west of there) the other day, but couldn't get a photo.

[pj_orlando_z9b 1,244]

First inflorescence opened. 3 more pushing through. Hoping for the best over the next 12 months.  Canopy is massive...about 20 ft wide. 

[ck_in_fla 262]

On 6/22/2019 at 5:06 PM, ck_in_fla said:

I drove by the coconut palms at Kaley and Orange (in downtown Orlando) earlier today and noticed that they had cleared out all the weeds and grass.  And, it looked like they may have added some amore Coconut palms (all small).  It was very congested and I was in a hurry, so I couldn't really get a good look.  But, perhaps this is a sign that the people are taking better care of these...    We can all hope.

I drove by the coconut palms at Kaley and Orange (in downtown Orlando) yesterday and it sure looks like they have grown in the nearly two months since this picture was taken.  I was in traffic and rushing to meet family members for lunch.  So, I couldn't stop to take some pictures.  But, someone has spent lots of time clearing the area of weeds.  We can only hope that they added some fertilizer too.

If someone gets back down there before I do,  please try to get some updated pictures.

Edited August 12, 2019 by ck_in_fla

[kinzyjr 5,774]

@pj_orlando_z9b

Gorgeous palm and flowers!  Hoping to have some flowers soon myself.

[RedRabbit 2,036]

On 8/5/2019 at 11:16 AM, palmsOrl said:

I have noticed as much and have had the same experience Eric.  After an average winter here, they seem to put out a stunted leaf or two in spring then don't miss a beat.

I saw another Cocos in the ground (about 6-8') near the corner of Oregon and Mills Ave (about a block west of there) the other day, but couldn't get a photo.

Didn’t you move to PA?

[palmsOrl 2,045]

15 hours ago, RedRabbit said:

Didn’t you move to PA?

I did, but I moved back.  Beautiful, but too cold for this Florida boy! 

[RedRabbit 2,036]

1 hour ago, palmsOrl said:

I did, but I moved back.  Beautiful, but too cold for this Florida boy! 

Glad you’re back, welcome home buddy! 

[pj_orlando_z9b 1,244]

Royals and foxtails really seem to be the fad for new plantings, both residential and commercial across Orlando. A new complex is going up on South Semoran near the airport (a Mission BBQ!) and saw they planted these palms. Also saw new royal plantings at John Young and Presidents Dr (I didn't get pics)  

Edited August 13, 2019 by pj_orlando_z9b