Jump to content
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT LOGGING IN ×
  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Alachua


SunnyFl

Recommended Posts

Just curious....

I know that Sabals and Butias (capitata & eriospatha) are grown up there, but what else?  Any crownshafted palms, or does it get too cold?

Thoughts?

There's a botanical garden there but I'm not sure of its name - something like Kanapaha ? - near Gainesville, right?

St. Pete

Zone - a wacked-out place between 9b & 10

Elevation = 44' - not that it does any good

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sunny,

The native Serenoa and Rhapidophyllum, Trithrinax, Chamaerops, Trachycarpus, Nannorhops, and some species of Phoenix and Livistona will grow well in Alachua County.  Merrill Wilcox has been growing palms in north central Florida for decades.  Hopefully he will see this and chime in with his expertise.  For the record, Kanapaha is a great botanical garden and well worth the visit.

Ray

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

And while you are in the area, if you have time, check out Payne's Praire and Devil's Millhopper parks.  Nice views of Florida before the white man came.  There are buffalo in Payne's Prairie.  Yep, they used to roam the state before we killed them all.  Devil's Millhopper is a giant sinkhole.  Very interesting look into the geology of he area.

Palmmermaid

Kitty Philips

West Palm Beach, FL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for your replies.  

Ray, I have had the botanical garden on my weekend-wishlist for awhile - somehow I haven't managed a visit yet, but after reading what you said, I hope to see it soon.  Sounds as if a nice collection of palms can grow up there, but my favorites wouldn't make it through the year ;)

Kitty, I'm so glad you mentioned Devil's Milhopper - I looked it up in a book I have of FL's parks, and it looks intriguing - must remember to take the camera when we go up there.  Payne's Prairie sounds like another place to visit.  Trying to imagine the buffalo, what a shame they were killed off.

St. Pete

Zone - a wacked-out place between 9b & 10

Elevation = 44' - not that it does any good

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Payne's prarie is an incredible place.In the 1890's, it was a lake. It dissapeared in three or four days when a sink opened up leaving incredible numbers of dying fish.It now hosts an incredible population of gators, snakes,  buffalo  and who knows what else.While at the University of Florida, we used to go snake hunting with a guy who knew more about snakes than anybody I ever met. We drove on a road at the South end of the prarie called Wachoota road at night with the car lights off and four or five guys on the hood. The real snake hunter with us had a bright light that he only would turn on if he saw a snake.I personally saw him jump on a seven foot Diamond Back Rattler.The snakes were attracted to the road because of the warmth from the day's heat. It was quite a battle but he ended up with it and placed it in a snake bag. That thing hissed and struck the rest of the night. The snake guy kept the rattlers in a large cage outside his house. He sold the venom to a well known herptologist(Ross Allen) who made snakebite anti-venom. Snake guy would release rattlers after a couple of months back in the prarie.This insured that he would have more Diamond backs to catch.

What you look for is what is looking

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably about the same things that will survive here:

Any Sabal

Any Butia

Washingtonia Filifera, Robusta, and Filibusta

Lots of Phoenix species, canriensis, dactylifera, sylvestris, etc.

Syagrus Romanzoffiana, outside of the big freezes.

Several Braheas

Livistona Chinensis

Pretty much anything rated 9a a or hardier (with 9a being marginal in severe freeze years).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I apologize for being off topic in this thread about Alachua, but Kitty brought up Payne's Prarie and it provoked my normal running off at the mouth. However, it caused me to do some additional research and in the process I found an incredible book titled "Paynes Prarie" written by snake guy himself, Lars Andersen. The book details the history of the Prarie and is published by Pineapple Press, Inc., of Sarasota , Florida.It is an incredibly informative book about the"Prarie"by a guy who knows his stuff.

What you look for is what is looking

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks, Bubba, I will look for it.  Definitely want to take a weekend trip up there to explore the Devils Milhopper, Kanapaha (sp - oh phooey), and I'm adding Payne's Prairie to the list.  Bet it's a great place for some bird-watching, gotta bring the old SLR.

visiting is one thing - but am still praying not to have to move anywhere approaching z9a, alachua's better than ga but not by much   :*(

St. Pete

Zone - a wacked-out place between 9b & 10

Elevation = 44' - not that it does any good

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...