NC_Palms 588 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 After seeing Livinstona chinensis at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, I decided to get my own and try it here. Ever since I planted this palm, it seems to be a relatively fast grower. In my climate, this palm will probably act as a perennial and die back to the ground ever winter. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rickybobby 1,147 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 I hope it works out well for you 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim in Los Altos 2,353 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 3 hours ago, NC_Palms said: After seeing Livinstona chinensis at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher, I decided to get my own and try it here. Ever since I planted this palm, it seems to be a relatively fast grower. In my climate, this palm will probably act as a perennial and die back to the ground ever winter. Ricky, if it dies to the ground, it's dead forever since these are not clumping (clustering trunks) palms. They are pretty cold hardy however taking temperatures in the low twenties as long as you don't get that cold more than once or twice in the winter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brad Mondel 750 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 I've had these return in my former zone 7a garden. Very bud hardy 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fusca 1,637 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 Tough guys even as seedlings. This guy was the sole victim of too much sun (and not enough water) when the angle of the sun changed on my back patio 6 weeks ago. Turned completely brown including the spear, but now it's coming back! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buffy 316 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 8 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said: Ricky, if it dies to the ground, it's dead forever since these are not clumping (clustering trunks) palms. They are pretty cold hardy however taking temperatures in the low twenties as long as you don't get that cold more than once or twice in the winter. I think you're missing his point, Jim. In the Zone 8A/8B world, these are not particularly leaf hardy, but they will come back from the low teens. They grow fast enough that they'll recover each year. They never gain much size, but they survive. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff985 620 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 51 minutes ago, buffy said: I think you're missing his point, Jim. In the Zone 8A/8B world, these are not particularly leaf hardy, but they will come back from the low teens. They grow fast enough that they'll recover each year. They never gain much size, but they survive. I think you’re talking about two different things. Die to the ground implies die to the roots. What you are talking about is simply defoliating. Those are two completely different things. Yes they can defoliate and recover, but they can’t die to the ground and recover like some clustering palms. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buffy 316 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 3 hours ago, Jeff985 said: I think you’re talking about two different things. Die to the ground implies die to the roots. What you are talking about is simply defoliating. Those are two completely different things. Yes they can defoliate and recover, but they can’t die to the ground and recover like some clustering palms. Jeff: "Die to the ground implies die to the roots". It certainly implies that to you; however, for many landscapers, "die back perennials", in reference to palms, is simply defoliation. I know the difference. You know the difference. And I suspect NC_Palms knows the difference. What he describes with Livistona chinensis is what he will probably experience. It will "act" as a perennial. We have some L. chinensis here that are +20 years old with 2 feet of trunk. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NC_Palms 588 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 I think I used the wrong terminology. I interchangeably use "defoliation" and "die back perennial" to refer to the palms I am growing that aren't zone hardy but will come back alive when the spring comes. Botanically, Livinstona chinensis is not a perennial palm since it doesn't resprout from the roots but just like what @buffysaid, this palm simply acts like a perennial. L. chinensis is extremely root hardy. I am aware of people growing this palm surviving winters in zone 7. Otherwise, I apologize for the confusion. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff985 620 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 1 hour ago, buffy said: Jeff: "Die to the ground implies die to the roots". It certainly implies that to you; however, for many landscapers, "die back perennials", in reference to palms, is simply defoliation. I know the difference. You know the difference. And I suspect NC_Palms knows the difference. What he describes with Livistona chinensis is what he will probably experience. It will "act" as a perennial. We have some L. chinensis here that are +20 years old with 2 feet of trunk. I agree with you. However in the original post it says die back to the ground. I was simply pointing out that Jim wasn’t wrong. You and he were both right. You were just talking about two different things. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff985 620 Report post Posted May 13, 2019 1 hour ago, NC_Palms said: I think I used the wrong terminology. I interchangeably use "defoliation" and "die back perennial" to refer to the palms I am growing that aren't zone hardy but will come back alive when the spring comes. Botanically, Livinstona chinensis is not a perennial palm since it doesn't resprout from the roots but just like what @buffysaid, this palm simply acts like a perennial. L. chinensis is extremely root hardy. I am aware of people growing this palm surviving winters in zone 7. Otherwise, I apologize for the confusion. No need for apologies. We’re all on this website to learn from each other’s experiences. In the process of learning there’s bound to be some confusion. The great thing about this site is there are always plenty of people eager to try to clear up the confusion. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim in Los Altos 2,353 Report post Posted May 15, 2019 Mine are trunking as many are so when I said they can’t die back to the ground and survive, you can see what I mean. Defoliating on a single stem trunking palm is survivable but not dying to the ground. :) 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff985 620 Report post Posted May 15, 2019 18 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said: Mine are trunking as many are so when I said they can’t die back to the ground and survive, you can see what I mean. Defoliating on a single stem trunking palm is survivable but not dying to the ground. Nice double. I’ve got one like that. Not quite as much trunk though. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim in Los Altos 2,353 Report post Posted May 16, 2019 20 hours ago, Jeff985 said: Nice double. I’ve got one like that. Not quite as much trunk though. It’s a triple! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jeff985 620 Report post Posted May 16, 2019 2 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said: It’s a triple! Now I see it. There is a third trunk. Even better. Those look really good as multiples. There are two doubles with about seven feet of trunk I drive past on my way to work every day. Makes me jealous. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NC_Palms 588 Report post Posted May 16, 2019 On 5/15/2019 at 2:38 AM, Jim in Los Altos said: Mine are trunking as many are so when I said they can’t die back to the ground and survive, you can see what I mean. Defoliating on a single stem trunking palm is survivable but not dying to the ground. Thanks for sharing Jim. Those are nice looking palms. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NC_Palms 588 Report post Posted May 16, 2019 On 5/15/2019 at 2:38 AM, Jim in Los Altos said: Mine are trunking as many are so when I said they can’t die back to the ground and survive, you can see what I mean. Defoliating on a single stem trunking palm is survivable but not dying to the ground. Thanks for sharing Jim. Those are nice lookin palms Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dalmatiansoap 384 Report post Posted May 16, 2019 Absolutely beautiful palms! And I finally have some seeds Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
palmfriend 1,536 Report post Posted May 19, 2019 This is one of the great species - besides the Satakentia L. - from here, slow but as hard as a nail. Keeping them in shade when young will let them grow long leaflets, out in the sun - no need for it. Here a young one - surrounded by many other plants. Here some taller ones, now around 30(+)years old. Best regards from Okinawa - Lars 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites