Three weeks of Washy growth :

[Will Simpson 329]

I won't be updating pictures of this Washy every three weeks but I did want to show its growth for the last 3 weeks . 

The first picture is on 3/11 and the next 2  pictures were taken  today on 3/31 . I'd say it's off to a good start , and with a few more fronds it should look respectable . 

I'm glad to see growth in some of those areas in Texas that got so cold .

Thanks for looking .

Will

 

3/11/2021

 

 

3/31/2021

 

Edited March 31 by Will Simpson

[Scot from SC 49]

It is incredible how fast they push out new growth. How long have you had it? Thanks for sharing.

[Philly J 32]

And just as fast in a pot!  Here is three weeks and the two centre spears were not there LOL: 

Edited April 1 by Philly J

[Will Simpson 329]

On 3/31/2021 at 7:08 PM, Scot from SC said:

It is incredible how fast they push out new growth. How long have you had it? Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Scot  . 

It's been in the ground 9 seasons . This coming season is the 10th season .

Will

[Will Simpson 329]

1 hour ago, Philly J said:

And just as fast in a pot!  Here is three weeks and the two centre spears were not there LOL: 

It's my only palm that can lose all its crown every year and fill out pretty fully each year . They are fast .

Will

[knikfar 30]

On 3/31/2021 at 2:41 PM, Will Simpson said:

I won't be updating pictures of this Washy every three weeks but I did want to show its growth for the last 3 weeks . 

The first picture is on 3/11 and the next 2  pictures were taken  today on 3/31 . I'd say it's off to a good start , and with a few more fronds it should look respectable . 

I'm glad to see growth in some of those areas in Texas that got so cold .

Thanks for looking .

Will

 

3/11/2021

 

 

3/31/2021

 

I know you've answered these questions before so I apologize for being repetetive in advance. How large was the tree when you planted it there? What winter protection do you provide it? Does it defoliate every year? Also, what kind of palm is that immediately to its right? The one with the curved looking frond. 

[Will Simpson 329]

It was planted on February 21st , 2011 so 10  years and 2 months in the ground . It defoliates every winter but there might be a hundred year mild winter that doesn't get below 24F ? It's only frond hardy to about 24F . I protect the trunk only when I see temperatures  below 16F . I wrap the trunk with incandescent Xmas lights and cover those lights with a layer of blankets . I trim up the petioles so I can more easily wrap the lights high on the bud , but I leave some fronds that are growing straight up . The lights are wrapped around the trunk about 1.5 inches apart all the way up the trunk . I usually put mulch at the base of the trunk to keep the ground warmer .

The palm to its right is a Tifton Hardy Palmetto that I got from PDN as a tiny potted plant . It's starting to get some size on it now after 5-6 years in the ground . 

Will

 

The day it was planted :

[Collectorpalms 850]

2 hours ago, Will Simpson said:

It was planted on February 21st , 2011 so 10  years and 2 months in the ground . It defoliates every winter but there might be a hundred year mild winter that doesn't get below 24F ? It's only frond hardy to about 24F . I protect the trunk only when I see temperatures  below 16F . I wrap the trunk with incandescent Xmas lights and cover those lights with a layer of blankets . I trim up the petioles so I can more easily wrap the lights high on the bud , but I leave some fronds that are growing straight up . The lights are wrapped around the trunk about 1.5 inches apart all the way up the trunk . I usually put mulch at the base of the trunk to keep the ground warmer .

The palm to its right is a Tifton Hardy Palmetto that I got from PDN as a tiny potted plant . It's starting to get some size on it now after 5-6 years in the ground . 

Will

 

The day it was planted :

Are you going to grow another one once this one gets too tall?

[Will Simpson 329]

I'm hoping that that Washy slows up a little . I'll keep getting bigger ladders for as long as I can and then get tree people to help . I'd hate to lose it . I've already stopped fertilizing and watering it .

I don't know how I could let it freeze out and haven't contemplated that yet . I wish it had more filifera in it so it might slow down and be more frond hardy . 

Will

[Collectorpalms 850]

You could slow it down by root pruning part of it. Like 1/2 once you get your crown full. And do that every early summer.

if you ever want to sell seeds from your Sabal palmetto or Birmingham keep me in mind!

[Will Simpson 329]

Never thought of trimming the roots but that should slow it down .

I might have a huge batch of Birmingham seed but the Palmetto ( Tifton Hardy ) hasn't flowered yet and may be a little immature still . 

If you look really hard on the trunk of the Washy you can see each year of growth except where  the trunk is clear of boots . Every 1-2 feet of trunk with boots on it has a little different color boots due to the amount of sun that has been shining on it and other environmental factors . It's a little like counting the rings on a tree . I can easily count 6 years and where it's clear trunk that's about 4 years since it's been in the ground for 10 seasons .

Thanks ,

Will

[Collectorpalms 850]

Have you tried Filifera or Filabusta there? The only and I mean only good thing about the freeze here, is that it eliminated all the less hardy Washingtonia. Yesterday I drove by every Washingtonia palm in the city I could remember hoping to find a very tall skinny Robusta-like Washingtonia that survived the 100 year long duration freeze and low of 5F. And I found only 1! But 1 is enough. Fully exposed to the cold not next to a building etc.. I hope to grow as many of these in the next few years to spread them around.

Edited Thursday at 03:21 PM by Collectorpalms

[Will Simpson 329]

That is a special palm to look like a Robusta and survive 5F . Do you have a picture ?

My Washy is a Filibusta , but  I wish it had more Filifera in it for added hardiness in the fronds and trunk . 

[Collectorpalms 850]

1 hour ago, Will Simpson said:

That is a special palm to look like a Robusta and survive 5F . Do you have a picture ?

My Washy is a Filibusta , but  I wish it had more Filifera in it for added hardiness in the fronds and trunk . 

Yes, I will post a special thread with pictures on it in the next few weeks, if indeed it is the only one that survives here. I hope I don’t jinx it and the crown becomes soft. I also have a Hybrid that is of flowering age that lived as well, but that is another story of its own. It’s at risk of being removed...

Edited Thursday at 05:56 PM by Collectorpalms

[Will Simpson 329]

Sounds like a winner of a palm .

Will