Salem Oregon Washy update

[Fallen Munk]

My neighbor's Washingtonia.  Even with the number of cold wet days and lots of frost this year, these guys just keep pumping.  I keep germinating as much seed as I can hoping to get lucky with this species, but so far not having any.  Maybe when these get big enough to produce seed I'll talk to the owners and see if they can help me out.  Anybody know at what size they will produce viable seed?

Edited April 24, 2022 by Fallen Munk
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[Teegurr]

10 minutes ago, Fallen Munk said:

My neighbor's Washingtonia.  Even with the number of cold wet days and lots of frost this year, these guys just keep pumping.  I keep germinating as much seed as I can hoping to get lucky with this species, but so far not having any.  Maybe when these get big enough to produce seed I'll talk to the owners and see if they can help me out.  Anybody know at what size they will produce viable seed?

Wow, those fronds look like they have an unusually large amount of leaflets, sort of copernicia-like.

[Jtee]

Is a new hybrid called a Washingtonia Salem

[Little Tex]

Five years, assuming normal growth

[Fallen Munk]

9 hours ago, Little Tex said:

Five years, assuming normal growth

Five years in Texas maybe.  According to Google Earth images, these are at least 10 years old, possibly 15 or more.  That's why I asked what size.

[Little Tex]

oh I see, there is one that has flowered down the street that is about 3 feet taller than these. it was about that size in 2018

[jwitt]

When the leaves reach the rooftop, maybe.

[Chester B]

10 hours ago, Fallen Munk said:

Five years in Texas maybe.  According to Google Earth images, these are at least 10 years old, possibly 15 or more.  That's why I asked what size.

Wow. real survivors then.  I'm kind of shocked they're that old.  I would've thought 5 years max.

[Fallen Munk]

2 hours ago, Chester B said:

Wow. real survivors then.  I'm kind of shocked they're that old.  I would've thought 5 years max.

Correction...I just checked and it looks like they are probably about eight years old.  Put in the ground about five years ago at estimated three year old potted size.  

[Fallen Munk]

3 hours ago, jwitt said:

When the leaves reach the rooftop, maybe.

Probably a couple more years then.  I've got my eye on them for seeds, hopefully I can make a deal with the tenants/owner of the property to collect some.  I'm pretty sure it's a rental.

[Fallen Munk]

Every time I get one from a big box store it grows like crazy during the summer, declines over two winters until death.

[Fallen Munk]

I had two real nice ones a couple years ago.  Both dead now.  Crown rot.

[PlantDad]

On 4/24/2022 at 12:50 PM, Fallen Munk said:

My neighbor's Washingtonia.  Even with the number of cold wet days and lots of frost this year, these guys just keep pumping.  I keep germinating as much seed as I can hoping to get lucky with this species, but so far not having any.  Maybe when these get big enough to produce seed I'll talk to the owners and see if they can help me out.  Anybody know at what size they will produce viable seed?

Those washingtonia seem amaze me. They appear to be very filifera dominant but they have great moisture tolerance. They are by far the best looking washingtonia I've seen in town. I would definitely ask them about collecting seed when they begin producing. I'm not sure when they start flowering though. 

Edited April 26, 2022 by PlantDad

[PlantDad]

On 4/24/2022 at 2:05 PM, Jtee said:

Is a new hybrid called a Washingtonia Salem

Definitely! By far the best looking washingtonia in town that I know of. I definitely want seed from them 

Edited April 26, 2022 by PlantDad

[Fallen Munk]

I found a dated photo.  Spring of 2017.  So they've been in the ground for five years with what appears to be about three years growth to me.  So estimate of around eight years age seems about right.  I would assume they were just whatever random washy hybrid the big box store had in stock that year.

[PlantDad]

2 hours ago, Fallen Munk said:

I found a dated photo.  Spring of 2017.  So they've been in the ground for five years with what appears to be about three years growth to me.  So estimate of around eight years age seems about right.  I would assume they were just whatever random washy hybrid the big box store had in stock that year.

They got lucky to get such good hybrids. Maybe it's just me but I typically see a lot of robusta at the big box stores. Maybe I'm not going to the right store 

[Fallen Munk]

17 minutes ago, PlantDad said:

They got lucky to get such good hybrids. Maybe it's just me but I typically see a lot of robusta at the big box stores. Maybe I'm not going to the right store 

The two I got from Lowe's two years ago were labeled as filifera, but they were probably hybrids.  They did have mostly filifera traits.  Probably why they got crown rot.  A friend donated a robusta for me to try in my yard this year, we will see how it does.

[Chester B]

My "Robusta" is still doing well but I cheated and put a rain cover over it.  Even with that the older fronds don't look the best.  My "filifera" finally bit the dust this winter.

[PlantDad]

7 minutes ago, Chester B said:

My "Robusta" is still doing well but I cheated and put a rain cover over it.  Even with that the older fronds don't look the best.  My "filifera" finally bit the dust this winter.

I think it is near impossible to avoid at least some damage in these areas due to our cool wet winters. My "robusta" has lots of damage on the older fronds from the winter but is producing healthy fronds now to replace them. 

[Jtee]

1 hour ago, PlantDad said:

I think it is near impossible to avoid at least some damage in these areas due to our cool wet winters. My "robusta" has lots of damage on the older fronds from the winter but is producing healthy fronds now to replace them. 

My fronds look the same way here in the deep southeast.  I have a couple stragglers that are slow at producing fronds and I have two that take off. 

[Las Palmas Norte]

That pair are certainly nice. I wonder why the owners chose to plant them so close to the front walkway. I guess in time they won't be a nuisance getting to and from the front door. 

[Fallen Munk]

12 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

That pair are certainly nice. I wonder why the owners chose to plant them so close to the front walkway. I guess in time they won't be a nuisance getting to and from the front door. 

Likely they were ignorant to what they were and how big they get.  Probably an end of the season clearance purchase and they were just grabbing random plants and planting them where they looked good at the time.

[PlantDad]

9 hours ago, Fallen Munk said:

Likely they were ignorant to what they were and how big they get.  Probably an end of the season clearance purchase and they were just grabbing random plants and planting them where they looked good at the time.

I definitely think you are right

[Zach K]

Just drove by and man they are more incredible in person I’ll say that. Just insane to see that size here!

[Zach K]

Anyone know where they came from?? Also aren’t robustas supposed to do worse in our climate??

[Collectorpalms]

Can someone PM the address? Thank you in Advance. There is a reason they are doing well and others are not. Multiple factors just in my town as well.

Ryan

[Fallen Munk]

2 hours ago, Collectorpalms said:

Can someone PM the address? Thank you in Advance. There is a reason they are doing well and others are not. Multiple factors just in my town as well.

Ryan

Address in Google Earth.

[Chester B]

I got one one too!  My filifera finally bit the dust this winter., but this "robusta" is doing ok.

Edited May 20, 2022 by Chester B

[WSimpson]

What was your coldest temperature last winter ? They have pretty fronds , whereas my Washy starts from scratch but puts out 25-30 fronds in a season ,  but looks like   s#!+    for 4 months of the year  . 

Thanks ,

Will

[Allen]

Lowest temp I see since 2018 when these seemed to get going is 23F

[Collectorpalms]

I think they look pretty 50/50 Washingtonia Filifera/Robusta. Obviously right up against a sunny southeasterly Yellow Painted house helps, and the roof slope pushes the water away from the trunks. As they say location location location! I have found that just a few tweaks in marginal climates and a cycle of mild winters helps them get going. Looks like they water their grass during the summer so they are getting water during the hot months. I don't put things in my yard where they look good. I put them where I think they will live. even if they bust my gutter eventually.

But boy that house color and yard has gone through some changes!

Edited May 21, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[Chester B]

Last winter was one of our worst. I recorded 24f for most of one night. All but one day above freezing. 
 

Salem is further down the valley so it tends to be slightly colder in winter. I have to assume the ones in the pic have the right siting for sure. My palm handles the cold fine but I did have clear plastic lexan panels over it to protect it from the rain. Mine is definitely not in the best spot, but I plan on picking up another one to put in my south facing front yard when they show up at the big box any day now. 

[Collectorpalms]

6 minutes ago, Chester B said:

Last winter was one of our worst. I recorded 24f for most of one night. All but one day above freezing. 
 

Salem is further down the valley so it tends to be slightly colder in winter. I have to assume the ones in the pic have the right siting for sure. My palm handles the cold fine but I did have clear plastic lexan panels over it to protect it from the rain. Mine is definitely not in the best spot, but I plan on picking up another one to put in my south facing front yard when they show up at the big box any day now. 

How would those lexan panels work in Texas to use as a cover to protect Filifera seedlings from Dew/Rain. I had polycarbonate panels and they melted before I even got them installed. Right now I have a shade house that needs to be redone, I was hit by a tornado ( for real ) and its shabby and ready to be redone right.

Edited May 21, 2022 by Collectorpalms

[Collectorpalms]

On 4/26/2022 at 1:27 PM, Fallen Munk said:

I had two real nice ones a couple years ago.  Both dead now.  Crown rot.

DO you consider any preventative fungicides drenches or changing up your potassium level? Also drought stress in the winter helps.

[Fallen Munk]

27 minutes ago, Collectorpalms said:

DO you consider any preventative fungicides drenches or changing up your potassium level? Also drought stress in the winter helps.

I didn't.  I'm not giving up on this species, considering how well my neighbors are doing.  I'm growing a bunch from seed but they are coming along very slowly.  I may pick up one or two this season if the big box stores ever get any in.  For sure I'll put them under cover for the winter.  At least until they outgrow their pots.

[Fallen Munk]

59 minutes ago, Collectorpalms said:

Obviously right up against a sunny southeasterly Yellow Painted house helps,

Mostly east, surprisingly enough.  It may help protect it from our storms which come from the west usually.

[Chester B]

1 hour ago, Fallen Munk said:

I may pick up one or two this season if the big box stores ever get any in

Usually right around June 1. I’m going to check this weekend. Oregon city HD gets the most washies in. 

[Zach K]

I’ve been checking HD everyday this week and nothing still. PDX HD usually us a decent selection 

[Chester B]

My original “robusta” is doing well even with our terrible winter and spring. It’s loving life with the hot dry weather we finally started getting. Even one week of good weather and I can see a difference. It’s getting very pear shaped and the older fronds are being split up the middle of the petioles from the increase in girth. 

[Fallen Munk]

On 5/20/2022 at 6:19 PM, Collectorpalms said:

 Also drought stress in the winter helps.

We get our drought in the summers here.  We drown in the fall, winter, and spring.  This spring was our wettest spring in recorded history.  Crown rot was rampant, even for about a third of my trachy.    Even two of my Jubaea X odorata spear pulled, as did my T. princeps.  The "I may never recover from this" meme comes to mind.