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After a miserable drought for most of 2025, rain finally returned to East Hawaii in mid October. All my wilted tropical plants are gradually recovering. No matter how much it rains, I'm always thankful for more. Months of cloudless blue skies is a disaster when you live on a small island, or even a Big Island. Always thankful for my monster Metroxylon amicarum planted 12 years ago from a waist high 5 gallon. Fingers crossed the coconut rhinoceros beetle never attacks.

My Chrysalidocarpus Decipiens. It survived me digging it up and transplanting it when I moved back in April. It did really well! I attribute it to me digging as much of the root ball as I could. I actually broke my shovel in the heavy clay soil, trying to get it out.

Scored another two variegated weddlianum seedlings. Germinated from seeds from my garden it’s one palm in amongst 4 that set seeds that has the gene or mutation more likely. Not sure which one but I have an idea to who the mum is. I will be keeping an eye on the 3 I have found and see if it holds true in the variegated department. But for now a few freaks of nature in the collection!

I love all my palms and I am thankful they continue to grow. Today my Rhopalostylus Baueri Cheesemania opened another frond , I am thankful it has done so well! Harry ‘This palm is growing very quickly since I planted it about a year and a half ago. Nothing spectacular , just steady growth .

Here's a couple of stills from the video. Smallest Jubaea on the east side of the house. Biggest tree.

Acrocomia crispa

My Bactris major. It has grown a lot in less than a year.

I drove by the Roseburg Jubaea Chilensis on my way to Thanksgiving dinner. Looks like they are all trucking and really taking off. The tallest one is probably 10' to the lowest fronds. I think the videos better represent the true size of these things than the pictures. Palm_1_1_1.mp4

I have 2. Hemithrinax and Pseudophoenix. Both species seem to thrive under Arizona desert conditions, and both are small and slow growing palms that are easily managed in smaller yards and gardens. aztropic Mesa, Arizona

On tonight’s show we have some lovely exotics that are straight from a jungle nursery near you! First we see the fabulous packaging from such a fantastic grower of the finest gifts Mother Nature has to offer! Then from the great land of Madagascar we have a lovely little Dypsis just simply known as CLBS. Just looking a picture perfect for this evenings show. Next we have a beautiful little Areca tunku that looks to be a baby! From there we go all the way to the jungles of Panama with a gorgeous zamia nesophila, a lovely understory Zamia. Staying in the understory we have a armorphallus lacourii, followed by a nice anthurium talmancae that’s also perfect for the understory. And to finish of tonight’s show we a lovely Etlingera cornerii aka Siam Rose these would definitely make a wonderful gift for that certain someone in your life! So thank you all for watching tonight’s show and stay tuned for nexts weeks show!

Apparently rats aren’t as tasty as gophers.

I found things that worked to get the Bottle Palms back on track Insecticide IMIDACLOPRID Fungicide AZOXYSTROBIN Almost immediate results and then follow up treatments, almost back to six fronds on each palm. Thanks for your help and support

Ok, guys which is it , stable to parent or not ? Last Monday I purchased one from Jungle Music, labeled as 'suckering', but the palm has no suckers. The very reliable plant supplier to JM said the seed parent was suckering. Is is possible that the palm is slow to develop suckers ? I grow three plants of the suckering form, and it is one of my favorite palms. Two have a faint red flush to the new frond. I once had one as red as a Chambeyronia, but it died after I looked at it without proper reverence. Here is the bitter evidence !

Difficult question but with a full moon at night, I'd say my 25' Copernicia Fallaensis wins. Its currently recovering from hurricane milton so he is a before picture.

From Dr. Baker (Kew): ”Thanks to the generosity of supporters of the IPS Save the Species campaign, a team from Kew and Comoros was able to complete important work on the endemic palms of the Comoro Islands. We have now completed our final report, which I’m delighted to share with you today - you can download it (in English and French!) at this link: https://zenodo.org/records/15924392 We were able to carefully survey all three islands in the independent Union of the Comores. We found Ravenea hildebrandtii and Chrysalidocarpus lanceolatus on all islands, but Ravenea moorei and Chrysalidocarpus cabadae only on Grande Comore (although the last is also reported from Mayotte). Palms are highly threatened on all islands, but the last two especially so. Chrysalidocarpus cabadae in particular is found only in coastal forests, which are highly degraded. Thankfully, our missions have inspired a new wave of palm enthusiasts and action to protect these species is already underway – please read the report to find out! This work could only happen because of the passion and motivation of IPS members – we cannot thank you enough! Please continue to support the society – in its fundraising, by subscribing to its publications and by participating in its travel opportunities (look out for the Vietnam Biennial – it will be phenomenal!!!). With your support, we can do so much more!” Example plate from the report:

A couple more palms go in the understory, a nice juvenile calciphilla that will look good in a few years time. And now I have worked out how to grow iguanura palms, they are tricky little critters that’s for sure but I worked them out. I had some teething troubles at first with them but got there. So now it’s time to get them in the ground and hopefully no more trouble with them!

Dypsis plumosa flowering away!

Iam not surprised the geonoma atrovirens died, there tricky in perfect healthy conditions, let alone bare rooted in a box. I have purchased a few atrovirens and the longest they where in the postal system was 3 days, all of them arrived in perfect condition. Sucha shame to kill such a beautiful palm, it most likely succumbed to transplant shock and transpiration. We learn as we go with palms!

Zoo Miami.

This Rhopalostylus got my attention with an opening frond! Harry R. Baueri Cheesemania a fast grower in my climate. There is already the tip of another spear emerging.

Happy to report that this little guy has had a good last few years. Has grown more since the last photo here than in the 20 years previous. I think in the past I’ve tried to search for more heat to get it moving along. But in a dry temperate climate A caudescens seems to hate hot sun and low humidity when we get our 40 degree days. I think the key has been that now it gets some canopy. To anyone else in temperature and Mediterranean climates I’d say they are possible but be patient and keep them moist and in filtered light.

Dark petioles are consistent with the Chambeyronia hookeri that I have too. Jim, perhaps yours is a little darker on its petioles but only s degree of difference. Nice specimen that you have!

A nice little order from RPS. After somewhat of customs debacle arriving a bit later than normal. The details of the holdup are to long to put in words but let’s say phone calls and emails many of which later where the order of the 6 week delay. Not good customs Australia! With the Australian government boosting funding for our bio security control they need to get there money back from the importers and the new paperwork (emails) logistics and changes in protocol are taking there toll on importers. Many are not bothering anymore to import with importers taking big hits in there bank accounts thanks to the government.

Never cross in front of a black cat they say, obviously that rat made the wrong move!

It gets a bit more confusing with some throwing a red leaf and otheres not so red, I might have to go back now 25?years and have a good look at the original parent plant I collected seeds from and see if I can get any cross referencing material in regards to suckering traits. Unfortunately it’s a bit like getting the wrongly labeled palm and having to wait 25 years for it to flower to correctly identify it. I guess Mother Nature plays tricks at times.

Yes you have more there than I realize. And it looks great. I do believe you are in trouble with the Washingtonia though. Also those Trachy that size can take damage under 21F or ice so you might want to consider protecting. They usually grow back but those are still vulnerable being so new

Sounds like you are full of passion rather than addiction. Addictions are usually things that are detrimental to ourselves or those around us. I feel the same way BTW. Where can i go find some seeds? Has Floribunda refreshed the list ? What can I move to the next container? Hobbies make us happy by the fulfillment they bring and knowledge learned . Enjoy without guilt

My little Iguanara lives happily outside but is very slow growing. The cold doesn't seem to worry it at all. If it would only pick up pace it would be perfect Peachy

Colin is a warm hearted gentleman. And quite a character, one great moment with him was a tour of Sydney’s botanical gardens with him. I will never forget his knowledge and love for the palms in that garden!

I will let you know when they seed. 😉

Hers a nice bit of hookeri colour for you Jim!

If I buy a plant from a market stall or nursery that has weeds I hold the plant and tip it upside down and tickle the a little topsoil away hopefully with all the weed seeds as well. Then I quarantine any new plants that come into my nursery monitoring for weeds to germinate. And about 90 percent of the time I get weeds from these places that have weeds in there containers. I cannot stand weeds in my nursery and nursery grower thay has them…….. Richard

Keep us apprised!

You soon learn to spell Johannesteijsmannia, I had too with so many joeys, sometimes you run out of room🤣 But some great seeds in this batch! Richard

Good question and not really I put a plastic liner on the bottom, occasionally I get the odd root slip past on the side. But have been pretty lucky, I did once forget to line the bottom of a box once with Joey seeds in it and it was a nightmare I had to cut the styrofoam and then break it away from the roots. I also had a very well known growing once say to me you don’t need to line styrofoam box’s, naturally I just ignored his advice and thought he’s got it all wrong you have to line the bottom.

That’s a bit better now, hot sun they dislike , I have a few around my garden and the best ones are in shade. A couple of others are in some sun but shaded at different times of the day. And they love water!

@sonoranfans for sure I do not want any fast growing, large, non-self-cleaning palms. I can deal with somewhat smaller fast ones (Kings, Foxtails) and small trunk diameter clustering types (Lutescens, Mitis). I am sure the 14 Alfredii are going to eventually be a big hassle. I will probably trash one before it gets too big, as I planted it only ~10ft from the house. Around 15-20ft is ok, but ~10ft is not. The three Bismarckia are already irritating due to fan size and fast growth speed. They are just growing out of the remnants of Wilson damage now, even with only ~90mph gusts. @flplantguy I planted a perimeter of Viburnum on the entire SW, S, and SE sides, but they were not that great at absorbing sound. And then they started dying of root rot (probably Armillaria). I am 100% sure the new perimeter of bamboo will become a maintenance hassle (nightmare?), but once the ~15ft tall culms leaf out it should be reasonably quiet back there. If you have space, things like Gracilis, RG Dwarf, and Ladyfinger (20-25ft, 15ft, 10ft) are great dense noise barriers. And they are leaf hardy below 20F so great even in winter!

Very good. More should follow. It’s really good that they fruit in NZ. I remember reading a long time ago probably here on Palmtalk that they don’t fruit in SE QLD. I don’t know if that’s true now. They are a palm from the mountains of NE QLD so maybe they need the cool that NZ gets. I’ve been up to Mt Lewis in November and it was definitely cool needing a jacket even being so close to summer. They grow easy for me down here, and look much better than they did in Perth where they seem to struggle on the coastal sandy soil. My heavier wetter soil seems to keep them happy. They seem to like full sun and struggle in too much shade as well. I’d love to get mine seeding one day.

Oh there slow alright this one is 25 years old. I even have two in pots that are as big as the one you have there and they are 25 years old, all the same age as the one in the ground. They are slow!

Hookeri at Fairchild that just flushed a new leaf. Petioles are dark. I think that's normal for most hookeri. var. Flaviopicta (sp?) aka Watermelon that i found at a nursery on east coast...gonna buy it next time I'm there. Hard to find one's with this much pattern on them..

Happy Turkey and Football day! And RIP to John Madden.

Very nice. Yours looks like it’s in a similar situation as mine. I think the extra water from the lawn really helps with the speed on these guys. Yours looks like it’s on the same path of color change too. Here’s mine from 2017 at around the same size as yours. Top leaf shot too from back then.

I’ll be 75 next June and immigrated from the Netherlands in 1956 at 5yrs old. Been into surfing all over the world, road racing bicycles on and off until 65 years old. Been a Palm society member since 1977, and now I’m on my second go round with my 13 years old garden in the hills of Vista/ Bonsall area of San Diego. I just finished spreading 36 cubic yards of mulch this week myself. I’m growing cycads, aloes, agaves, plumerias, protea, boojums, and of course palms. The world keeps on changing but I’m still the same cantankerous beast that I’ve always been 😎

Great hobby to share with the children . I remember my little girl , then a toddler , following me around with her pink beach pail “helping “ me plant palms everywhere around our home . She would go with me to Jungle Music and different palm specialty nurseries around the north San Diego area on “ safari “ . Cherish the memories , as your palms grow , the child’s voices will echo after they have grown and left the nest . My favorite …” Why are you trying to hide our house , Dad ?” Now , at 71 it means so much. Once , while visiting us on holiday , she posted on social media a photo of the view from our deck with a one word caption “Home” ! Harry

Not really fast for me either but probably because the vines keep attacking it. I enjoy the way the silver shows as each new leaf unfolds.

Well, the forecast was all over calling for at most light rain in the 80s during the day….. we just got hammered. It was needed though. Supposed to drop to the high 50s overnight. Happy Thanksgiving!

Hello from Cali, Colombia. It is the evening of the Farewell Dinner, but I will take a few minutes to post some pics from the adventure. Bo (bgl) and I spent a few days in Bogotá in advance of the Biennial. We visited the Jardín Botanico de Bogotá and also went up the teleférico to the top of Montserrate to take in views of the city. The elevation of the city is 8,675 ft. (2,644 m.) and the top of the hill is 10,341 ft. (3,152 m.), a good way to acclimate for hiking at lower levels to see Ceroxylon.

Hanging bridges are always fun for viewing palms from the treetops. Above: Below: The following day we rode in buses to Sendero, then in Jeeps up to Tochecito. We were surprised to see the Ceroxylon fruiting in Sendero, but that was at lower elevation. The Jeep ride was 2 hours of very bumpy road. No complaints! The ride was curtailed when we encountered a rock/mudslide blocking the road.

One of the most enchanting aspects of Colombia is the clouds. I was constantly attracted to the heavy white layers of moisture lying snugly between the mountains or hanging mystically just above the ridges. This first shot is on the way to the Quindio Botanic Garden, which is nothing like most botanic gardens; it is more like a jungle with trails carved along the steep slopes where plants grow prolifically. Euterpe catinga, with the orange crownshaft: I liked a lot of the non-palms here, especially the heliconias... This flower produces a blue seed:

Brugmansia sanguinea, had no clue it could grow to tree size. Having fun with the views... A couple more from the botanic garden (photos not guaranteed to be in perfect order...) More later as time permits.