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There's been a bit of discussion lately about the under use of many of our lovely Australian native palm species. We have a large range of palms suitable from Equatorial zones right down to cool Temperate areas. You may see many of 'King Palms' in gardens around the world but nearly always only the Cunninghamia or Alexandrae. Wouldn't a display of the Archontophoenix species with the coloured crownshafts make a better display ? Foxtails are as common as geraniums but it's taller, more elegant counterpart, the Normanbya is virtually unknown to the general public. Livistona decora and L australis are well known also but there are so many other native livistona out there. There are also our Calamus, Ptychsperma, Linospadix and quite few others that I can't bring to mind at the moment. Are there any IPS people out there with a garden consisting of purely Australian Native Palms ? If so I would love a tour or at least some shared photos. Does anyone else think there would be a place for a nursery that only sold our lovely natives ? Maybe someone has a large native collection they are willing to share some photos of ? It's just an idea I have had for a while and would love to know other members opinions. Peachy

Fifteen old leaf bases finally falling away on this eighteen year old P. torallyi’s fattening trunk. This one was planted as a small two leaf seedling. This one has never set seed but a number of dried up immature inflorescences were hiding behind the fallen away leaf boots and they fell off as well. The palm is pushing a very visible fresh inflorescence now. Maybe this one will actually produce something.

First flower spathes on this 2 headed Chrysalidocarpus Prestonianus Hybrid

I became aware of the wide variety of palms that are from Australia early on . I got a book about palms and noticed that many of the palms I liked were from that part of the world. Back then , the Wodyetia was protected and seed was not allowed to be exported to the US . The ease of regulation made it possible for the rest of us to acquire some Archontophoenix with different crownshaft colorings and characteristics. Last year I was given a pot of about 5-6 seedlings . They are a mix of Maxima and Purperae . I had shown a fellow collector one of my prize possessions , an A. Alexandrea that I got over 25 years ago from a big box store , labeled as “King” Palm. I knew it was different from all the others on the pallet by the silver underside and darker green leaves . There are many types of palms from your country that I would love to grow but some won’t like it here. To me , one of the nicest looking Livistona is the Australis and they thrive here . In my humble opinion they are under used in landscaping, although Ventura put a bunch of mature specimens in at the new addition at the hospital. Harry

I agree Peachy. Not many people outside palm circles even know we have native palms here. I don’t only grow Australian palms but my collection is heavily invested in Australian palms and I’m also pushing into the Aussie cycad direction as well. I’ve got all the Archontophoenix species, would like to grow more Aussie Livistonas, and there of course are the Howeas and Hedyscepe. I’m trying to mass plant lots of the same species because I have the space to do it. Trying to get more Linospadix going along with Laccospadix and once you enter the cycad domain, Macrozamia, Lepidozamia etc. What I can’t wait for is for someone to say, why don’t you grow natives instead of all these palms.

Webster area today lots and lots of new robustas planted along 45 south 👀👀👀👀👀 . And some skyscraper robsuta I found there is another one but I’d have to go trespassing basically to see it in full view lol

There are a couple native nursery’s around that only sell Australian native plants and will not look at anything but Australian native plants. And it would be an interesting garden just solely native palms. A nice avenue of solitaire palms would be fantastic to look at. Richard

yes, you have a wonderful huge variety of palm species and plant species and this in various climate zones, impressive and it delights the heart 🤗♥️

By the sounds of it they could grow in a refrigerator. Now I can see why they are so popular with a lot of palm growers wanting cold tolerance and a tropical look, I guess coconuts you think of warm tropical island paradise’s, and fenestralis falls into that category with cold tolerance. Richard

Massive flower on this, will produce enough seed for the world 10x over. two story high Areca macrocaylx "red" next to it. aloha

Earlier today I took a trip to the national zoo in Washington DC and here are some of the pictures of plants and stuff I found

The long forgotten solitaire palm a beautiful Australian palm. I have three mature beauties in the garden. Tough as well heat tolerant cool tolerant and a little dry tolerant. A great palm and a nice single stem ptychosperma well worth growing.

Some cycads are known for coning at relatively young ages and sizes. When comparing an Encephalartos princeps I have been growing for almost 20 years now to the caudex size of my other Encephalartos genus cycads, all others have coned by the time their caudex achieves this size. That what was prompted me to create this thread. Do you have any particularly old or large caudex cycads (for the genus and species), that just haven't coned when others of similar genus and species you have already attained that milestone? This specimen has been in the ground for roughly 10 years now, and was grown in pots previously, so it isn't an issue of it acclimating to its location.

When I lived near the coast in central Florida, where temperatures commonly dipped below freezing for a few days during the winter, I developed an interest in Australian Livistonas that could take it without damage. Now I am in east Hawaii Island, but I retained my interest in Australian Livs. I have 10-15 year old specimens of benthamii, muelleri, fulva, drudei, lanuginosa, and rigida. I even have a small leichartii (kimberlyana or lorophylla) that is hanging in there. The fulvas have had some problems, possibly because my soils aren't very deep in places, but the others have done fine.

Nice one don’t kill it. Or the palm police will be notified. But you should plant it in mums yard set it free.

Here is a link to the Palmpedia page. https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Beccariophoenix_alfredii Have a look at the habitat shots. Imagine growing a grove of them. That’s what I’m planning to do in an area here. They’re a magnificent species.

It will fit nicely in my shade house dearie. See how kind I am to offer ? Peachy of the purest intentions

Hey Marius, like Tracy, I've grown other species, and was going to give you some general advice, but after googling raimondii, I'd have to say they're a completely different beast! I was going mention that they form a big clump and every head is monocarpic but the plant keeps pupping...but no...these look very different. Although a bigger plant they actually look like they might be less trouble than the clumping species, which as Tracy mentioned are a nightmare to weed around...in fact I don't even try any more! Below, just for fun, is a pic of my two P chilensis flowering a couple of years ago after 12 years in the ground. Love these plants but they're a handful...

I think it should have enough space. I wonder how fast the plant increases in size.

They each seem to be individuals like us, with general observations that can be made with broad accuracy. I have 4 huge eugene-maraise, all grown in containers for 30-plus years; and 3 have cones every other year, while one never has coned since imported in 1979 and grown under ideal circumstances in 3 different people's collections. In South Africa it's by far the norm to find these plants growing in rocky or Boulder situations where roots are squeezed by the rocks, but protected from fires by the same rocks. I've not been able to find a person in SA or anywhere else that has a dependable rationale for consistent cone production among all species. They're fascinating plants.

I have a green wall of Ficus trees down at the bottom of the hill . I have it topped every other year so it is like a tall hedge, very thick . When cars go by on the other side of the hill I can tell the difference from before they are behind the hedge as they approach . It does work . Harry

My old garden was very exposed, a touch of frost now and then and the winter nights went down to -03c regularly. My Beccariophoenix alfredii was untouched by any of it. As far as cold tolerance goes they are equal to Bismarckia. I also had B. fenestra which shared cold hardiness with both aforementioned. Peachy

I wasn’t going to mention that one to him. Glad you did coconuts or no coconuts!

Nope usually the first leaf is a good indication if anything albinism, but most likely nutrient deficiency. But tag it you never know your luck in a big city!

I've had this one since 1985, originally purchased as a 20 inch globe starting to go more columnar. Now it's 3 feet of trunk with 4 branches and has been a very steady lehmannii. The apex diameter is 22 inches, but the trunk was 26 inches diameter until the 4 branches formed. It also has never made any offsets. It's the same plant as my avatar.

Oh the tail of your palms! What are material possessions anyway and why do we all try to have so many materiel possessions. I guess the old saying goes whoever has the most toys when they die wins. The happiest people on the planet are those that have the least material possessions. Only true happiness can come from the mind and once cleared of such clutter in our lives then we can see clearly and obtain that happiness. I think you have done pretty well in this situation obtaining happiness. Richard

Variegated Caryota mitis are a clourful plants especially in sunlight. Sorry only one picture had the leafs in the sun

I have been observing my plant for about 2-3 weeks. I have noticed that the new leaves are quite bright in color, different from the other plants I have grown from seed. I suspect that it may be a variegated plant. Please advise.

I just pulled an old leaf boot off and revealed this bright waxy trunk. Noticing the red isn't really a thing for this plant anymore. It used to have bright red showing, just a few months ago!

Lambert, Parajubaea trunks will actually grow right over any nearby hardscaping without damaging it. My biggest torallyi is growing over a portion of stone and concrete walkway and another one did the same. I’ll measure the trunk bases today and post.

A little bit of brushing with an artist brush helps. You will get viable seeds. Iam not sure if it was my helping hand or it was age that finally came good with the seeds. It flowered for quite a few years before I got viable seeds. Keep an eye on them daily looking for signs.

I could only imagine your dreams of a palmtopia!

wow, really huge 😄

I'm not so concerned about the distance. Other tight corners I've placed palms, they've tended to grow out and away from cement.

Thanks Richard this and Dypsis carlsmithi grow like rockets here. Bit slow at first then take off Two of my favorite aloha

Hello Slife00 the colourful variegated Caryota mitis seed turns up every now and then, It is a sub species that produces seed that leads to this for of C.mitis I just did a search and found seed available from this source. I know nothing about them or can give any advice other than to show a possible supplier on google. https://www.selaseeds.com/

Once again another of our outstanding native palms that is almost unknown to the common gardener. Extremely fast growing, tidy and elegant, low care too. A heavy frost will singe the leaves but they grow back quickly. Full sun scorches them when young but even very light dappled shade during the strongest sun times is quite enough to protect them. When I moved house, it was among my first palm purchases. Unbeatable for courtyards and small garden areas as they dont get very tall but just enough to give light shade over a small area. What is not to love ? Peachy

Same here. Thankfully we've had decent rain at intervals (no all at once like in March). The flood was a blessing and a curse. I'm currently getting good growth from palms that seemed to just exist with irrigation from city water. My big Butia and multiple Chamaedorea radicalis flowered for the first time. I lost an avocado tree, a papaya, a small loquat tree and possibly a good sized Dioon spinulosum because of the flood. Jury is still out on the Dioon - the caudex is still firm.

NICEEEEE! LOOKING GOOD, I need to go give the bragg blvd washie a visit! I only have one specimen still and I want many more!

Lookin' good. Welcome. I thought I'd check on one of mine.

This scene must be astounding on a moonlit night! I would get my Adirondack chair, and a glass of wine and sit among that grove of bizzies. A little wind even better with the motion in the moonlight! One of the few palms that looks great mid day, edge of the day and on a moonlit night.

Seems to have been a bit stronger than expected. I even got 1/10 inch here in Port Isabel. Was not forecast to get any.

This time I decided to apply a little bit of my own science to the question. I used a handheld Nady Audio DSM-1X SPL meter and ran some actual tests on plants in my yard, around the neighborhood, and at a local nursery. I used a Klipsch Groove portable Bluetooth speaker as my noise source, and made a test track using an EIA RS-426A speaker noise spectrum with a 600Hz 6dB/octave highpass filter to simulate traffic noise. I enlisted my wife to help measure noise loss through the plants by having her stand on one side with the speaker and me on the other side with the SPL meter. We'd measure through the plant and then step to the side at the same 8' distance, and remeasure with no plants in the way: Arenga Engleri - 4.7 dBA - Dense cluster in the SW corner, about 8' tall and 3-5' thick Caryota Mitis - 9.4 dBA - Dense cluster on the East side pathway, about 15' tall and 5' thick with lots of solid trunks Chrysalidocarpus/Dypsis Lutescens - 4.7 dBA - NE dense cluster, also about 8' tall and 3-4' thick Rhapis Excelsa - 4.6 dBA - 5' tall cluster with low and medium height leaves and trunks Bamboo: "Jesse Durko" Bambusa - 6.9-7.7 dBA - about 3' thick with very dense foliage "Jesse Durko" Bambusa - 3.9 dBA - about 3' thick but in an area with very few leaves "Jesse Durko" Bambusa - 1.7 dBA - about 3' thick but in an area with very few leaves AND very few culms Bambusa Tuldoides "Swollen Internode" - 3.3 dBA - also 4' thick in an area with very few leaves Bambusa "New Guinea Black" - 4.9 dBA - very dense foliage Bambusa Textilis "Gracilis" - 5.2 dBA - at a spot with medium amount of trunks but very sparse leaves Bambusa Textilis "Gracilis" - 10.6 dBA - at a spot with very dense trunks but very sparse leaves Others: Zamia Furfuracea "Cardboard Palm" - 3.7-4 dBA - solid huge clusters 8 feet thick Strelitzia Nicolai "White Bird of Paradise" - 6.9 dBA - through a section of dense trunk and lots of big leaves Viburnum Odoratissum - 3.2 dBA - through a 6' wide lower section with a few trunks but very few leaves Viburnum Odoratissum - 5.4 dBA - through a 6' wide section of very dense foliage, impossible to see through Philodendron Selloum - 6.5 dBA - dense 8' thick clump in the SW corner "Bordelon" bananas - 8.3 dBA - dense clump 8 feet thick with lots of trunks but not too many leaves Lattice 4x8' sheet - 4.1 dBA - white PVC for making a lattice fence Plywood 4x8' sheet - 11 dBA - probably picked up reflections from nearby cars. Podocarpus - 2.6-3.3 dBA - across relatively thin section Podocarpus - 3.7-5.4 dBA - across medium to high density >3' thick sections

Thats's nice variegation Colin. I have one doing ok here, but it needs more shade than I can give it at the moment as the areas lacking chlorophyll tend to burn a little. It'll be a cracker once I get some canopy going.

@mlovecan it's hard to guess how much clearance there is in the photo, but Alfredii get HUGE trunks near the base. This photo was from sonoranfans a couple of years ago, I think it's a bit bigger now:

Nice palm growing by the pool and you won’t have to worry about coconuts falling on you as you swim past. For some reason they seem so popular, iam a collector so I just wanted one in my collection, I guess there beauty will grow on me in time.

I bought one 25+ years ago for $3 at a palm nursery down near San Diego. They had a bunch in small pots . I wasn’t looking for one but couldn’t pass up the chance. I was expecting a clumping palm . It never sent out any pups , just grew straight up. Harry ‘I am 6’ tall and I have to reach up to touch the lower fronds when I stand where the gnome is! My single stem Chamaerops Humilus . This is from a year ago.

Well now I know what to expect with my one, great pictures.

Looks like a very healthy plant. They seem to be pretty hardy once fully pinnate. You've been dodging the magnesium issues those things have at youger age. Keep a bit of magnesium available for your palm. I have this one, great palms to own:

I left the others behind when I got evicted. I left lots of stuff behind - some cool aloes, C. Lutescens, a big W. Robusta, my giant Cat palm, a bunch of A. Tuckerii, my little Rhapsis, my very leggy Monstera, my orange spider plants, soil amendments and containers, tons of pots And saucers, furniture, a really nice floor jack and jack stands, 2 TV stands, my kitchen appliances and dishes, my truck, tons of car audio gear. I was not in a great frame of mind. Oh well. Life goes on.