African Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis)

[Josh-O]

I had to bump this thread!

Is anyone successfully growing this palm in California?

If so do you have any pictures to share? 

[steve99]

I don't think I've ever seen one here in South East Qld, although there could be some around somewhere.    I've only ever seen them in far North Qld.

 

 

[Zeeth]

29 minutes ago, steve99 said:

I don't think I've ever seen one here in South East Qld, although there could be some around somewhere.    I've only ever seen them in far North Qld.

Based on the fact that you can grow Pigafetta, I think you should have a shot at growing E. guineensis. They do okay in coastal Central Florida, and our winters seem similar based on the data from Wikipedia (but it seems like you don't get below 0˚C very often, whereas it happens here on occasion).

[palmfriend]

Josh, I know you were asking about CA but after Steve(AUS) and Keith(FL)`s comment I thought it 

would be ok to throw my part in as well...

Well, I have a few ones but until now just one in the ground since last year`s June. I have lost one

before but just because I dared to relocate it... But this one (about 2 years old) is doing very well so far,

it has experienced several typhoons, weeks without rain and the last winter with temperatures

down to 49F (usually for a day or so, but not much longer).

Looking at it know, I would say it is a tough species, I am looking forward to its growth. This year`s

winter is over, we are back to 73/74F (minimum), summer is aproaching, winterly conditions will

be back at the mid/end of Dec, so we are facing a hopefully long season of warm temperatures -

so all looks good, I would say.

Ok, here it is:

It looks a little bit shaken, but it will be fine. It seems (from other comments and pictures) that this species gets stronger with its age, so I am

optimistic with this one.

best regards

 

[Walt]

Last May 25, 2015 I uploaded the below video to YouTube, showing my African oil palm. In the video I explain my experience with this palm in terms of freezes and hard frosts. About 2-3 months ago we got some very strong winds from a cold front, and it pushed the top of my African oil palm over. At first I thought it might have had a snapped neck from palmetto weevils, but I realized it just got blown over on an angle. As such, many frond leaves got a different exposure to the sun, i.e., bottom (abaxil) sides of leaves got direct exposure to sun and got sun burned. I'm hoping as the palm continues to grow and push up new fronds it will re right itself.

 

[Josh-O]

15 hours ago, palmfriend said:

Josh, I know you were asking about CA but after Steve(AUS) and Keith(FL)`s comment I thought it 

would be ok to throw my part in as well...

Well, I have a few ones but until now just one in the ground since last year`s June. I have lost one

before but just because I dared to relocate it... But this one (about 2 years old) is doing very well so far,

it has experienced several typhoons, weeks without rain and the last winter with temperatures

down to 49F (usually for a day or so, but not much longer).

Looking at it know, I would say it is a tough species, I am looking forward to its growth. This year`s

winter is over, we are back to 73/74F (minimum), summer is aproaching, winterly conditions will

be back at the mid/end of Dec, so we are facing a hopefully long season of warm temperatures -

so all looks good, I would say.

Ok, here it is:

It looks a little bit shaken, but it will be fine. It seems (from other comments and pictures) that this species gets stronger with its age, so I am

optimistic with this one.

best regards

 

looks like it coming right along

good job!!

[kylecawazafla]

Maybe it's worth trying! I used to ask "Does this palm grow in California?" all the time, and kept on receiving a staunch "no". However, I've since seen photos of healthy Attalea, Corypha, Adonidia, Cocos, Areca vestiaria, Borassus, Kerriodoxa... etc! I'd love to see if an Elaeis can make it! 

[CarloV]

My name is Carlo & I have been a nurseryman for over 40 yrs & I live in west Palm beach Now Loxahrchee very close to Lion County Safari I have 3 50’ plus palms on my nursery, this palm thrives I can’t even tell u how I ended up with this palm but they grow very easy! The seeds from this palm scatter everywhere now I have hundreds of them if anyone is interested. When there young the foliage does burn easy but they grow right out of it! Where I live it has actually snowed & it does get cold! The palm loves water I actually have seedlings growing out of the old frowns in the tree, this palm is super hardy u can come see for yourself & when the seeds turn black the smell of anise permeates my 5 ac nursery. This palm is getting a bad rap from people who have not spent time growing it! Don’t agree come see it & believe your eyes I have hundreds’

[TaylorPlantHunter]

On 8/20/2021 at 8:05 AM, CarloV said:

My name is Carlo & I have been a nurseryman for over 40 yrs & I live in west Palm beach Now Loxahrchee very close to Lion County Safari I have 3 50’ plus palms on my nursery, this palm thrives I can’t even tell u how I ended up with this palm but they grow very easy! The seeds from this palm scatter everywhere now I have hundreds of them if anyone is interested. When there young the foliage does burn easy but they grow right out of it! Where I live it has actually snowed & it does get cold! The palm loves water I actually have seedlings growing out of the old frowns in the tree, this palm is super hardy u can come see for yourself & when the seeds turn black the smell of anise permeates my 5 ac nursery. This palm is getting a bad rap from people who have not spent time growing it! Don’t agree come see it & believe your eyes I have hundreds’

I would love to get some plants or seeds of the oil palm if you had them. I am just a bit north of you.

[Walt]

Hi Carlos,

 This is Walter's wife, Walter passed away in June. I haven't seen any seeds from oil palm yet.

Lots of (teddy bear) seeds Dypsis leptocheilos . 

                       Cathy

 

[kylecawazafla]

13 minutes ago, Walt said:

Hi Carlos,

 This is Walter's wife, Walter passed away in June. I haven't seen any seeds from oil palm yet.

Lots of (teddy bear) seeds Dypsis leptocheilos . 

                       Cathy

 

I am so sorry to hear about Walter! I have been following photos of his garden in Lake Placid since approximately 2003! He taught so many people about growing palms in central Florida. Thank you for letting us know. 

[bubba]

So sorry to hear about Walt's passing. What a fine gentleman and a real cutting edge palm enthusiast. He always made keen observations about the intricacies of his climate, in the lower Central Florida ridge and lake area. I know that he pioneered the introduction of many cutting edge palms in his area, including but not limited to Cocos nucifera.

I greatly enjoyed his stories about his time in the navy and his experiences observing the effect of the Gulf Stream on temperatures off Charleston when his ship hit it in the winter. He also spent a number of years in Key West in the Navy and that had to pique his interest in palms.

God bless Walt!

[kinzyjr]

9 hours ago, Walt said:

Hi Carlos,

 This is Walter's wife, Walter passed away in June. I haven't seen any seeds from oil palm yet.

Lots of (teddy bear) seeds Dypsis leptocheilos . 

                       Cathy

 

Hello Cathy,

Condolences on Walt's passing.  The forum members posted a memorial thread for him here:

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/93162-rip-walt-in-lake-placid/ 

[PalmatierMeg]

Regarding Elais guineensis: this palm is not cold hardy. Temps below 32F may be lethal especially for juvenile palms. Also, this species has trouble with major hurricanes (cat 3+). I lost two normal palms to Hurricane Ian (cat 4/5) which tore them out of the ground. I won't plant one again and ripped out whatever seedlings survived that storm.  My only surviving oil was a whole leaf mutant planted just above our canal. It barely survived Ian and is smaller than normal oils so not as risky. If you do plant one, don't forget they are armed, get huge and should never be planted next to a house or other outbuildings. When they fall they take out any/everything below them (Chrysalodocarpus decaryi anyone?)I really like the "Jurassic Park" look of them but no longer for me.