Teeny Tiny Palms

[poodlepup]

I am looking for a single trunk palm (or palm like plant) that would not get much above 10'.

It would have to be ok in a 2' wide 2' deep, 3' tall brick planter.

It would have to live in Northern California. -But I'm about 20 miles from the coast, and freeze/ frost is only occasionally a problem. -2 or 3 times a year, ussually not too cold.

I'm thinking of pygmy date palm, but is there a better one?

Kate in Petaluma

[Ashton]

Kate,

On September 9th, I started a post "Favorite Short Palms" which got a lot of response. You might wish to peak at the thread. I believe this link will take you there.

Ashton

http://palmtalk.org/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboar...t=ST;f=1;t=1130

[MattyB]

Hi Kate, welcome.  Pigmy date is a good one.  Especially if the spot is gonna get sun.  Another one that will do great in sun or shade is Chamaedorea radicalis.  Here's some others:

Chamaedorea elegans - shade

Basellinia gracilis - shade

other Chamaedoreas like adscendens, metallica, stolinifera (multi trunked but dainty)

Good Luck.

[poodlepup]

Wow you guys are awesome, thanks!

ps, my Grandfather lived in Lemon Grove CA

(2525 Washington Street to be exact)

[MattyB]

Ha!  I'm sittin' here at my Dad's house (our office) on 2512 Mulder St.   I'm sure I could throw a rock and hit 2525 Washington.  It's one parrallel street west of Washington, obviously in the same hundred block.  My house is on Englewood Dr. just a few blocks away still.

[poodlepup]

Hi Matt.

That's funny!

I mapquested it.

If you threw a rock due East, (and your throwing arm was good) you would hit Grandpa's house. -It's 1/10th of a mile from your office!

Kate

[MattyB]

Yeap.  Does his backyard but up against the Elementary School's playground?  My mom works there by the way.  We're just all Lemon Groovy here.

[deezpalms]

If you're looking for a filtered light to shade palm a Lytocaryum weddlianum would look great!!

[bgl]

To throw a rock 1/10 of a mile must surely get into the Guinness Book of World Records (or whatever it's called!). Someone is getting off topic again....

And Kate,

even though I'd like to come up with something more unusual or exotic, the Pigmy date palm may be your best choice. The only drawback: the spines on the petioles close to the trunk. In other words, it's important to be VERY careful when cutting off the old lower fronds.

Bo-Göran

[SunnyFl]

I cast my vote for the roebelenii too.  A member in Louisiana posted to the old board, before its demise, a photo of a roeb with snow on it.  The roeb survived (but not happily) and was sufficiently recovered by (I think) that summer.  Next winter it got frosted, which didn't seem to faze it.

I'm not familiar with Calif at all, but I can tell you, if you have a wind problem, roeb is perfect.  Even cold winds at 27F - my roeb just laughed it off.

[Joe palma]

Kate,

If you like slightly blue fan palms Trachycarpus nanus would be a good one and should stay below 4'. It would never have a problem w/ the cold! They are quite rare though, so a decent size one would probably be pricy and somewhat difficult to find.

Brahea decumbens (more blue) would be another but probably more expensive and difficult to find even still, and not as cold hardy, but probably ok.

[Patrick]

hi kate,

I live near you so I know your climate....

Pigmys are good but very common, A safe bet might Chamaedorea radicalis, a hard one to find would be guihaia argyrata- but it stays absurdedly small, have you thought about Arenga engleri? That might be a good one- cold hardy and a litle similar to the pigmy date, if you like the plumose look- but so much more so- you'd probably be one of the only ones with that palm up there. The Trachy's a good idea, too.......

[MattyB]

Dang, Bo you caught me again!  You're a stickler.

[Patrick]

I can refer you to a nice shop out in Richmond, if you like... it's worth the drive

[DoomsDave]

Also consider Ph. pusilla and acaulis. for the sun.

Where in No-Cal are you?

dave

[palmazon]

that would be PETALUMA

as in Kate in Petaluma

[Neofolis]

P.roebelenii is certainly a beauty and very graceful looking, but they can grow quite tall after many years, despite what all the statistics say.  L.weddellianum will probably never get to over 10' in California and has very attractive leaves.  If you have any shade avialalbe you could try one of the smaller Dypsis, like concinna which can be solitary as well as clumping.  Shade would certainly increase your choices of small palms.  If you can find it Ravenea hildebrandtii doesn't get too much over 10' and looks like a miniature Majesty.  I don't know whether any of the small Heterospathes are any good for your climate, but again they would require shade.  If it can handle your climate a real eye catcher would be Calyptrogyne ghiesbreghtiana, large simple leaves and a dark red emergent leaf.