Licuala peltata var. sumawongii

[joe_OC]

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These shots were taken last January and this Licuala has put out two leaves since then. I need to take a current picture soon. This Licuala has been in the ground in full shade, except for roughly an hour in the afternoon, since about 2009 and has gotten no special treatment. I consider it a really easy but slow palm here in the Bay Area.

Jim, your's was one of the inspirations for me to try to grow this palm. They have gotten a lot bigger since your last post in this thread. How many new flushes do you get a year now?

[Jeff Searle]

Glad to hear more and more people are having some success with theirs. From my office window viewpoint, I get to enjoy it while sitting here. It seeds every year now.

[Jim in Los Altos]

I just took these updated shots this morning. I'm hoping what Axel says is true of mine and that they pickup growth speed as they get a bit larger. I guess that's true of many palm species. I'm happy with two new leaves this year though.

[MattyB]

Here's mine after a year in the ground. Shade cloth came off last month because the sun is behind some foliage for winter. Next summer it'll get several hours of full sun, but I have a vigorous shrub nearby that I can use to create some shade as needed.

Matt, thanks for sharing. Your's looks amazing! How much has it grown this past year? Looks like one new flush?

Joe,

I think it's put out 2 leaves in the year it's bee in the ground.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

This one is starting to get some size on it. With my buddy Ben for scale.

Licual peltata var Sumawongii.jpg

I agree that they can handle a lot of sun. Most of the ones I've seen growing in this country are planted in full sun.

This one is growing at The Paradise Tropical Garden in Rio Claro.

Is that Ben Morris?

Yes it is.

[Cindy Adair]

I can only add that Puerto Rican cows found mine quite tasty, but it's a survivor and is in recovery mode. One day it will be picture worthy. Thanks so much for all the great photos and information. Sounds like mine could enjoy a sunnier spot so I might be forced to buy another one to try out that idea.

[Bags]

This one is starting to get some size on it. With my buddy Ben for scale.

Licual peltata var Sumawongii.jpg

I agree that they can handle a lot of sun. Most of the ones I've seen growing in this country are planted in full sun.

This one is growing at The Paradise Tropical Garden in Rio Claro.

Is that Ben Morris?

Yes it is.

Tell him Aaron Bagley says hi. We went to high school together.

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

This one is starting to get some size on it. With my buddy Ben for scale.

Licual peltata var Sumawongii.jpg

I agree that they can handle a lot of sun. Most of the ones I've seen growing in this country are planted in full sun.

This one is growing at The Paradise Tropical Garden in Rio Claro.

Is that Ben Morris?

Yes it is.

Tell him Aaron Bagley says hi. We went to high school together.

Small world! I will let him know. He's on PT so maybe he will see this.

[Bags]

I had no idea he was here. Funny.

I will add my palm to the mix. This is it two years ago. Nothing too great, but a steady grower.

[Neil C]

Here is an update on mine and although not in the ground seem happy enough in pots. They live under the veranda in fairly deep shade but at least they are out of the wind. First pic is when I bought them a year and a half ago at Big W and the second is from today. I've put them on the same table so It's easier to see how much they've grown. About 2 leaves a year seems to be the average on these and mine are no different. Wish I'd brought more when I saw them but at least I got these two. Loving everyones photos. Great palms!

Regards Neil

[joe_OC]

Thanks for the pics and updates everyone. Hoping mine will do well for me.

[Hammer]

I love this little species of palm. I have one in a small pot. Another year or two of growth before I plant it out. Thanks everyone for posting such great photos.

[JANAIY]

I am in Miami Beach FL and have a small one. It’s doing great in the shade but is slow to get the new spike growing. I can’t imagine putting her in our sun, it’s quite hot and would literally burn the leaves. Sun is not equal sun, all depending where someone lives. 
I had a surprise today losing up the topsoil and finding 4 spikes by side  the mother trunk. Since it’s not a clustering palm what can it be? I covered them with some pine bark to see what happens in the next few weeks. Will update. 

 

I also read today that there is not such as Licuala elegans and that it is a peltata var sumawongii. WoW, and I bought in Jan 2 Licuala elegans thinking it to be a different species. On Palmpedia Dransfield mentions it. 
Any thoughts? 
Here my sumawongii 

and here my 2 elegans from Floribunda 

The leaves just look the same 

 

Edited February 10, 2020 by JANAIY

[Silas_Sancona]

9 minutes ago, JANAIY said:

I am in Miami Beach FL and have a small one. It’s doing great in the shade but is slow to get the new spike growing. I can’t imagine putting her in our sun, it’s quite hot and would literally burn the leaves. Sun is not equal sun, all depending where someone lives. 
I had a surprise today losing up the topsoil and finding 4 spikes by side  the mother trunk. Since it’s not a clustering palm what can it be? I covered them with some pine bark to see what happens in the next few weeks. Will update. 

 

I also read today that there is not such as Licuala elegans and that it is a peltata var sumawongii. WoW, and I bought in Jan 2 Licuala elegans thinking it to be a different species. On Palmpedia Dransfield mentions it. 
Any thoughts? 
Here my sumawongii 

and here my 2 elegans from Floribunda 

The leaves just look the same 

 

Yea, lol.. definitely burns in sun, even an hour or so of partial, late afternoon sun was too much, at least here..  Learned that the hard way. 

The white capped, pointy things coming up next to the palm in the first couple pics. is likely some sort of Mushroom that is likely  feeding off the Pine bark / other organics in the soil mix.. Spores could have blown in from somewhere else, or been present in w/ the pine bark from the start. Don't think it is harmful / will harm the palm. You can pull them out if leaving them makes you a little nervous. What you're seeing is the fruiting body of the fungi.. rest of it is buried deeper in the soil. . Have had similar fungi pop up in pots every so often. never effected the plants.

Very healthy plants regardless.

[JANAIY]

Thank you. Mushrooms, hmmmm , love mushrooms, there is a whole new science to it. Quite amazing what they do with their root system, its like our internet connection just they connect with all the trees and plants, thats awesome. Mycelium also heals our bees what are dying. Stamet's, mycologist, discovered that by mistake. He found bees sucking on his mycelium what he had outside under pine bark. They sucked it away for almost 45 days and than were gone. Isn't this amazing?

Ok, so mushrooms to me in general are quite soft to the touch at least the ones I found in the woods in Germany. These here are hard and seem like roots. Tried pulling them , but not feeling comfortable right now.  Going to try google the species if beneficial or not. Now the Licuala looks healthy, only the spike started to curve for some reason. Thanks for your knowledge.

[TomJ]

In Singapore these were my favorite most impressive specimens to see.

I have two in the ground..... nothing like the tropics.

The first was planted a long time ago.

Bought from JDA when Dan was out there.

Edited February 15, 2020 by TomJ
scatter brain

[TomJ]

The second was planted last Summer from a FB 1 gallon