Dypsis onilahensis

[Alberto]

This is what says a well known seed dealer about

Dypsis onilahensis:

A palm that will prove to be one of the best new introductions for temperate and subtropical areas. Anyone who has tried to grow Dypsis lutescens in cold regions and failed should give this one a try. It is similar in looks to the former, but, originating from the mountains of Madagascar up to 2400 m (8000 ft), it is considerably more tolerant of cold temperatures and frost.

I gave it a try,I was hoping for it withstand advective frosts ,but and I am disappointed.Maybe I have a wrong source of seeds,from at a lower altitude population....???

 Here are some pics of the onilahensis that were in the open,without protection on 3 nights of radiational freezes.

Here is (´was´) my best performing plant:

[Alberto]

PALM MISTERY:

Why this frond wasn´t burned???

(it´s not a spear that opened after the freeze!)

[Alberto]

This palm is growing 4 meters from the house in the shade of a very big Butia eriospatha.It doesn´t show any leaflets burned.

[Alberto]

Intact sucker:

Was it not burned due to the ´´canopy´´ of the bigger fronds??

I think it´s clear they need canopy in my climate!

How do they transplant?

Is it a good idea to do this now,or have I to wait until the palms recover somewhat???

 Thanks! Alberto

[Bennz]

I think there needs to be a distinction between cold tolerant and cool tolerant. I need cool tolerant plams, as they can handle my lack of heat and no frost. You need cold tolerance for those frosts you get in an otherwise warm climate.

For me D. lutescens is just not a viable option, I don't have enough heat for them to look anything like ok. I'm certainly expecting much beeter from D. baronii and onilahensis, so for me the rps extract might prove accurate. In warm cliamtes D. lutescens handles some frost anyway, from what I've seen in Australia.

[Dypsisdean]

Alberto,

Since you already have "cages" around your palms, it would help alot if you placed a towel or sheet over the top on nights that may freeze. Then as they get taller, this will also help as the temp within the first meter of the ground is usually much colder. Suckering palms even begin to form their own canopy and protection when they get larger and fuller.

[Walter John]

I put plastic over the top of my shade house this winter, for a bout a month or so of the coldest nights, it worked believe me, all my potted palms came though unscathed.

[Alberto]

(Alberto @ Sep. 24 2006,09:29)

QUOTE

This is what says a well known seed dealer about

Dypsis onilahensis:

A palm that will prove to be one of the best new introductions for temperate and subtropical areas. Anyone who has tried to grow Dypsis lutescens in cold regions and failed should give this one a try. It is similar in looks to the former, but, originating from the mountains of Madagascar up to 2400 m (8000 ft), it is considerably more tolerant of cold temperatures and FROST.

Ben,I think that this extract isn´t correct because this palms cannot handle the lightest radiational freeze...

It´s more tender than for example P.roebellini and Chamaedorea plumosa that are both OK in my garden.

[SunnyFl]

Those palms look to be very small - past the seedling stage, but still very young, am I correct?  I would think that this might have something to do with it - in a radiational freeze when there is frost, the frost will affect the ground before the higher vegetation.

So, the entire plant was exposed to the frostiest conditions - had it been much larger, the bud and canopy would have been farther from the coldest spot. And the canopy would have protected everything beneath, as Dypsisdean said.

Ben had a good observation about d. onilahensis vs. lutescens.  And lutescens can take slightly colder conditions than you'd expect from a Zone10B palm IF it's in a usually hot tropical climate.  (They grow like weeds here.)

[Kathy]

I agree with what's been said, that onilahensis is cool tolerant but not freeze tolerant.

I have a baby (posted this pic before) and it's been fine for 2 1/2 years now, but it has a bit of roof overhang for protection right now, though I've never covered it or wrapped it or brought it inside.  When I plant it out, it'll definately be under overhead canopy.

[Neofolis]

So my intention to try onilahensis outside in the UK doesn't look too promising then.  That said, I know of plants that have survived -4°C/25°F.  I agree that size may be a factor, I certainly wouldn't try them outside here until they are considerably larger than the one's pictured.

[DoomsDave]

(Neofolis @ Sep. 26 2006,06:31)

QUOTE

So my intention to try onilahensis outside in the UK doesn't look too promising then.  That said, I know of plants that have survived -4°C/25°F.  I agree that size may be a factor, I certainly wouldn't try them outside here until they are considerably larger than the one's pictures.

Yeah, but try one anyway.  Life is FULL of surprises, a few of which are even quite pleasant.

Bet they'd rock in the Cotswolds or Land's End in Cornwall.

dave

[Neofolis]

I'm going to order the seed anyway, how could I possibly resist such a great palm.

[SunnyFl]

(Neofolis @ Sep. 28 2006,06:15)

QUOTE

I'm going to order the seed anyway, how could I possibly resist such a great palm.

You can't resist, Corey.  They're too beautiful.

And while it's small, it can easily be kept in a decorative container and moved indoors when winter temps drop too low for it.

[freakypalmguy]

Hi Alberto,

I found this old thread and was curious, how have your D. onilahensis done? Any updated pics. I have a few of these that I am waiting untill spring to put in the ground.

Thank you,

Matt

[brodklop]

There definitely appears to be different forms of this palm.

I grew seed from Darys D. onilahensis which has very droopy leaves and seed from the free intro pack from the International PS.

Right from the start the seedlings look different.

Daryl can vouch for his ones cold hardiness. -1c without a spot.

[Urban Rainforest]

There definately are differant forms of Onily. I am growing 3 differant forms. This is my favorite.

[Urban Rainforest]

It is starting to turn more white now.

[Urban Rainforest]

I planted it as a single trunk 1 gal. and now it has 6 trunks! It is very fast growing throwing about 5 or 6 fronds per trunk a year. It also is one of the darkest green palms I am growing. Here it is today opening 3 fronds at once in Dec. .

[Davidl]

Urban Rainforest those are some nice palms.

[Urban Rainforest]

Thanks David .

S

[SubTropicRay]

I just got one and hope it likes Florida more than 75% of the Dypsis already tried. Older specimens of the species look fantastic from pictures I've seen.

[MattyB]

Steve, I bet yours is gonna look like this one that Al is growing. It's not a weeper, more along the line of the Louis Hooper upright ones. They all start off with more purple too.

[mppalms]

Steve, I bet yours is gonna look like this one that Al is growing. It's not a weeper, more along the line of the Louis Hooper upright ones. They all start off with more purple too.

This is my favorite form. It now looks like I have this only this form, though I was trying for one of each (upright and weeping). There is a nice red/purple cast to the base of the palm, though I am guessing this is just a juvenile phase thing. The larger of the two now has two trunks and is picking up speed. I can't wait to get it in the ground.

Jason

[Urban Rainforest]

Steve, I bet yours is gonna look like this one that Al is growing. It's not a weeper, more along the line of the Louis Hooper upright ones. They all start off with more purple too.

Matty, I think your right as that does resemble the one I took pics of. I have a differant upright form planted in my front yard that is very slow (two fronds per year) and the weeping form in pots. I buy Onilahensis from various sources as you never know what you'll end up with.

Stevo

[Walter John]

Apart from the lovely common weeping form of Dypsis onilahensis, I really love this form, the "bef" form.

These are growing under monster dog guard at Clayton's Utopia nursery.

[Urban Rainforest]

Wal, Here in Cali. we call that one Slick Willy, not sure why . Claytons look stellar !

Cheers mate,

Stevo

[freakypalmguy]

Nice Stevo, love that black color.

Well, live or die, I am going to give some of these a try this spring. I am planning on some with protection and some without.

Matt

[Targui]

I think there needs to be a distinction between cold tolerant and cool tolerant. I need cool tolerant plams, as they can handle my lack of heat and no frost. You need cold tolerance for those frosts you get in an otherwise warm climate.

For me D. lutescens is just not a viable option, I don't have enough heat for them to look anything like ok. I'm certainly expecting much beeter from D. baronii and onilahensis, so for me the rps extract might prove accurate. In warm cliamtes D. lutescens handles some frost anyway, from what I've seen in Australia.

Hi, I see your 4 year old post re dypsis ohilahensis. I live in Tauranga have a north facing property wich slopes to the north. I have this palm growing here well though

quite slowly, certainly slower than Dypsis baronii which is quite fast. I have a microclimate here with a lot of tropical palms growing well eg roystonea.

Regards Alan

[richnorm]

I think there needs to be a distinction between cold tolerant and cool tolerant. I need cool tolerant plams, as they can handle my lack of heat and no frost. You need cold tolerance for those frosts you get in an otherwise warm climate.

For me D. lutescens is just not a viable option, I don't have enough heat for them to look anything like ok. I'm certainly expecting much beeter from D. baronii and onilahensis, so for me the rps extract might prove accurate. In warm cliamtes D. lutescens handles some frost anyway, from what I've seen in Australia.

Hi, I see your 4 year old post re dypsis ohilahensis. I live in Tauranga have a north facing property wich slopes to the north. I have this palm growing here well though

quite slowly, certainly slower than Dypsis baronii which is quite fast. I have a microclimate here with a lot of tropical palms growing well eg roystonea.

Regards Alan

Welcome to the forum Alan. If you can grow Roystoneas well you have one of the best microclimates in NZ! I suspect you may also have very free draining soil. I know of two others growing regia well here. I am trying borinquena. All five of mine are fine so far though I find winter casualties often tend to show up in September when the more tropical things start moving again. Onilahensis can take several years to get going here. You would be able to grow Golden canes and possibly madagascariensis in your favoured spot.

cheers

Richard