Veitchia arecina in Orlando,FL

[Eric in Orlando]

Here are a couple of Veitchia arecina growing outdoors next to the Orange County Convention Center on I-Drive in Orlando. This is just up the road from the Sheraton by Sea World with the coconuts and royals.

These 2 Veitchias have been outside for about 10 years now. They were originally used as interior specimens then were planted outside in the back. A few years ago they were moved to their present location. They are growing in an open lawn next to a small pond. There were several others but only 2 left now. Both are bearing immature seed.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

[quaman58]

Wow Eric,

That 2nd picture with the clouds in the background gave me the desire to quit my job, move to Tahiti, and spend my time either collecting coconuts or weaving palm frond hats for tourists!! Nicely done...

Bret

[spockvr6]

Heres another Veitchia growing in a prime part of Clearwater, FL.  One can see that it towers over the nearby Queen Palms.  Around here, this is a very large Veitchia.

[BS Man about Palms]

Thanks again Larry for the Clearwater pic.  

I always thought my Grandparents there had the coolest address ever.

"1 South Jupiter"     :cool:

[SoLando]

Thanks. Gorgeous pictures, both of you. Definitely a palm to drool over. The Sea World location must be ideal for palms on a nice heat island. Luckily, I'm barely 10 minutes from the beautiful place!

[SunnyFl]

Seriously, Eric?  They've been there for 10 years?  Sheesh, I never would have thought they'd survive in Orlando.  This must be a tougher palm than I thought.

And big too - the one in Clearwater is a giant.  I thought they topped out around 30' - guess not.

[spockvr6]

(SunnyFl @ Sep. 30 2006,03:20)

QUOTE

Sheesh, I never would have thought they'd survive in Orlando.  This must be a tougher palm than I thought.

Read the second to last sentence in his post carefully

Even after last winter (which was mild) I can see that these are not tough palms.  My largest one got some burn on the highest leaf at 34F.

But, this slight inconvenience hasnt stopped me from planting them as I now have more than 2 dozen of them!  Their looks and growth rate (and low cost) make them worth it IMO.

[spockvr6]

(SunnyFl @ Sep. 30 2006,03:20)

QUOTE

And big too - the one in Clearwater is a giant.  I thought they topped out around 30' - guess not.

Sunny-

If you ever want to see it, (it is extremely impressive in person, far more so than in my pic taken with a cell phone), it is located on Island Estates in Clearwater.  This is just about as prime of a palm growing climate as exists around here as this community literally sits in Clearwater Harbor.

There are some Adonidias in this area that are so fat (not the stringy drawn out types we usually see), that they truly look like "Dwarf Royals".

[spockvr6]

(BS, Man about Palms @ Sep. 29 2006,22:24)

QUOTE

Thanks again Larry for the Clearwater pic.  

I always thought my Grandparents there had the coolest address ever.

"1 South Jupiter"     :cool:

I know right where that is BS!

That is certainly a tre cool address.

Ive always thought that if I ever had the opportunity to name my address, it would be "1 Royal Palm Drive", and of course said drive would be lined with massive Royals!

[Eric in Orlando]

I think they are hardier once they get older. Young specimens seem very tender. I planted one at my mom's house in summer 1995 and it was killed in Feb. 1996 after that 26F freeze, it was only a couple of feet tall. I planted another about 7 years ago. She lives near downtown in a very warm microclimate. It is about 20ft tall now. Here is a photo from last Jan., the palm on the right is a Ptychosperma macarthurii that started flowering this summer.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph.....src=ph

[ruskinPalms]

I have several triple V. arecina planted close to windows around my house. I hope they do turn out to be tougher than previously thought, but I bet they take yearly foliar damage in the very least around here as I am in an area that has zero urban heat island effect as I am way out in the boonies...I plan to throw a sheet over them when forcast to go below 38 F, and more drastic measures if forcast to go below 30 F.

[SunnyFl]

(spockvr6 @ Sep. 30 2006,07:56)

QUOTE

Read the second to last sentence in his post carefully

I did.  I was surprised that any survived up there.  

Amazing what they're planting in Orlando, really.

Even after last winter (which was mild) I can see that these are not tough palms.  My largest one got some burn on the highest leaf at 34F.

I had thought they would have fared worse than that, at anything under 35F.  How tall is yours - glad you only had a bit of leaf burn and nothing worse.

it is located on Island Estates in Clearwater.  This is just about as prime of a palm growing climate as exists around here as this community literally sits in Clearwater Harbor.

There are some Adonidias in this area that are so fat (not the stringy drawn out types we usually see), that they truly look like "Dwarf Royals".

Maybe I should go up there and have a look.  Btw, know what you mean about the adonidia.  We have a few phatties in our 'hood - there are quite a few adonidias, foxies, and bootles, a few yards are much more palm-intensive than mine.

No arecina though.

[spockvr6]

(SunnyFl @ Sep. 30 2006,18:10)

QUOTE

 Btw, know what you mean about the adonidia.  We have a few phatties in our 'hood -

Sorry for the poor quality of the pic, but the door in the background provides good scale of the chubbiness of these Adonidias.  In person, these ones look like the photos Ive seen of them growing in their native lands.  That is a rarity around here.

[spockvr6]

(Eric in Orlando @ Sep. 30 2006,08:45)

QUOTE

the palm on the right is a Ptychosperma macarthurii that started flowering this summer.

That gives me hope for mine!

I have probably 15-20 stems of this palm (some solitary specimens and some clumpers) and so far so good up here weather-wise.

These palms have been a bit hit or miss for me with some taking off right after being planted, and some sitting for dang near a year before doing much.

[epicure3]

While they are not cold hardy, they are cool hardy and seem to do quite well along our southen California coast. I have several in singles and planted as triples. All go through the winters fine even though winter temps range from the 40s to about 70.

[SunnyFl]

(spockvr6 @ Sep. 30 2006,21:00)

QUOTE

Sorry for the poor quality of the pic, but the door in the background provides good scale of the chubbiness of these Adonidias.  In person, these ones look like the photos Ive seen of them growing in their native lands.  That is a rarity around here.

Where was this photo taken?  Tarpon Springs?

Gaw-geous adonidias, btw.

[spockvr6]

(SunnyFl @ Oct. 01 2006,10:13)

QUOTE

Gaw-geous adonidias, btw.

Where was this photo taken?  Tarpon Springs?

Unfortunately not...they dont grow like this around here    These were taken of Adonidias in Island Estates in Clearwater.  The climate here is likely better than anything on mainland Pinellas short of the area around Albert Whitted and perhaps Pinellas Point.  I suspect that to freeze this area would require a very nasty advective front.  A radiational event would likely be hard pressed to drop this area below the freezing point.

Here are some better quality pics.

[spockvr6]

Here are a few more photos of what I consider very large Veitchia.  I dont see them much bigger than this in these parts.

[DoomsDave]

Alas, I plant them here, and they just die, come winter.

Too cool for too long.

THanks for sharing!  Now, to launder my crying towel . . . .

d

ave

[SubTropicRay]

Man have we been lucky.  I hope the recent trend (16 years) continues.