I Need an Idea for an Exotic Tree or Palm

[_Keith]

So, the topic desciption pretty much says it all. I want to plant something out of the ordinary for my locale. Tree or Palm will do, but probably tree is best in this location.

I am in Zone 9a. The area is in full sun and can stay wet for long periods particulary in winter. It does dry out in spring and fall, with summer varying, but will always have a shallow water table in general. Soil is clay/loam. This part of my site is on the south side, so wind tolerance/shielding is a plus.

Now, who is up for a challenge?

[_Keith]

Here is a picture of the spot. The zoom is deceiving. Nearest plant to the top dot is about 30 ft. Something here tall and narrow might be best.

The dot towards the bottom could be a companion planting, but I would envision something here more rounded and shorter.

Come on guys, even bad ideas are better than none.

Keith

PS - Just remember Zone 9a.

[ariscott]

If you are in the tropics, I have lots of inputs. I am just not sure about cold tolerance, etc, etc. How big/wide do you envision your tree/palms to be?

Regards, Ari

[_Keith]

If you are in the tropics, I have lots of inputs. I am just not sure about cold tolerance, etc, etc. How big/wide do you envision your tree/palms to be?

Regards, Ari

Something 30 feet (10 meters) wide would be an easy fit. I could always shove a CIDP in there, but that is too easy and common here. It gets wetter towards the bottom of the photo and I have some Livistona in there already. Small plants visible are figs and a Red Mulberry. Way up towards the top, near the road, about 100 ft away are a couple of young Eastern Red Cedar with a young Live Oak in the middle. Past that right up near the road, hardly visible is a young filibusta.

[Tala]

Acoelorraphe wrightii, Copernicia alba would take right to it; bolder choices w/be any of the Cuban Cop.'s and the waxier the better their/your chances w/be

[rozpalm]

I really have no idea about what would grow in your location, but here is a list of some larger palms that might work.

Hyphaene thebaica

Hyphaene coriacea

Copernicia fallaensis (maybe?)

Caryota gigas

Borassus aethiopum

Trachycarpus fortunei

Phoenix sylvestris

If you plant a palm there, I would plant at least three of what ever you select. That looks like a big space to fill. For trees I love Oaks and Cypress but they take forever to get really big. What about Bamboo?

[osideterry]

How about big Sabal. I've heard S. bermudana and S. riverside are among the faster ones, and would seem to grow in 9a.

[_Keith]

How about big Sabal. I've heard S. bermudana and S. riverside are among the faster ones, and would seem to grow in 9a.

Definite considerations, but might not have the presence I am looking for in that spot for a decade or more.

At 51 years old I am getting more impatient, haha.

[Alberto]

Erythrina falcata, Erythrina crista-galli

[ariscott]

Erythrina is a good choice. They don't get too wide and they will look nice in that spot!! Good call, Alberto. I am still trying to think what could grow in the cold climate...

Regards, Ari

[osideterry]

Coldhardiness, Presence, Speed... Keith, you might have to settle for 2 out of 3.

Is getting something in 24"-36" box size an option, either by supply or budget?

If you want something fast, how about planting a queen triple?

[Gileno Machado]

Nice place Keiith, it looks so quiet...

I'd go with some palm that could grow relatively fast for your climate and still impose attention...maybe a big solitary Caryota could look perfect indeed. I'm a little jealous of climates that suit lovely unusual palm species like Rhopalostylis, Jubaea, Brahea armata and Ceroxylon...but I'm not sure they'd go perfect in Luisiana. How about a big solitary Dypsis too...?

[www.dadluvsu.com]

A triple teddy bear and a space heater!!

[_Keith]

Coldhardiness, Presence, Speed... Keith, you might have to settle for 2 out of 3.

Is getting something in 24"-36" box size an option, either by supply or budget?

If you want something fast, how about planting a queen triple?

Hmmm. The Queen Triple with maybe a Sabal minor in the middle. Terry, that is a good thought.

[osideterry]

I was thinking queens so tight the trunks curve. Maybe tuck a minor up close.

Jubaea, and D. decipiens have presence but are too slow or too expensive for any size.

[FRITO]

I say go gangbusters with queens. Ive got 6 already in the ground in my small property.

Matt (freakypalmguy) said his Queen double is curving away. (we need a photo Matt)

get some 5 gallon queens or somthing (now is a good time for sales) plant them nearly on top eachother stuff a big sabal minor 'lousiana' in the middle give it tons of nutes and let it do its thing sounds awesome

or a triple L. decora (check out the photos Catherine/creekside posted in that one thread) those definently curve.

also P. Sylvestris in full sun are awesome. build a palm mound for these with your low water table.

[_Keith]

I say go gangbusters with queens. Ive got 6 already in the ground in my small property.

Matt (freakypalmguy) said his Queen double is curving away. (we need a photo Matt)

get some 5 gallon queens or somthing (now is a good time for sales) plant them nearly on top eachother stuff a big sabal minor 'lousiana' in the middle give it tons of nutes and let it do its thing sounds awesome

or a triple L. decora (check out the photos Catherine/creekside posted in that one thread) those definently curve.

also P. Sylvestris in full sun are awesome. build a palm mound for these with your low water table.

I have an L. decora and an L. saribus close by that area already. I picked those up from Catherine (Creekside) this spring. I am gonna stop at Home Depot on the way home. Last week they had 3 medium sized Queens and a smaller unlabeled Sabal. If they are still there, they are mine tomorrow.

[Matt N- Dallas]

I would plant several arenga engleri and ficus roxburghii- both love moist areas

[_Keith]

I would plant several arenga engleri and ficus roxburghii- both love moist areas

"Ficus roxburghii" Now we are talking. Never heard of it, but quick Google looks promising on all except avaiability. Any idea on where to find one?

[Matt N- Dallas]

I would plant several arenga engleri and ficus roxburghii- both love moist areas

"Ficus roxburghii" Now we are talking. Never heard of it, but quick Google looks promising on all except avaiability. Any idea on where to find one?

Woodlander's in SC carries it and Yucca-Do in TX had it in the past.

[_Keith]

I would plant several arenga engleri and ficus roxburghii- both love moist areas

"Ficus roxburghii" Now we are talking. Never heard of it, but quick Google looks promising on all except avaiability. Any idea on where to find one?

Woodlander's in SC carries it and Yucca-Do in TX had it in the past.

Yep, Woodlander's has it. They have some unique stuff. I like their website. Price is $15 which is tolerable, but shipping is another $14. Geez, $29 for a 1 quart plant. I might have to wait. I don't know how some of these mail order places are going to make it with shipping costs as they are.

Keith

[palmsrgreat]

Keith,

My suggestion would be to plant some good size dactylifera's, somewhat fast and lot's of nice canopy. They are borderline common in those areas, I feel at least. There's even somewhere close that has some great deals of them. I rarely see these in nurseries to be honest.

I would also be giving heavy consideration to some cypress mixed in with it.

[aussiearoids]

Would a Raphia farinifera take the cold ? It would love the water . have heard of them growing in warm temperate NSW.

[Eric in Orlando]

Many of the Livistonas will grow good in wet areas;

australis

benthamii

chinensis

decora (decipiens)

drudei

saribus

other Livs might but those are the ones I know will.

Acoelorraphe wrightii, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, Sabal minor, and Serenoa repens will also do well in a wet site.

[Eric in Orlando]

As for some trees;

Magnolia virginiana var. australis- Sweetbay

Gordonia lasianthus- Loblolly Bay

Taxodium ascendens- Pond Cypress (much less common than Bald)

Taxodium mucronatum- Mexican Cypress

Taxodium distichum 'Cascade Falls'- this is an excellent, weeping form of Bald Cypress, gets only as tall as you stake it but usually not over 10-15ft

Glyptostrobus pensilis- Chinese Cypress

Metasequoia glyptostroboides- Dawn Redwood

Quercus michauxii- Swamp Chestnut Oak

Sesbania punicea- Rattlebox or False Poinciana

[Palm Hound]

Keith,

Do you have the mule palm (butia X)? The ficus rox would have a tough time in the winter, it is marginal in zone 10a on the westcoast.

What about a Phoenix cross? or P. rupicola with good winter protection?

[sonoranfans]

A reclinata cross with CIDP or dactylifera would take the cold, and the reclinatas are fast growers. Plant it and stand back. The reclinata x CIDP(or X dactylifera) are more popular here(than other reclinata hybrids) due to enhanced cold tolerance. I saw some take 20F 2 nights in a row in the freeze of '07. They were in a 30" box at the local nursery and exhibited just a touch of leaflet tip browning. I bought one, planted it and I can tell you its much faster than a CIDP. Its been in the ground 6 months, over the summer, and the frond mass doubled. Each trunk has pushed 4-5 new spears. They like water, I just planted it about 4" above grade and have been flooding it.

Here it is as planted in mid march, on the left.

Edited October 17, 2008 by sonoranfans

[John Case]

Keith,

There might be some cold hardy bananas that will do for you. They like water (to a point, of course), grow fast, and will not die in your 9a zone, although they may get a bit ratty in the winter. 2 1/2 out of 3.....

Or you could always just plant some bald cypress and be done with it.....

[sonoranfans]

and here is the rec cross last month

[ThunderSRQ]

Keith,

Hey there -- I haven't chimed in yet but, being a big bamboo fan, wanted to offer a few options from the ones I have in my yard along with what I've found for their cold tolerance data (as an FYI, all of these were chosen based upon their color/character and I'm in zone 9B).

Bambusa chungii (blue bamboo -- typically draws lots of "oohs & aahs") – 21 degrees

Bambusa emeiensis 'Flavidorivens' (variegated) – 24 degrees

Bambusa lako (one of the "common" black bamboo) – 28 degrees

Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' (another variegated type that doesn't get too tall) – 18 degrees

Dendrocalamus asper (you have got to see a mature specimen in order to really appreciate how cool the stalks/culms look -- this is sometimes called the teddy bear bamboo due to the soft brown fuzzy look and it's quite impressive with 8" diameter stalks) -- 30 degrees

Dendrocalamus minor 'Amoenus' (Angel Mist or Ghost bamboo -- a more white version but similar to chungii in regard to being very attractive) – 25 degrees

Gigantochloa atroviolacea (the other one of the "common" black bamboo types) – 28 degrees

Dendrocalamus asper betung 'hitam' (this is the "uncommon" -- aka expensive -- black bamboo but it is VERY nice) -- I don't have this one yet but would think it's cold tolerance is similar to the standard D. asper

Great post -- I always like the "suggest tree idea" type as I get some more great options for my (ever-growing...) want list!

Tim

* edit -- I forgot to mention that all of these are clumping types so they won't "go crazy" on you!

Edited October 21, 2008 by ThunderSRQ

[Tad]

Keith, better get your trailer hooked up and slide south!!

I have a lot of great stuff that will work in your spot!

[PricklyPearSATX]

I immediately thought of queens myself. With Chamaedorea and sabal minor as understory.

Yucca do has two types of hardy Chamaedora

Sabal: Sabal Bermudiana-larger leaves than the rest of the sabals.

Understory plants:

This one is novel: Scheflerra Arboricola. Houseplant-They are very cheap. I grow them in my yard. They look kinda like fatsia japonica-but leaves aren't as big as fatsia. They kinda weave in and out in my yard.

For color, throw in some Ti Plants. (I love those. Although they are listed as zone 10, they are hardier) And some persian shield. And copper plants.

Others:

Chinese Goddess Bamboo (Clumping and about 5 feet tall)

Compact spicy jatropha ( probably a dieback..showy red flowers)

Giant Tropical Spider Lillies

Queen Emma Asiatic Crinums (Large with purple leaves)

Oh and Rootbeer Plant....Plant it toward the back and let it weave in and out. (Piper Auritum) It likes it wet.

[Fouquieria]

Hi Keith,

Here's my Ficus auriculata (Roxburgh Fig). They grow fairly fast. I know they come from the foothills of the Himalayas, so I think they are probably hardy to zone 9 maybe even zone 8. Mine loses it's leaves for a short time but then releafs out quickly. They are fairly fast growing...probably to about 25 feet with a much broader spread. They get big fruit on the trunk and main stems. Very exotic looking. They like lots of water but once established they are quite drought tolerant.