Trevesia palmata

[tjwalters]

Is anyone here growing this? It's one of my favorite non-palms, and I'm surprised I don't see more of it. Post your pix!

Here's mine - potted, of course. Too cold here for in-ground planting.

[BS Man about Palms]

From a recent PRA thread. Growing in Orange county, California

[LJG]

I have one in ground. Grows a lot faster then I would have expected. Here is one growing in wild in Laos.

[Peter]

I've got one in the ground about 12-14' tall-about 4 years from a small 5g. As Len says, they grow pretty fast, and it wasn't damaged at all in the big freeze of 07. It has flowered a couple of times but no seeds.

[tjwalters]

Len:

There appears to be quite a bit of leaf variability. I've seen leaves that are very finely cut (such as those on mine), and leaves that are hardly cut at all. The one in habitat in Laos seems to fall somewhere in between. Maybe it's just a difference in juvenile and mature leaves?

Peter:

What was the lowest temperature yours saw? I think there's one growing somewhere around Orlando that occasionally sees sub-freezing temperatures.

[LJG]

Tom, it is a mature/juvenile thing. The plant in Laos is still pretty small. There is a real old specimen here at Quail Botanical Gardens that has the mature leaves and in my opinion it does not look as nice as smaller ones. The thing is huge too.

My plant has made it threw two terrible winters with no issue. I hit 28 once.

[Eric in Orlando]

The one with the more delicate divided leaf is the cultivar 'Micholitzii'

Trevesia palmata

Trevesia palmata 'Micholitzii'

[tjwalters]

My plant has made it threw two terrible winters with no issue. I hit 28 once.

I guess "terrible" is relative. ( "I hit 28 once." ...sorry. My lowest recorded temp: -8.4F)

[tjwalters]

The one with the more delicate divided leaf is the cultivar 'Micholitzii'

Ah...now I remember. Thanks. Didn't you once say there was one growing somewhere around Orlando?

[Eric in Orlando]

They aren't used or available but should be. They are hardier than Schefflera actinophylla which is very common. The only ones I have seen are here at Leu Gardens, at Disney's Animal Kingdom and in a local yard where they producing seedlings.

[paulgila]

these are great plants despite a decided "non-palmness."

they make a great addition to the garden.i would love to find the same variety as tj pictured since i have the "wider leaf" species.

[tjwalters]

these are great plants despite a decided "non-palmness."

they make a great addition to the garden.i would love to find the same variety as tj pictured since i have the "wider leaf" species.

I actually got mine from Logee's last year. They didn't indicate any specific variety (that I recall), but the picture showed the finely-cut leaf variety, and that's what I received.

[paulgila]

how long have u had it?doing well indoors?

[tjwalters]

how long have u had it?doing well indoors?

About a year. Spent the summer outside in the shade. Winters inside in the conservatory. It grew fast when outside.

[ThunderSRQ]

Just an FYI re: availability -- I got what appears to be the Trevesia palmata 'Micholitzii' variety from Gardino's Nursery here in Florida (rareflora.com). The leaves on mine have the same shape as those shown in the pictures here but aren't as dark or glossy -- however, I got mine as a one gallon and just planted it about 3 months ago and when I looked at it again last night, the brand new leaves do appear to be darker green (I have it under live oak canopy and was told it should be OK outside in zone 9B -- great to hear that it can take 28 degrees).

[LJG]

I have only found Trevesia palmata 'Micholitzii' for sale. You will find as it ages, it losses the look too. Simialr to Schefflera elegantissima.

[epicure3]

They sort of look like papayas, no?

[fastfeat]

I had one (from a Huntington sale) that flowered and fruited for me in Florida. Despite several different treatments, I (and friends) could not get any germination. Does anyone know of germination tricks with this plant?

[tjwalters]

Got an email from Logee's today and they have these for $9.95 (4" pot) if you are on the email list. They grow fast. In case there is any interest.

[Gan Eden]

Looks like a Papaya with glossy leaves, very nice, again if only we had it available in australia with the million and one plants that growers dont seem to bother growing or quarantine restrict.....

[ThunderSRQ]

Does anyone know of a current source for this tree (Trevesia palmata 'micholitzii')?

Mine had done incredibly well with little/no extra care (planted under high live oak canopy) -- but I lost it after an exceptionally wet summer last year (the 17" in September resulted in it being underwater and/or very wet for a couple weeks -- after which it went downhill fast).

I had purchased mine from Gardino's Nursery here in Florida, but they don't have any right now (I also checked with Logee's per a tip from Eric, but they no longer offer it).

Thanks...

Tim

[fastfeat]

Does anyone know of a current source for this tree (Trevesia palmata 'micholitzii')?

Mine had done incredibly well with little/no extra care (planted under high live oak canopy) -- but I lost it after an exceptionally wet summer last year (the 17" in September resulted in it being underwater and/or very wet for a couple weeks -- after which it went downhill fast).

I had purchased mine from Gardino's Nursery here in Florida, but they don't have any right now (I also checked with Logee's per a tip from Eric, but they no longer offer it).

Thanks...

Tim

Tim--

Found a couple seedlings in Downey, CA under some big mature trees, but they're at a buddy's. Let me check around...

[MattyB]

If they germinate the seeds, which is very easy, the seedlings will vary, some being very divided and snowflakey, and some being more simple palmate shaped. Here's a pic of one of mine. They grow very fast in the sun.

[ThunderSRQ]

Thanks Ken & Matty - my micholitzii did look just like the picture Eric posted near the top, and that's definitely the 'look' I'm seeking...

[tjwalters]

I have only found Trevesia palmata 'Micholitzii' for sale. You will find as it ages, it losses the look too. Simialr to Schefflera elegantissima.

I wonder if they would retain the juvenile leaves if stooled?

[tjwalters]

Thought I'd resurrect this thread.  After reaching about 8 feet tall, mine rotted at the roots/base after apparently being wet/cool for too long.  Out of desperation I hacked the trunk into sections to see if I could get it to root.  Turns out it's not too difficult and I now have 4 sections that have rooted and are putting out leaves.

Here it is before it rotted...