Archontophoenix growth rates and flowering times...

[Kostas]

Hello!

I would like to know the growth rate of Archontophoenix purpurea once it starts trunking...How many cm's of trunk does it put annually from then on?

I am also interested in the flowering times of A. purpurea and A. alexandrae...Anyone having both flowering?Do they overlap in their flowering times or do the ones species always flowers first?

Thank you very much in advance!

[DoomsDave]

Good questions, which I'll answer in my humble way, that might prove useful to you in Greece, which has a climate much like ours in the Land of La La.

A. purpureas are slow in the ground. I've got a few that are just starting to form trunk, maybe a few inches a year? That's slow compared with A. cunninghamiana which will put on a foot or two (30 60 cm) in a year.

A. alexandrae are much faster, about 30 cm a year, once they get started.

But if you want speed, get the common King or an A. tuckeri. ZOOOOOOOOOOM to the moon! a couple feet 60 cm or more a year. ZOOOOOOOOOOOOmmmmmmmmm

[el-blanco]

I concur with Dave. TUCKERII is a rocket. It is faster IMO than the Archontophoniex. Purperea...... sloooow, myolensis....... slow.

Alaxanders are fast too BUT I like the Tuckerii trunk as it looks like an Alexander.

I grew a few Purpera from seed off of the pic I posted. They are now a respectable 5 gallon size even though I have them in a 15 gl. pot. One gets planted this year. I think I sprouted these in 2004 or 2005.

Jeff

Ho'O'Mahulia, Hawaii

Edited January 20, 2009 by el-blanco

[Urban Rainforest]

I have Purpurea's, Myolensis, Tuckeri, Maxima, Alexander (Beatrice) and Cunninghamiana planted. Beatrice has been the fastest with Tuckeri not far behind. I'm always surprised when I hear how slow Purpurea's are as I have found them to be reasonably fast once planted out. Here is my biggest 15 ft. tall and seeding with about a 5 ft. crownshaft 7 years from a 5 gal !

[Urban Rainforest]

I also have Cunninghamianas planted about the same time holding seed right now but no others have seeded yet. My Beatrice and Tuckeri are the tallest. Another closeup of the Purpurea holding seed.

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

Hi, Kostas!

My many Archontos to out about three feet a year so they are speedy growers vvery much so! They stop putting on height for me at about 25 feet, I'd estimate!

Regards,

Paul

[Kostas]

Thank you very much all of you for your informative replys!

So most of you agree that an Archontophoenix purpurea is much slower than Archontophoenix alexandrae right?And according to what you said i guess it would be more that 4-5 years from starting to trunk to be able to walk under it right?I thought of planting one in a path area but if it will be more than that many years before it stops bothering,i dont think the others will be able to tolerate it so an A. alexandrae(or A. tuckerii from what you said,but need to research it a bit to see if i like this species too )would be a better choice,as i had originally planned it.But i do want to have an A. purpurea too in the garden,just in another area...

Urban rainforest,how tall(trunk height only,without including the crownshaft)is your seeding one?About how much trunk does it puts yearly for you?

Paul,i guess you are speaking about A. alexandrae and A. cunninghamianna right?Or do you include in the 3 feet per year category the A. purpurea too?

Now to the flowering question,do A. purpurea and A. alexandrae flower on different periods or simultaneously?When do each flowers?

Thank you very much in advance!

[Pivi]

Paul,i guess you are speaking about A. alexandrae and A. cunninghamianna right?Or do you include in the 3 feet per year category the A. purpurea too?

No way Kostas. He's refering to other archontos; cunnighamiana, alexandrae, tuckeri...

[Kostas]

Who knows Pivi,they may like his property too much!

But most probably you are right,i thought this too but it couldnt hurt asking

[sashaeffer]

Of all the Kings I have (potted because of my climate) Myolas are the rocket ship for me. I swear even inside they don't slow down and can "almost" watch them grow. A. purpurea slow..but steady. Tuckeri, slow as well but I bought mine in late fall so speed could change now that spring is here.

Another fast King I have that not only is fast, potted and indoors for winter, but with much darker fronds is the Archontophoenix teracarpa from Jungle Music. While other kings I have might slightly brown tip inside, this version doesn't at all. It and the Myola though are real water guzzlers so have to stay on top of that since in pots.

[Kostas]

My A. alexadrae put on 70cm of trunk per year so far. Quite satisfying to watch grow. Looking forward to see them flower and seed!

A. myolensis may be the most beautiful species in my eyes, in the correct setting. A. alexandrae is great choice for here as it is happy both in the heat and the sun and in the cooler rainy months. It also takes the wind without damage.

[Pip]

The A. alexandrea in my old garden reached flowering size after about 15 years in the ground while only one A. cunninghamiana has begun to flower after 19 years the others are not showing any sign of flowering. These palms in my old garden are mostly neglected now although I did manage to give them a few deep soakings over sumner. I don't expect them to grow quickly or flower very often.