Thrinax radiata/Florida Thatch

[bubba]

I have been looking for more Florida Thatches after a recent post. I find that they many times are severely trimmed.Take a look at these shots and give me your thoughts.I also included the original shot.In one shot you can see the top of the Breakers.

[PalmatierMeg]

I like the natural look for my T. radiata. The big spring-green leaves are gorgeous and give the palm an endearing "shaggy dog" look. And they shield the Licuala grandis next to it. I'm glad to see all the posts about this neat palm. Last year I could barely give its seeds away.

[SubTropicRay]

I love T. radiata in its natural state. It would be nice to get seed from mine in the next few years.

[spockvr6]

These area great palms (as are all the Thrinax/Cocothrinax IMO). I have a bunch of them of various species and they make great lower level palms (as they dont add height terribly quickly).

The ones that Bubba has posted pics of must be quite old!

[SubTropicRay]

My T. radiata has been planted out since 1999 and has grown maybe 4 feet in that time.

[DoomsDave]

Bubba!

You're beginning to give me a run for my money on the drive by pornography . . . . . .

Very nice pictures, do keep them coming, though perhaps make them a bit smaller for easier viewing? PLease pretty please with a P. sargentii on top?

[Peter Pacific]

My T. radiata has been planted out since 1999 and has grown maybe 4 feet in that time.

I gotta be sick...I said to myself, ¨Wow, four feet in ten years...that´s fast!¨.

[simona]

Have you any idea about it's cold tolerance?

I've to thank Meg for the seeds she sent me, which already germinated!

[PalmatierMeg]

Have you any idea about it's cold tolerance?

I've to thank Meg for the seeds she sent me, which already germinated!

Simona, check out this link:

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=3579

My T. radiata has seen down to 31F (maybe 29F, can't remember when that was) with minor frost burns. The important thing, I think, is not to expose it to damp, freezing cold, which happened to me on 1/2/08 when I forgot to turn off the irrigation and low went to 31F. Everything was covered with ice, which caused major damage some of my palms still haven't outgrown. That may not be a problem where you live, a much drier climate. Here in SW FL the coldest days are always rain-free. I did cover my T. rad. with an auto cover during the recent 3 cold spells, more to spare it unsightly frond damage than to save its life. It suffered just a bit of tip damage and looks great. If a palm can look somewhat rumpled but cheerful, this one is it.

I'm so glad your seeds germinated. Many more people should grow this little Florida native.

Meg

[simona]

Thank you very much, Meg!

[Exotic Life]

How long does it normally takes to germinate seeds of this palm species? I've sow some seeds last summer, but untill now nothing come up so far.. i hope they reaction will be the same as Brahea seeds. After a cooler period, in the spring when the tempetures are fast rising in the greenhouse the germination is exploding.

Robbin

[simona]

I received the seeds on 1st December last year

and the first seeds germinated after 6 weeks with the baggy method at 25 - 30 C.

[Kim]

Simona, you must have a very decent collection of seedlings going by now! Congratulations on your germimation successes.

[Exotic Life]

Then i hope the mine are a sort of late, and take a longer sleep to be beautifull in a few years

Robbin

[simona]

Simona, you must have a very decent collection of seedlings going by now! Congratulations on your germimation successes.

Thank you, Kim!

Well, "decent" is the right word but....I still have a long wish list.

[RedRabbit]

Does anyone know if these can take full sun when young?

[PalmatierMeg]

1 hour ago, RedRabbit said:

Does anyone know if these can take full sun when young?

Yes. Tough plants.

[bubba]

[bubba]

Saw another T. radiata randomly on the road...

[Bill H2DB]

Here is a link to my Album on the Thrinax here in my Holly Hill  ( Daytona area ) .     The one pic taken  lower right after  Hurricane Irma , shows that the storm slipped the leaves around pretty well , but it did well. 

 

https://flic.kr/s/aHsmJq1Yoc       (This is the first time that i tried to link an Album from Flickr so I've got to learn something .)

 

Over the years there's been some leaf burn during freezes , but not for the last few .

Most of the time it has been shielded from the worst NW to NE winds , but now protrudes above the roof line , so....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RainforestCafe]

@Bill H2DB I was reading up on T. Radiata and stumbled across this thread. How's your's doing since it's up above the roofline now and more exposed....  Is it still alive? 

[Bill H2DB]

  This pic is from Feb. 11 of this year ( 2024 ) . We had a gentle Winter . My lowest Temp. was 39.6  .  I am in a good spot , much Oak canopy , near the ICW , and on a remnant dune .

[Johnny Palmseed]

That’s impressive for Holly Hill. So is it on the south side of the house?

[Bill H2DB]

   Yes it is on the South side , and there is an Oak canopy all around .  It gets sun however .

I grew quite tall Archontophoenix Cunninghamiana just a few feet away there in the past . They flowered .

I removed a really big one years ago , because it was dropping big fronds etc . hated to do that but I've had to whack some other palms for similar reasons .    A Royal being one of those ......   It's a good site .

Every where around the area , to the East of US1 , is in the same Microclimate , and having canopy or not makes the final difference .

But a big windy Freeze overcomes a lot .

[RainforestCafe]

Wow, that's really cool. I was surprised when I saw your post and pictures from 4 years ago because I never would've thought it would survive there up by Daytona. Like you mentioned, you really must have a great microclimate!

These guys usually grow fairly slow too, so it's gotta be pretty old. How long have you had it planted out, and what kind of temps has it seen?

Thanks for the updated picture by the way, I appreciate it. It looks really good - nice and healthy.

[Bill H2DB]

My Thrinax has been in the ground for quite a while . Maybe from about 2002.. ??   I've looked through my Photos , and here are a few progress pics .  

Pic 1 is way back... tiny

[Johnny Palmseed]

On 3/14/2024 at 8:47 PM, Bill H2DB said:

But a big windy Freeze overcomes a lot .

Yeah that’s the hard part of zone pushing. Especially in your case. It’s not like it’s a ragged half dead but still alive palm. You have grown a very nice specimen to a significant size. It will be painful to see it get frozen. Although, I’m sure you have plenty of volunteers popping up to carry on.

[RainforestCafe]

@Bill H2DB thanks for the pictures, really fun to see it grow up over ~22 years. I love the look of these palms. I planted one about 7 years ago and it's been a fairly steady grower for me, mostly getting bushier, it'll probably start getting taller soon.