Phoenix sylvestris

[AJQ]

Any of you guys growing this one?

If so, what is the growth rate like compared to other Phoenix and how hardy are they?

What min temps have they seen ?

Regards Andy.

[sonoranfans]

Any of you guys growing this one?

If so, what is the growth rate like compared to other Phoenix and how hardy are they?

What min temps have they seen ?

Regards Andy.

I have 2 and they look like they are the fastest phoenix. Mine have seen 29F, no problem. Literature says they are good to 24F. They also like being wet, probably good for you. The thorns and even leaflet tips can hurt you, be careful.

[kristof p]

Hi Andy,

i have two small P. sylvestries growing as tubplants. unfortunately this is one that needs more heat than CIDP's to grow well i guess. i wouldn't cal them fast in our climate but they are still smal and it could be that once in the ground and a little taller they would speed up considerable. they did see some freezing temperatures this winter befor i took them inside the greenhouse. i think they have seen at least -4°C a couple nights but they were in a sheltered spot. no damage at all. i think this could be a good one for your place! i think they can handle our humid climate a little better than CIDP's but are not as cold hardy but i also think this will not be a great problem for your place .

[FRITO]

my sylvestris with abosolutely no protection tis winter has just a few random cold damge spots on older leaves.

my absolute low was 21.6 on my meter feb 5th. I experienced a handful of nights in mid to low 20's as well. it was planted about 1.5 years ago and gets more shade than I would like.

heres a pic from today.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Here in soggy Jacksonville, FL, P. sylvestris is the best of the large Phoenix for our climate. They put out many new leaves per year, but they don't grow vertical trunk real fast (maybe 15cm/yr?). We've had several hard freezes this year with temps down around -6c but the P. sylvestris hasn't flinched. In fact, it's kept opening fronds all winter long. I planted this one about 2 years ago from a 100 Liter pot (more or less). It was about 1 meter tall. Today it's about 1.5m and it's beginning to form a trunk. Like virtually all Phoenix, sylvestris is quite tolerant of wind.

[Kris]

Dear Andy

here is a still for you of our p.sylverstris.And by the way do any one know who coined the name sylverstris..its very difficult for me to remember its spelling !

Lots of love,

Kris

[FRITO]

Kris

according to wikipedia: Phoenix sylvestris (sylvestris - Latin, of the forest)

I pronouce it SILL-vest-RISS

[Kris]

Kris

according to wikipedia: Phoenix sylvestris (sylvestris - Latin, of the forest)

I pronouce it SILL-vest-RISS

Dear Luke

i have no trouble in calling this palm in its local name "Eecha Maram" but when it comes to latin version_God its difficult.

And by the way luke,i really appriciate your effort but as i told before even with your assistance...i think its bit difficult to pronounce.instead if they had kept its name as silver kiss It would have been better for a layman like me ?

Thanks & Love,

Kris

[Phil]

Group,

We ship out a lot of mail order Phoenix. P. canariensis is obviously one of the best for those in cold areas. But, most people can typically acquire this species. They have trouble finding some of the others. Therefore, we try to keep P. sylvestris and theophrastii available. Of these two, I think theophrastii is better for cold. But, the sylvestris is a very beautiful species and gets good size. Also popular is P. dactylifera. I prefer the latter as a single trunk species. It gets that "knobby" trunk that everyone loves.

Phil

[AJQ]

Thanks for the info guys,

I have one on order, should be here in a couple of weeks, it is 120cm/4 foot tall.

Regards Andy.

[redbeard917]

Kris, I have trouble saying many latin names, although I use them on plant tags. But I prefer to call them by the common name if the latin name is unpronounceable. If you don't mind I think I'll use Eecha Maram to refer to this palm from now on. I like that name.

Here is a photo of a mature palm taken last week. It is located in Panama City, FL. The conditions are similar to those reported by Keith in So Jax but the cold snaps are probably slightly colder.

[AJQ]

That's a class looking Palm there Redbeard. It would be better for my garden that size than a CIDP.

Regards Andy.

[Kris]

Kris, I have trouble saying many latin names, although I use them on plant tags. But I prefer to call them by the common name if the latin name is unpronounceable. If you don't mind I think I'll use Eecha Maram to refer to this palm from now on. I like that name.

Dear Red

you are welcome to use that local name,since the entire south india knows this palm only by that name_that would include even me !

Love,

Kris

[Tomsky]

In 1970, I got mine as a one-gallon seedling. It's pretty fast growing for a Phoenix. This is how it looks thirty-nine years later.

[Tomsky]

And a closeup of the trunk.

[Kelern]

Andy,

Here is an Eecha maram that grows in north west Brittany in Saint Pabu on the shore of the Aber Benoit. The climate is very similar to yours, very cool in summer, a bit milder though in winter, a mild 9b. I don't know how old is that tree but it doesn't grow as fast as Phoenix canariensis.

[ricky]

I'm just wondering does it make any difference which seeds you start with there's normally two types of phoenix sylvestris the first being the normal one and the second being the robust one do the palms look any different or is it just the size of seed iv got seedlings of the robust one and well they do seem robust for seedlings

ricky

[Kris]

Dear Ricky

here are few links on that..

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/shop/PhoRob.shtml

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/shop/PhoSyl.shtml

Here are few stills for you..on the 2 forms !

Love,

Kris

[madgav]

Thanks for the info guys,

I have one on order, should be here in a couple of weeks, it is 120cm/4 foot tall.

Regards Andy.

Hi Andy,

Do you mind me asking where you managed to source one of these? Especially one of a decent size....

Still thinking about what I'd like to add to my collection for 2009

[AJQ]

Redbeard,

How old is the one in your photo?

Gav,

I have sent you a PM.

Regards Andy.

[madgav]

Redbeard,

How old is the one in your photo?

Gav,

I have sent you a PM.

Regards Andy.

Thanks Andy

G.

[cencalpalmguy]

I have a handfull of p. sylvestris seedlings and love the mature ones I have seen growing elsewhere. I noticed though, it seems some have a neat, clean trunk while some have a lot of cut off fronds left on the trunk. Do these fall off with age or do they just need to be cut off or are there two separate varieties?

[Tomsky]

I have a handfull of p. sylvestris seedlings and love the mature ones I have seen growing elsewhere. I noticed though, it seems some have a neat, clean trunk while some have a lot of cut off fronds left on the trunk. Do these fall off with age or do they just need to be cut off or are there two separate varieties?

The lower leaf bases, as with some other palms, tend to be persistent. What I did was to take a chisel and a hammer and cut them real short. The upper dead leaves tend to barely hang onto to trunk. When the winter storms come with gusty winds, these dead leaves come crashing down to the ground, leaving a clean, but rough-textured trunk.

[Tomsky]

I have a handfull of p. sylvestris seedlings and love the mature ones I have seen growing elsewhere. I noticed though, it seems some have a neat, clean trunk while some have a lot of cut off fronds left on the trunk. Do these fall off with age or do they just need to be cut off or are there two separate varieties?

The lower leaf bases, as with some other palms, tend to be persistent. What I did was to take a chisel and a hammer and cut them real short. The upper dead leaves tend to barely hang onto to trunk. When the winter storms come with gusty winds, these dead leaves come crashing down to the ground, leaving a clean, but rough-textured trunk.