Preference: Feather or Fan Fronds:

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

OK, so we're onto a comparative wave right now! That's always good for varied opinions!

So what are you partial to: Feather & fan fronded palms?

I like that many feather-fronded palms are a bit more evocative of the tropics, i.e. coconuts, and I like that a good number of feather-fronded palms are equipped with a "homeowners' dream": self-cleaning fronds attached to gorgeous crownshafts!

But, don't get me wrong, if I can only grow a hardy palm, and it's a fan-fronded palm, I'll enjoy it just fine!

How's that for convenient political corerctness?

It's your turn(s) now! There's never any "rights" or "wrongs" where palms are concerned, really! (just "greats" and "off the charts!")

Late.

Pablo

[Scott D.]

I guess I would have to say i prefer feather palms.

As i love the jungle aesthetic, thats what I am reminded of when I see a feather leaf.

When I see a fan, I think more harsher conditions. Colder, dryer, tougher.

I know however there are many tropical fans, that look great in a jungle environment, but in my head I think feather=jungle, fan=arid.

Just my opinion.

[joe_OC]

It's so interesting. When I first got into palms about a year and a half ago, all I have been purchasing were feather palms and thought that fan palms were unattractive. But my last purchases have all been fan palms: Livistona speciosa, Trachycarpus latisectus, and five varieties of Cocothrinax. For me, as you get deeper into the hobby, the more you respect and enjoy the fan palms.

[rockos82]

I wouldn't say I hate either type as a whole. I don't like fans with a wispy end of the leaf like mexicans... but I love the sumawong I got a few months ago.

[Kostas]

I dont think i am partial to any of these two types,i am only partial to one thing:lax leaves,be them feather or fan shaped I have lots of favourite fan palms and as many favourite feather leaved palms.I do not care whats the palms leaf type as long as i like the palm's general look or it has a reallyt spectacular leaf To say it otherwise,i am equally happy with a Cocos nucifera as i am with a Licuala ramsayi Both large of course...

[PalmGuyWC]

Those of us who have cold winters with freezing temps. are limited in the kinds of feather palms we can grow. I can only think of a handfull, such as Butias, Jubaeas, Syagrus, Phoenix, Chamaedorea's radicalis and microspadix. This is one of the reasons I'm so excited about the new Cocoid hybrids that are being developed. The addition of the hybrids more than doubles the kind of feather palms that can be grown, and some of them are very attractive.

I suppose the Parajubaeas could be added to the list and maybe some of the Arengas, but they are marginal in my climate. I can think of no crownshafted palms that could squeek through one of my winters without damage or death, unless it might be Dypsis decipiens, but they are difficult to grow at best. I guess I have no favorites because there are many nice looking fan palms that grow in my harsh climate.

Dick

[www.dadluvsu.com]

I just sneak planted a Corypha in my parents front yard. Heee heee heee! But I still think all palms are awesome whether fan or feather...

That's like asking someone to choose between blondes or brunettes! You just shouldn't!

[Kris]

Dear Palm Doc

Nice topic but all i can say is i only love heavy trunking & lenghty fronds or big sized leaf type of palms,irrespective of fan or feather...

i.e i love the phoenix species but CIDP is my favouriate and iam trying to grow few here in our house garden.

Jubea is next favouriate...but i have not planted it yet.

now comming to fan palms...

i love the coryphas,and i have planted 2 numbers in our small garden.. intend to collect & plant all the avaliable coryphas.

then we have the bizzy lady_i.e bismarkia's !

So you can understand that i can't take sides as to which is better...my intreast is only on jamboo palms.while all the weak looking palms will stay in pots for the time being at least.until i buy a farm house or something.thanks to global rescession,properties now seem to be within ones reach !

Love,

Kris

By the way william i appriciate your contribution to the world of Coryphas...

.

[sonoranfans]

To have only one or the other would be far less inspiring in any setting I can imagine. Feathers seem to have the most varied trunks in color and fans the most varied fronds, but a range of diversity can be found in both areas for both frond forms. Some of my favorite feathers are Merills hybrid jubaea/butias, and the coryphas, borassus, and bismarckias are some of the most awesome fans. But who could leave out the awesome trunks of dypsis and other tropical feathers. Fans have great variation from big rigid fans of bismarkias, with the blunt leaflet tips, to the fine articulate tips of brahea armata, to the weeping livistonas. Feathers sway in the wind depending on their frond rigity, fans have other motions that can include oscillating(bismarckias) and swaying(livistonas) or combination of of both motions. The leaflet tips of my brahea armatas seem to move independently of each other in the wind. But diversity in color, form, and motion in the wind makes the most exciting palm garden to me, the most fufilling visual sensory experience. Then of course there are the multi stage canopy formations, what would a garden be with all tall palm species? I would love a copernicia hospita, borassus aethiopum, or more cycads for my desert yard to fill it out some, but I also would enjoy one of merills magnificent hybrids equally. Too much deep green or too much light blue is less attractive to me, a balance in contrasts and interim hues like blue-greens and greys is more intriguing. And that balance is necessary to fully set off the color, form, and texture of the various species. Sabal bermudana or riversides blue green hues are more attractive to my eye when they are next to deep greens and light blues. In bright sun, the greens are most lustrous and the blues are sometimes a bit too bright, especially if they are over represented. At the edge of the day, the greens tend to be more dull, the blues, blue greens, and greys are more enchanting as they catch and reflect the last rays of the sun, extending the day further with their almost unearthly glow. In my minds eye I see a paradise -a feast for the eyes- and it does not include tropicals only, but rather a diversity of palms with differing form, texure, and color. What a wonderful thing it is that we have such an incredible range of species to enjoy, and choosing between fans and feathers is, for me, too restricting to contemplate.

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

Very interesting responses to this question! I think that the feather-fronded palms do have an advantage in hurricane/tropical cyclone areas (like the Florida peninsula). After our Hurricane Wilma, in 2005, that was "charitably" a weak Cat. 2 storm, my latanias & bismarckias looked pretty shredded up. The Royals, coconuts, and foxtails (on the whole) weathered the 7 hours of wind buffeting quite a bit better, so that is a "plus" for the feather-fronded palms.

I think the larger the fan palms' fronds, the more I like them, which is why I plant Bismarckias, vs. my Washingtonias (which I'm not thrilled to own, but the builder put in.)

The builder also planted Queen palms, which are, of course, feather-fronded palms that I have never really grown to love (mostly because of the relatively high maintenance they require.)

You all are right though; we grow the palms that excel in our respective climates, and that does (at times) limit the pallette of choices.

If I was back living in Mobile, Al., I would certainly appreciate a Queen palm that I "coaxed" into looking fairly robust (and kind of tropical for the northern Gulf Coast, too.)

I want to say here that "there's no such thing as a bad palm" just some that are more favoured by the owner (for whatever reason.) Every palm is looking for a good home (and they have located a bunch of people with potential "good homes" for them right here at PalmTalk!

Happy Palmin'

Pablo

[SubTropicRay]

I prefer fan palms as they are often tough, durable and rugged plants capable of surviving nature's worst conditions.

[DoomsDave]

I lopve them all, though I've found that feather types are more popular in the nursery.

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

  Kris said:

Dear Palm Doc

Nice topic but all i can say is i only love heavy trunking & lenghty fronds or big sized leaf type of palms,irrespective of fan or feather...

i.e i love the phoenix species but CIDP is my favouriate and iam trying to grow few here in our house garden.

Jubea is next favouriate...but i have not planted it yet.

now comming to fan palms...

i love the coryphas,and i have planted 2 numbers in our small garden.. intend to collect & plant all the avaliable coryphas.

then we have the bizzy lady_i.e bismarkia's !

So you can understand that i can't take sides as to which is better...my intreast is only on jamboo palms.while all the weak looking palms will stay in pots for the time being at least.until i buy a farm house or something.thanks to global rescession,properties now seem to be within ones reach !

Love,

Kris

By the way william i appriciate your contribution to the world of Coryphas...

.

I understand completely, Kris! The palm that "embraced" you in the photo is incredibly beautiful! That "Jurassic" frond would capture anyone's heart!

Peace.

Paul

[rockos82]

  Kris said:

Dear Palm Doc

Nice topic but all i can say is i only love heavy trunking & lenghty fronds or big sized leaf type of palms,irrespective of fan or feather...

i.e i love the phoenix species but CIDP is my favouriate and iam trying to grow few here in our house garden.

Jubea is next favouriate...but i have not planted it yet.

now comming to fan palms...

i love the coryphas,and i have planted 2 numbers in our small garden.. intend to collect & plant all the avaliable coryphas.

then we have the bizzy lady_i.e bismarkia's !

So you can understand that i can't take sides as to which is better...my intreast is only on jamboo palms.while all the weak looking palms will stay in pots for the time being at least.until i buy a farm house or something.thanks to global rescession,properties now seem to be within ones reach !

Love,

Kris

By the way william i appriciate your contribution to the world of Coryphas...

.

What type of palm is that I have never seen a palm that big that is awesome

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

That photo, Kris, of you under the palm is truly unforgetable!! That palm drips with tropical splendour!

Pablo

[Scott]

That's a great queation... because right a way I'd say feather... But my favorite palms are fans... Bismarks, Sabals, Pritchardia, and that Corypha... whoa! Who wouldn't love that!? So maybe I should say fans.......

[redant]

Love both but more partial to feather.

Edited April 9, 2009 by redant

[www.dadluvsu.com]

OK, I retract my previous comment....

If I must choose (and I must) then I choose neither pinnate or palmate. I choose simple leaf.

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Geonoma/epetiolataB.html

[nachocarl]

All I planted for the first couple of years were feather palms, I felt they gave that nice tropical look and feel. But, after seeing some of the Sabals, livistonas, Pritchardias and Licualas, I do appreciate fans more than I did before. Even W. filiferas (I wouldn't even consider those a few years ago) are a real show stopper in the right climate! The majority of what I have are still feathers though.

[chris78]

I like both but like the feather palms alittle bit more..... One of my favorite feather palms that grows well for me is my phoenix rupicola x reclinata cross, it cold hardy and fast growing with gracefull leaves which add a nice tropical effect..

[sonoranfans]

Can I change my vote? After seeing kris' corypha and mattys pic of gary hodel's sabal causiarum again, how can I have been so silly. As a palm newbie I preferred feathers, now its a slamdunk for fans, just a slamdunk. And I haven even gazed on a borassus recently, that could make it a triple slamdunk.

Edited April 10, 2009 by sonoranfans

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

  sonoranfans said:

Can I change my vote? After seeing kris' corypha and mattys pic of gary hodel's sabal causiarum again, how can I have been so silly. As a palm newbie I preferred feathers, now its a slamdunk for fans, just a slamdunk. And I haven even gazed on a borassus recently, that could make it a triple slamdunk.

Sure; go ahead and change your vote!

Pablo

[palmsOrl]

For me, feather fronded palms have a slight edge over fan leaved ones, though licualas are really cool. Also you have to appreciate the hardiness advantage of fan palms over the pinnate varieties.

-Michael

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

I 100% agree with you, Mike!

Paul

[Kris]

Dear Friends

That fan palm seen in my still is a regular talipot palm_Corypha umbraculifera.

And if you want to see more of these palm,kindly visit my post on'coryphas at lalbagh gardens'.And i spent full half an hour under few corypha's,at that time few gardners there understood my love for these jamboo's and asked where i live,and when i told then that iam from chennai(T.N) they told me that it would grow even massive at my home town due to more hot tropical climate that we have.since the palms seen is from banglore..which is far cooler place than chennai is.

Today shall we see a still of C.Lecomtei,still courtesy_'Komikrit' Thailand.And his membership I.D is Kom Thai Palm.

And by the way PalmDoc,more i show visuals of these giant fan palms,iam shure our members will shift their voting preference from feather to fan palms.. And i ashure you i will post few more stills in favour of the fan palms.

And by the way so many beauties are their in fan palm genere,to say a few bismarkia(silver form),brehea Armeda,Copernica_hospita,Ekamanii..few thrinax also do have lots of colour.Red,yellow,blue latanias,white elephant palm..borassus for their massive thick dark trunks...thats all i can remember for now !

Love,

Kris

[sonoranfans]

  Kris said:

Dear Friends

That fan palm seen in my still is a regular talipot palm_Corypha umbraculifera.

And if you want to see more of these palm,kindly visit my post on'coryphas at lalbagh gardens'.And i spent full half an hour under few corypha's,at that time few gardners there understood my love for these jamboo's and asked where i live,and when i told then that iam from chennai(T.N) they told me that it would grow even massive at my home town due to more hot tropical climate that we have.since the palms seen is from banglore..which is far cooler place than chennai is.

Today shall we see a still of C.Lecomtei,still courtesy_'Komikrit' Thailand.And his membership I.D is Kom Thai Palm.

And by the way PalmDoc,more i show visuals of these giant fan palms,iam shure our members will shift their voting preference from feather to fan palms.. And i ashure you i will post few more stills in favour of the fan palms.

And by the way so many beauties are their in fan palm genere,to say a few bismarkia(silver form),brehea Armeda,Copernica_hospita,Ekamanii..few thrinax also do have lots of colour.Red,yellow,blue latanias,white elephant palm..borassus for their massive thick dark trunks...thats all i can remember for now !

Love,

Kris

Wow, Kris, I am already a convert, but by all means keep posting those magnificent coryphas. The magnificence of nature is brought out increasingly with each picture you post!

Tom

[Kris]

  sonoranfans said:

Wow, Kris, I am already a convert, but by all means keep posting those magnificent coryphas. The magnificence of nature is brought out increasingly with each picture you post !

Tom

Thanks very much dear tom for the encouragement,let me see my achives for more visuals of beautiful coryphas...

Lots of love to you,

Kris

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

Thank you, Kris, for giving us another incredible "Point-of-view" for loving a very special fan palm, for sure!

Coryphas are so magical in stature. It's so difficult to conceive that the palm you stood beneath was once a diminuative seedling! Talk about mega cell division!! It's absolutely amazing, Kris! Thanks for sharing your photographed "wonders of the tropical world" with us!! I know everyone is in "awe!"

I own only one Corypha, Kris, and it is just beginning to make its growth "move!" I don't think I'll ever get to see the palm become a giant, but I'll try my best.

Kris, would you know what the Coryphas' nutritional requirements would be? (Just a rough "guess-timate" even, would be very helpful,) my friend Kris!

Have a delightful week, Kris!

Paul

[Kris]

Dear Paul

Iam glad you like those visuals,and its cool that you did not feel that i hijacked your thread with a discussions pertaining to a perticular specie of fan palms_thanks for that.

And as for their soil requirement they love only clayee soil,wet winters & hot summers.and they don't mind getting their crown & feet wet in winters..here winter's refer to temperatures droping not less than 78 degrees farenheat.and as for fertz & nutrition its loves to be left alone(no pampering needed).south indian soil & soil of andamen-nicobar islands favour its growing very much.

the varities that grow well here is talipot's,c.utan & c.marcopoda.

And speaking of corypha macropoda i wish to post some stills for you & all...

the above to stills are of a dying C.macropoda palm but the still below is of a young palm which is supposed to be around 8 to 10 years old,in other words its still a baby corypha..

And if all want to see more of this in high resolution mode then visit this link given below..

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Corypha_macropoda

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Corypha/macropoda.html

Lots of love,

Kris

By the way Dear Tom i dedicate the above stills to you !

[sonoranfans]

  Kris said:

Dear Paul

Iam glad you like those visuals,and its cool that you did not feel that i hijacked your thread with a discussions pertaining to a perticular specie of fan palms_thanks for that.

And as for their soil requirement they love only clayee soil,wet winters & hot summers.and they don't mind getting their crown & feet wet in winters..here winter's refer to temperatures droping not less than 78 degrees farenheat.and as for fertz & nutrition its loves to be left alone(no pampering needed).south indian soil & soil of andamen-nicobar islands favour its growing very much.

the varities that grow well here is talipot's,c.utan & c.marcopoda.

And speaking of corypha macropoda i wish to post some stills for you & all...

the above to stills are of a dying C.macropoda palm but the still below is of a young palm which is supposed to be around 8 to 10 years old,in other words its still a baby corypha..

And if all want to see more of this in high resolution mode then visit this link given below..

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Corypha_macropoda

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Corypha/macropoda.html

Lots of love,

Kris

By the way Dear Tom i dedicate the above stills to you !

Thank you for the lovely stills Kris. I am saddened to see the death of the old one, and given joy by the beautiful young one with its future promise and teriffic color. Truly coryphas are a wonder of the palm world, unsurpassed in grandness and stature. The grandest and most impressive palm specie of them all. Its such a blessing that you are able to stand under them in your homeland!

Tom

[Peter Pacific]

fans or feathers...you gotta have ´em both!

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

Thank you, Kris:

I feel like I am there seeing the palms, without having to pack my tooth brush, and flying for 15 hours!

It's a true, tropical treat to see those beauties!

Merci!

Paul

[Kris]

Dear Paul

Your welcome ! And very happy that you loved those stills...

Lots of love to you,

Kris

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

There is beauty, Kris, in all botanical forms!

I live for green...soothing, peaceful, & magnificent in its myriad of forms!

Paul

[Kris]

  palmdoctor said:

There is beauty, Kris, in all botanical forms!

"I live for green...soothing, peaceful, & magnificent in its myriad of forms"!

Paul

Dear Paul

I like the above slogan...& Keep up the good work !

Love,

Kris

[Kathryn]

I guess I'd have to say palmate since my favorite palms, Livistona chinensis is palmate. I like the look of pinnate leaves, but really enjoy the shade of my palmate palms. I can sit in my hammock swing under my L. chinensis for hours - as long as someone periodically refreshes my cup.

[Paul The Palm Doctor!]

  Kris said:

  palmdoctor said:

There is beauty, Kris, in all botanical forms!

"I live for green...soothing, peaceful, & magnificent in its myriad of forms"!

Paul

Dear Paul

I like the above slogan...& Keep up the good work !

Love,

Kris

I promise you that I will always keep that personal motto clearly in the forefront of all my future botanical activities.

I believe, Kris, that you uniquely understand! I have little doubt of that!

Love to you!

Paul

[Kris]

  Kathryn said:

I guess I'd have to say palmate since my favorite palms, Livistona chinensis is palmate. I like the look of pinnate leaves, but really enjoy the shade of my palmate palms. I can sit in my hammock swing under my L. chinensis for hours - 'as long as someone periodically refreshes my cup'.