Lytocaryum weddellianum

[TikiRick]

I have grown this from a seedling and it's 4" container for about 3 years now. I have periodically stepped it up until now, in it's 14" diameter clay pot.

It looks as though it attempted a bloom, but it may have failed due to this winter's cold snaps.

However, it does appear that it's making another attempt.

It gets some strong afternoon sun for a short period of time this time of year, and then as the spring progresses into summer, I will move it into deeper shade. I understand that it enjoys acidic soils. Would I be foolish to attempt to plant it in my alkaline soils of South Florida? I would assume that it must be kept on the wet side?

Does anyone else have experience with this palm? I understand that it has been grown for hundreds of years in Europe as a parlor palm, withstanding very low light requirements.

Is this really an unusual palm? Is it common throughout Europe as described in the literature?

[TikiRick]

Great weeping pinnate fronds. Reminds me of a petite Phoenix roebellini frond without the spines.

Old bloom spike...aborted?

About 1.5" in diameter.

New bloom spike emerging.

Now about 24" overall.

[Mark Heath]

Hey Rick,

I can't wait to see that beautifull palm in person! I used to have two of them that were a little bigger than yours,

but i made the mistake of planting it in a low-lying area and when the hurricanes came they were flooded and died!!!

Both were producing seeds and i was pollinating them w/ Queen pollen!!!

They do love to be in the ground but if you have alkaline soils i would ammend your area w/ pine bark nuggets, i do that w/ all my blueberry plants and they love it! Make sure that it is a well draining site so you don't have the problem that i had!

Did you buy that from Steve Stern?? That is who i bought all of mine from. I need to see him again.

I do have more but they have'nt developed a trunk yet.

They are one of the best indoor house palms!!!!!

Good score!

Mark

[SubTropicRay]

Rick,

I've got a 2 foot tall specimen planted in fairly bright light. It made it through this years 32F with no damage.

Ray

[Jeff Searle]

Rick,

I don't have one in the ground yet myself, but I plan on planting a 7gal. size this summer. I think in your situation, I would add some top soil and bring down the pH. I do know they love being planted in the shade. As far as your's flowering, I have had a couple of plants produce nice seeds on the plant while growing in the shadehouse in a 7gallon size pot. So they will produce seeds.

Jeff

[rozpalm]

I have one that has been in the ground about 6months and its doing fine. The soil was amended as Jeff recommended and it seems to be very happy growing in a very shady spot under a larger palm. Its seeding right now as well. Unfortunately I don't have any good pictures of it.

[Tomsky]

I planted mine in 1974 from a five gallon size.

[DoomsDave]

Lyties are much tougher than they look.

They're related to queen palms, and though they don't take sun well, they're almost as tough in every other way.

They like plenty of water, but they'll survive a drought, a perfect pot plant.

Maybe leave yours in the pot?

[Eric in Orlando]

They have grown well here under shade. They were slow growing for years put have quickened a bit as they grow. We have 3 planted in a group and they flower and produce seed but usually the squirrels get them while they are still green.

I remember the old name, Microcoelum. And they are like a Phoenix roebelenii with a skinnier trunk and no spines

[iwan]

Mine appears to handle our summer heat in heavy shade. I didn't have it for the entire summer, so this summer will be the test. Lytoagrus, on the other hand, handled our dry summer temps (max 113F, average 100F) in a 1G pot with daily water and a couple hours of morning sun.

Lyties are much tougher than they look.

[bigal954]

I have one, this is my sedcond attempt on this palm. Doing great in a pot and getting a little morning sun. it is about 3 ft tall. I love this palm and was going to put it in the ground but now maybe keep it in the pot a while longer.

Allen

[Copihue]

I love that palm too!. I grow four plants -potted- outdoors, although in a protected (from wind) patio. Very seldom they see temps go below 0ºC. To me the look like miniature coconut palms...

[Kai]

This is my number 1 favorite! I simply love this palm!

I've got lots of seedlings and 2 larger ones, but not trunking yet, all as potted indoor palms. In the summer I put the pots outside in the shade and they seem to love that.

I was wondering, how long does it take for a Lytocarium to flower? How big will the trunk have to be? I have a Syagrus schizophylla which flowers every now and then and I wish to pollinate a Lytocarium with it's pollen and the other way around, but I'm affraid I'll have to wait a few more years for this. I'll call it Lytoagrus schizolianum I think

[Moose]

Rick - I have one in the ground for two years now. I mixed in pine bark, peat moss and coffee grounds when planted. It was also mulched with pine bark. I continue to put coffee grounds and peat most every 4 months. It is under story and is kept relatively moist. It is doing great. The Reinhardtia latisecta next to it was planted at the same time with the same measures taken. It is alive put continues to deline. I also ammend with a light dressing of acid loving plant fertilizer from AFEC.

Best of luck, I think you can make it happen.

Ron.

[DoomsDave]

Here in California, Lytocaryum rocks. Tough as nails, but needs the shade. Keep shaded and well-watered and they'll rock (on a small scale) for decades.

The Hoopers' specimens are about 7 feet (2.333 m) tall.

[chris.oz]

Here in California, Lytocaryum rocks. Tough as nails, but needs the shade. Keep shaded and well-watered and they'll rock (on a small scale) for decades.

The Hoopers' specimens are about 7 feet (2.333 m) tall.

They obviously like shade to look best but I found they are deceptively resistant to being KFCd by sun and low humidity.

In our recent 3 day at 47C + with single figure humidity and 20-30 km/hr wind, the 2 of these I have in the ground in part shade did not mark at all.

Agaves fried, but the only palms I have that did not mark were.

Lytocaryum, Jub, CIDP Brahea and Butia.

[buffy]

I sure would love to grow a Lyto x Butia if anyone does that. I love the idea of a tough little pinnate palm with a thin truck. Like a C. radicalis with more fronds.

[PalmGuyWC]

I've been doing a search of the threads on Palm Talk looking for all the information I can find on Lytocaryum and/or Lytocaryum hybrids. It seems there are some Syagrus X Lyto hybrids in S. Calif, but I can find nothing on Butia X Lyto. Does anyone know of any B X L hybrids?

Dick

[Darold Petty]

Dick, I don't know of any such hybrids, BxL; but I have two adult L. weddellianum and I will try to collect pollen from the next flowering.

[edbrown_III]

Dick,

I am planning that too --- if I can get mine to flower or get to the ones in the soouth ( Eric will you share some pollen?)

I reckon it will be a race between the east coast and west coast on making this hybrid---- We need to start naming some of thiese Pettyiii, Douglasii, Heathii, Shaferiii etc to honor some of the giants of this forum!

Best regards

Ed

[Alberto]

Dick,

I am planning that too --- if I can get mine to flower or get to the ones in the soouth ( Eric will you share some pollen?)

I reckon it will be a race between the east coast and west coast on making this hybrid---- We need to start naming some of thiese Pettyiii, Douglasii, Heathii, Shaferiii etc to honor some of the giants of this forum!

Best regards

Ed

I crossed my Lytocarium with S.romanzoffiana with a good seed set. To germinate them is another story.....

Zero seed set with female B.eriospatha receiving Lytocarium pollen.....

[Zeeth]

I really want to see a Butia X Lytocaryum! It would probably have an average size trunk (cross between a thick trunk and thin trunk palm) and weeping, non plumose fronds. If done enough times, a resultant hybrid that looks like a coconut would be sure to be created! I think a race has started, GO! GO! GO!!!

[edbrown_III]

Dick,

I am planning that too --- if I can get mine to flower or get to the ones in the soouth ( Eric will you share some pollen?)

I reckon it will be a race between the east coast and west coast on making this hybrid---- We need to start naming some of thiese Pettyiii, Douglasii, Heathii, Shaferiii etc to honor some of the giants of this forum!

Best regards

Ed

I crossed my Lytocarium with S.romanzoffiana with a good seed set. To germinate them is another story.....

Zero seed set with female B.eriospatha receiving Lytocarium pollen.....

or perhaps Barkemaii! --- its just a matter of sufficient number of folks trying that the low percentages of fecundidty start compounding sufficiently for sucess. with Mark, Pat, you, myself and others--- sooner or later this 1 or 2 % is going pan out.

Best regards,

Ed

[Z4Devil]

The Lytocaryum is mentionend and nobody of this forum is cryingmy name????? Unbelievable.

Well ... my absolutely nr. 1 of the palms ... and I would like to share some new pictures of 3 Lytos in Germany.

But look ...

10. Lytocaryum weddelianum - my oldest and largest Lyto - my godness, how small it was, height of 18 cm)

The next one:

[Z4Devil]

It goes on with the babies (self-germinated from seeds)

And the 3th (within the other palms)

[edbrown_III]

wow--- thats a pretty collection Z4devil,

Best regards

Ed

[Mark Heath]

Dick,

I am planning that too --- if I can get mine to flower or get to the ones in the soouth ( Eric will you share some pollen?)

I reckon it will be a race between the east coast and west coast on making this hybrid---- We need to start naming some of thiese Pettyiii, Douglasii, Heathii, Shaferiii etc to honor some of the giants of this forum!

Best regards

Ed

Hello Ed,

I do need to make this hybrid! Would be interesting to see what it looks like! I need to buddy-up w/ Eric!!!!!

I do hate the fact that i had TWO flowering Lytocariums and they were killed by floods/hurricanes!!

I have mentioned to Eric that i am interested.........

[PalmGuyWC]

Dick,

I am planning that too --- if I can get mine to flower or get to the ones in the soouth ( Eric will you share some pollen?)

I reckon it will be a race between the east coast and west coast on making this hybrid---- We need to start naming some of thiese Pettyiii, Douglasii, Heathii, Shaferiii etc to honor some of the giants of this forum!

Best regards

Ed

Hello Ed,

I do need to make this hybrid! Would be interesting to see what it looks like! I need to buddy-up w/ Eric!!!!!

I do hate the fact that i had TWO flowering Lytocariums and they were killed by floods/hurricanes!!

I have mentioned to Eric that i am interested.........

There must be several Lytocaryums of blooming size in Florida, California and Brazil, so pollen should be able to be obtained. It's summer in Brazil and I bet Alberto is working on it as we speak. Does the first one to get a Butia X Lyto hybrid get a prize?

As far as names go.....I think it's more appropriate to combine the names of the two parents if possible, such as Butyagrus, Bujubaea, etc. I haven't been able to think of anything for Butia X Parajubaea since there is already a Bujubaea. How does a cross with B. yata X Lytocarium sound to everyone?

Dick

[Alicehunter2000]

Any news on this hybrid attempt?

[Patrick in Charlotte]

would this variety work well as a houseplant?

[doranakandawatta]

30 years ago, we found this palm in swiss supermarket, and as student we were able to buy a cheap houseplant, now I don't see Lytocaryum anymore...

Same with Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, 10 years ago, 4 franks for a small plant, now no more!

What are the Dutch doing with houseplant european market? orchids?

[Alicehunter2000]

Bump...any news?

[ErikSJI]

I have been unable to find any pollen to give this one a try.

[Phoenikakias]

Bump also for me! Any one knows germination needs for Lyto-seeds?

[gyuseppe]

Konstantinos far as I know, no one in southern Italy grow this species, a friend of mine had tried to cultivate this species, but died mysteriously

[Phoenikakias]

Konstantinos far as I know, no one in southern Italy grow this species, a friend of mine had tried to cultivate this species, but died mysteriously

Did it die slowly through gardual decline, or suddenly and rapidly? In the first case I suspect raise of ph, and very inadequate new growth because of to much sun exposure and low air humidity.

[wimmie]

Philippe, the Dutch trade is busy with Howea forsteriana, Trachycarpus, Rhapis exelsa, Chameadorea elegans, Cocos nucifera, Dypsis lutescens. Other species, like Lytocarium, Latania and Hyophorbe, are only available through the Internet, special collectormeetings and a few speciallized nurseries.

Wim.

[Kai]

Bump also for me! Any one knows germination needs for Lyto-seeds?

Germination of Lytocarium seeds is easy enough Phoenikakias.

Keep them slightly moist and at around 25 C for 2 months and you'll have germinated seeds.

I guess you probably allready succeeded, but anyway...

[Alicehunter2000]

Bump

[Pal Meir]

On 2.6.2013, 21:10:00, doranakandawatta said:

30 years ago, we found this palm in swiss supermarket, and as student we were able to buy a cheap houseplant, now I don't see Lytocaryum anymore...

Yeah, they were planted in thin clay pots without holes and looked like this triple: