False coconuts

[JasonD]

I was thinking about this topic while reading the discussion on growing coconuts in California: What are the best substitutes?

Up here, it's Parajubaea cocoides, which looks a lot like a coconut in the crown, and produces edible mini coconut-like seeds. The trunk, however, is covered in fur for a long time, sheds it to reveal an unringed stem, and tends not to lean much. And there are so few around that we don't know if it tolerates beachside conditions.

McCurrach, in 1960's Palms of the World, likened Syagrus (then Rhyticocos) amara to the coconut, but when I first encountered one at Fairchild I saw minimal resemblance.

I know the Jubaeopsis at the Beverly Hills Hilton resembles a coconut, albeit clustering, and the one at the Catamaran in San Diego is somewhat Cocos-like, as well.

When I see coconuts in Waikiki that have been overpruned so long that their stems dwindle, I start to consider Howea forsteriana a credible mimic.

What other coconut mimics do people like?

[John in Andalucia]

Attalea colenda and Beccariophoenix alfredii are two that spring to mind, the latter being known as the "California Coconut Palm".

[Tyrone]

All the Beccariophoenix's will look very similar to a coconut. In fact you'll have to look real hard to tell them from a real coconut sometimes. The best give away is the fact that they don't have coconuts hanging from them.

Best regards

Tyrone

[FRITO]

Kentias which grw in Cali look like cocos also.

[epicure3]

Keep in mind that Beccariophoenix grows at a snails' pace (much like a coconut that finds survival in SoCal).

[waykoolplantz]

Waykooler thatch tho

[Eric in Orlando]

Some X Butiagrus can resemble a coconut, the more slender specimens. Also Phoenix rupicola can have a coconut like look but on a smaller scale. Satakentia looks kind of like a coconut with a crownshaft. There is also the rare Syagrus cocoides. To the avarage person, especially for someone from a non palm area, Syagrus romanzoffiana looks like a coconut. I remember relatives coming down from Illinois to visit and asking why all the "coconut" palms in the yard and neighborhood had small range seeds and not big coconuts.

As previously mentioned, I agree about Beccariophoenix. I think it is the most coconut looking palm.

[John in Andalucia]

Some X Butiagrus can resemble a coconut, the more slender specimens. Also Phoenix rupicola can have a coconut like look but on a smaller scale. Satakentia looks kind of like a coconut with a crownshaft. There is also the rare Syagrus cocoides. To the avarage person, especially for someone from a non palm area, Syagrus romanzoffiana looks like a coconut. I remember relatives coming down from Illinois to visit and asking why all the "coconut" palms in the yard and neighborhood had small range seeds and not big coconuts.

As previously mentioned, I agree about Beccariophoenix. I think it is the most coconut looking palm.

.

I also thought of Satakentia. Basically, anything pinnate and pendulous does it for me, so throw in some Ceroxylon species and a Hydriastele costata.

[DoomsDave]

To me, Beccariophoenix and Jubaeaopsis make the best mimics, though they're only close, not identical.

Nothing quite tops a for-real coconut . . ..

[PalmGuyWC]

You can fake an orgasm, but you can't fake a Coconut. There is nothing like a Coconut with the gracefull curves of the trunks and their ability to grow right up to the ocean edge and to take the ocean breezes..........and hurricanes.

For those of us who live in frost prone climates, the Queen palm, as common as it may be, is our northern Coconut. The most Coconut looking other palm is Jubeaopsis even if it does cluster. Gotta to say, Beccariophoenix looks close.

Dick

[JasonD]

Here's an esoteric species:

Voanioala gerardii, the forest coconut

http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/146076

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/palms/Voanioala/gerardii.html

http://www.arkive.org/forest-coconut/voanioala-gerardii/

Bo, might you be able to inform us about this one?

[ghar41]

Jubaeaopsis caffra or Parajubaea sunkha

[Jeff Searle]

Attalea colenda and Beccariophoenix alfredii are two that spring to mind, the latter being known as the "California Coconut Palm".

John,

That's pretty funny. California Coconut? I never heard this before. Is this true, all you Cali. collectors? We don't have a common name yet here, but I know what it won't be.

But Beccariophoenix madagascariensis to me most resembles a coconut. I have two very large ones in the ground(20') and I constantly get people confusing it with a coconut as we ride by them in the golfcart.

Jeff

[DoomsDave]

Attalea colenda and Beccariophoenix alfredii are two that spring to mind, the latter being known as the "California Coconut Palm".

John,

That's pretty funny. California Coconut? I never heard this before. Is this true, all you Cali. collectors? We don't have a common name yet here, but I know what it won't be.

But Beccariophoenix madagascariensis to me most resembles a coconut. I have two very large ones in the ground(20') and I constantly get people confusing it with a coconut as we ride by them in the golfcart.

Jeff

Hmm.

I think the problem is that there just aren't any big ones here yet, so they just look like all the other rare palms that won't grow as fast as we'd like.

H,,/ Jeff, are yours the plain B. window type? If so, "California coconut" is a hoot, because they croak here.

[Eric in Orlando]

Jeff's 2 are some incredible specimens that do look very much like coconuts.

[Jeff Searle]

Hi Dave,

Yes, they are the window type. But I do remember seeing a picture on an old topic that someone out in your neck of the woods was growing one and it was of nice size. But, I can't remember who's garden it was in.

Eric,

Thanks, I do love these palms myself. And just a sidenote, I was pleasantly surprise when it flowered for the first time, it actually set good viable seed, not many, but they did germinate.

Jeff

[BS Man about Palms]

Hi Dave,

Yes, they are the window type. But I do remember seeing a picture on an old topic that someone out in your neck of the woods was growing one and it was of nice size. But, I can't remember who's garden it was in.

Eric,

Thanks, I do love these palms myself. And just a sidenote, I was pleasantly surprise when it flowered for the first time, it actually set good viable seed, not many, but they did germinate.

Jeff

That would be in a recently stumpheaded garden.

[nomolos]

Beccariophenix imo look better than cocs

[rockos82]

I have one "Cali coconut palm" its 10 inches tall and I have had it for a year I can't wait to see it in 15 yrs. I got mine from JD in the oc and thats what he told me the common name was... Although that was before he moved to FL...

[John in Andalucia]

Attalea colenda and Beccariophoenix alfredii are two that spring to mind, the latter being known as the "California Coconut Palm".

John,

That's pretty funny. California Coconut? I never heard this before. Is this true, all you Cali. collectors? We don't have a common name yet here, but I know what it won't be.

But Beccariophoenix madagascariensis to me most resembles a coconut. I have two very large ones in the ground(20') and I constantly get people confusing it with a coconut as we ride by them in the golfcart.

Jeff

Jeff - I've seen nursery price lists using the names, "California Coconut Palm" and "High Plateau Coconut Palm". A PalmTalk thread from last summer, when it was really being talked about, may be responsible..

Quote: "I think this will be our California Coconut of the future" (gtlevine).

Here is the thread in its entirety: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/lofiversion/...php/t13235.html

No doubt some traders are going to pick up on these things, and before you know it, places like eBay and Craigslist are proliferated with Californian Coconuts.

[Walter John]

To me, Beccariophoenix and Jubaeaopsis make the best mimics, though they're only close, not identical.

Nothing quite tops a for-real coconut . . ..

agree with Dave.

[Tyrone]

Keep in mind that Beccariophoenix grows at a snails' pace (much like a coconut that finds survival in SoCal).

I think you'll find that B alfredii will be much faster than the other two. My B alfredii's grow at about 3 times the pace of my B madagascariensis (no windows) form. B alfredii actually wants drier cooler conditions. They croak if it's too hot and wet. A really good grow for So Cal, and southern Oz.

Best regards

Tyrone