HD Alert! - 15' foxtail palms for $69.97

[joe_OC]

Was at our local HD (Costa Mesa) yesterday when I saw a row of foxtail palms. They were around 15' tall with nice fat base on them. I was blown away by the selling price: $69.97.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

They are half that price down here... It is a great time to be a buyer!

[John in Andalucia]

Do you get a good sales pitch at HD? I found this video via the EPS forum recently, of a seller aiming to undercut the big stores: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYiJS69Q8lY.

[gsn]

Was at our local HD (Costa Mesa) yesterday when I saw a row of foxtail palms. They were around 15' tall with nice fat base on them. I was blown away by the selling price: $69.97.

Joe,

Just curious, field grown(b& or potted plants,if potted container size?

How much actual wood on the trunk of those 15 footers?

I was just at HD and they are still getting $49.95 for a skinny little 5 to 6 footer in a 7 gallon pot, here in Titusville!

They are half that price down here... It is a great time to be a buyer!

William,

Same questions, thanks.

And are they actually selling 15 foot foxtails for $35.00? Is that wholesale or retail?

And I thought my bussiness was OFF/SLOW?

People are going to go belly up durning these tough economic times?

Edited April 30, 2009 by gsn

[MattyB]

I've heard stories of a lot of those Florida/Hawaii grown foxtails really suffering or dying once planted here in CA. I've had bad luck (ie. stunted leaves, slow to no growth) with two of them. What's the dealio?

[Walter John]

I've heard stories of a lot of those Florida/Hawaii grown foxtails really suffering or dying once planted here in CA. I've had bad luck (ie. stunted leaves, slow to no growth) with two of them. What's the dealio?

Cali ain't NQ ?

[MattyB]

[Walter John]

[MattyB]

[palmsOrl]

I think that it just doesn't rain enough in California. Though foxtails are native to a somewhat drier area of Australia, Southern California's desert/near desert climate is probably not well suited to them. Lately, it's barely rained enough here in Florida. Hopefully the rainy season will kick in soon.

-Michael

[Surf Guy]

I had horrible luckwith the $40.00 Teddy Bears at Lowe's. I bought three and all died. I was lucky enough to get my money back on one of them. I try to stay away from the cheap palms that have lava rock for the soil.

Mike

[nachocarl]

I have had poor results with foxtails which is a bummer, because there are several in this neighborhood that get zero care and look good. I’ve purchased one from an Escondido nursery off of 15 (sorry can’t remember the name but they are across from Tropical Plant World) about 5 years ago that made it though the 07 freeze, but it took a hit again this year. It looks like crap but I hate to give up on it after all this time especially since there are a few in this neighbor had that are doing okay.

I have another that I purchased from Lowes last year that looks better than the older one. I planted it April 08 as a five gal and it has pushed two fronds and it working on the third. The leaflets are a bit spotty from the cold, but it looks better than my older bigger one. I’ll keep the candle burning for another year although there are much better choices.

As for the $40 Lowes teddy bears, I have two that have done absolutely nothing in last year! They haven’t died but they haven’t moved a bit. I’ll give them this summer to move, but if they don’t, I’ll assume they’re fake and replace them!

[joe_OC]

They had about 7-8 ft of trunk on them. These were not small, the fronds were pretty long. They were in tubs. Not sure what pot size. Looked larger than 15 gal. I called my brother to let him know and I think he went and got some. What was interesting was that they had one foxtail that was priced at $200 and it was not bigger and did not look as good as the cheaper ones.

I purchased those Lowe's Teddy Bears as well. Both of mine are doing great. One has opened 3 fronds and the other has opened 2 since I put them in the ground.

[AS in SA]

I might have to go pick one of these up - is it the Home Depot on Harbor Blvd? Where is everyone finding these Lowe's Teddy Bear palms at? I go to the Lowe's in Aliso Viejo and the one in Tustin and never have seen one.... is there a particular Lowe's that tends to carry them??

[phatmiata]

Do you get a good sales pitch at HD? I found this video via the EPS forum recently, of a seller aiming to undercut the big stores: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYiJS69Q8lY.

Nice find on youtube!! Ill have to check his place out!!

[epicure3]

I've heard stories of a lot of those Florida/Hawaii grown foxtails really suffering or dying once planted here in CA. I've had bad luck (ie. stunted leaves, slow to no growth) with two of them. What's the dealio?

I'm 1 for 2. The first one I had came from Florida. It was a pretty thin trunked palm that never took hold. It just kind of withered away over 2 years. The other one I have came from HI. It is fat (and phat) and has done very well. Looks good all year.

[epicure3]

I've heard stories of a lot of those Florida/Hawaii grown foxtails really suffering or dying once planted here in CA. I've had bad luck (ie. stunted leaves, slow to no growth) with two of them. What's the dealio?

Cali ain't NQ ?

NQ ain't Cali.

[Randall SD]

Is this a fat based Foxtail for California?

This is the trunk of my Foxtail growing in San Diego with a 20oz 7up bottle placed in front of it for scale.

[Randall SD]

This is the crown taken on 4/06 still a little ragged from our California winter.

[Palmə häl′ik]

I visited that guy Ken this past weekend... No rare palms, but plenty of good deals on your 'box store' type palms... (spindles, bottles, cocos, etc...) I bought two 7gal Spindles for $30... A trunking Adonidia single in a 15gal for $14!

But if your looking for exotic/rare palms, keep on trucking... There aren't any there.

~Ray.

[Gonzer]

One of the local HD's is selling "sun grown" Howeas in 15G for the same $69. All have been recently re-potted with about 4" of trunk buried in the mix. Scorched pinnae, stretched fronds, etc. How do these growers sleep at night?

[pogobob]

Be carefull with boxstore palms, many come from growers who fieldgrow, dig and plop into pots, or allow roots to run wild out drain holes and cut and ship. You are better off buying from other collectors or reputable nursuries who take the time to acclimate and or sell locally produced palms.

[MattyB]

Amen to that Bob! Those cheapo Brahea armatas that HD is selling all have the roots snipped out the drain holes and I think they plop them down hard too while moving. $15 is cheap but they're all withering away. Glad I kept my receipt.

[Hilo Jason]

I'm with Nachocarl on the Teddy Bear's from Lowes. I bought 2 and they have not done anything. I put one in the ground and kept one in the pot and they both look just like they did when I bought them. I'm hoping they kick in here this spring / summer and show some promise of doing something. I have 7 Foxtails that I bought from a local nursery here in Fallbrook. They were all sun grown and are all doing well. They were 15 gallons that I got for $35. Some spots from the winter, but not real bad looking at all. I agree with Bob that it's much better to buy from reputable nurseries than the big box stores.

[palmaddict]

I bought two of the foxtails for a total of $140 from Home Depot. They are about 13-14 feet tall planted out. The diameter of the trunk at the very bottom is perhaps 7 inches across. These were a year ago selling for more than $200 each at Home Depot. Each weighed perhaps 60 pounds in their 15 gallon containers. If I paid $70 for the palm I can imagine that Home Depot probably paid $40 for them. Given the size and weight and limited profit made on each of them I am guessing these are from a local grower. To truck these in from Florida would cost a fortune. I am optimistic on these and the key is keeping them well watered. If it doesn't work out I have the receipt. These were not growing in lava rock. These were gone within days of Home Depot getting them and I had to guard the two I picked out while I scrambled to get a rolling cart.

I have purchased ten of the $15 Brahea armata from Home Depot and all are doing well. I have found that handling the roots ball very carefully when planting is key and watering them more than you think is necessary. While they are very drought tolerant I think they get spoiled by the large volume of water they get while growing in a nursery. They are even doing pretty well in soil that is actually a heavy clay and originally I was not optimistic. These were not growing in lava rock and are a local nursery for sure. FYI many specialty palm nurseries in San Diego have purchased these same palms for probably $10 a piece and are turning around and selling them also (for much more than $15).

I have had trouble with nursery palms grown in the lava rock as they become root bound and then you drop them into soil and you never get rid of the lava ball at the core. I don't like the idea of that transition from rock to soil that you can never get rid of. This was the case with the Teddy Bear's from Lowes awhile back. If they had been less root bound I would have chipped the lava rock out and replaced it carefully with soil. It was such a gnarled mess that it could not possibly be done. I have two other leptocheilos that are growing great and are on the verge of showing some white ringed trunk so I can grow them in the ground in Bonita.

So in the end I have had mixed luck but most have made it and the recent prices are a steal and well worth the risk.

Patrick

[Gonzer]

My motto is "If you want brain surgery, go to a brain surgeon, not a plumber".

[Moose]

I am a firm believer in not buying palms from the box stores. Go to a local guy (or gal) and help support their operations and their familes.

You also find that it was grown near you and your climate. Acclimating a palm that may have been grown in a different zone may cause set back or decline when planted.

Just something to contemplate about when you are going for the "deal you can't refuse" at the box stores.

I am aware of alot of growers that are struggling. Your support I can assure you would be appreciated.

Just an opinion from a fellow palmaholic.

Ron.

[palmaddict]

I am a firm believer in not buying palms from the box stores. Go to a local guy (or gal) and help support their operations and their familes.

You also find that it was grown near you and your climate. Acclimating a palm that may have been grown in a different zone may cause set back or decline when planted.

Just something to contemplate about when you are going for the "deal you can't refuse" at the box stores.

I am aware of alot of growers that are struggling. Your support I can assure you would be appreciated.

Just an opinion from a fellow palmaholic.

Ron.

I buy palms from more sources than I can remember (Ebay, Craigs List, Home Depot, specialty growers, home growers, Thailand). Keep in mind that most nurseries whether large or small are having significant issues. In addition those $15 Brahea armatas came from San Diego and therefore are a local nursery. The foxtails I bought for $70 would have cost be $300-400 from any of the specialty palm nurseries. I am taking a 6% salary cut myself this year and so I look when I can for bargains. On the other hand I dropped $500 for an Encephalartos laurentianus with a 4" caudex and that came from a local grower. I buy from a multitude of growers who broker palms from their homes. In this environment at least the home growers have a chance as they typically have other jobs and costs they can control to a large degree. Even a small to medium sized traditional nursery has fixed costs they can do little about except dump inventory at a loss. They also employ many people that make a salary below the poverty level. I save where I can so I can afford the palms/cycads that I really desire. More power to you if you want to spend $400 (the size I got) for what will shortly become a common foxtail. When this is over I think that half of the nurseries in San Diego will be gone. If you really want to know how bad it is look at Craig's List in San Diego for the number of horses for sale. Its a tragedy as these people signed on for animals that cost $400 to $500 to take care of on a monthly basis and now they cannot even provide basic care. I hope they don't end up as dog food.

Patrick

[pogobob]

I am a firm believer in not buying palms from the box stores. Go to a local guy (or gal) and help support their operations and their familes.

You also find that it was grown near you and your climate. Acclimating a palm that may have been grown in a different zone may cause set back or decline when planted.

Just something to contemplate about when you are going for the "deal you can't refuse" at the box stores.

I am aware of alot of growers that are struggling. Your support I can assure you would be appreciated.

Just an opinion from a fellow palmaholic.

Ron.

Well said brother palmaholic... buyer beware and look carefully at the product, because a beutyfull lush green palms can turn into a dried out cornstalk in just a matter of days if it came off the truck from out of state

Keep the local growers in business and screw the boxwhore stores!

[palmaddict]

I am a firm believer in not buying palms from the box stores. Go to a local guy (or gal) and help support their operations and their familes.

You also find that it was grown near you and your climate. Acclimating a palm that may have been grown in a different zone may cause set back or decline when planted.

Just something to contemplate about when you are going for the "deal you can't refuse" at the box stores.

I am aware of alot of growers that are struggling. Your support I can assure you would be appreciated.

Just an opinion from a fellow palmaholic.

Ron.

Well said brother palmaholic... buyer beware and look carefully at the product, because a beutyfull lush green palms can turn into a dried out cornstalk in just a matter of days if it came off the truck from out of state

Keep the local growers in business and screw the boxwhore stores!

[palmaddict]

Just to show you that these easily could have come from San Diego:

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/grd/1156738921.html

The size of the palms sold by Home Depot is about exactly the size of those in the images in this link (15 gallon) so they are big. The growing medium also looks the same though obviously it is difficult to tell. I have no evidence that they are coming from here but I would not be surprised.

So what you are saying is these guys deserve to perish because they run a bigger operation??

Go to some of those North County specialty nurseries that cater to the palm high brows. Where do you think their Bizmarkias, Foxtails, and Teddy Bears come from if they have any size?? I have seen them and most times its Florida (or Hawaii). I doubt most people growing trunking Teddy Bears bought them as liners.

I suppose those who would not buy from Home Depot also never shop at Walmart or Costco?? How about shopping at Home Depot for other things. I doubt most support your local hardware store.

In my time buying palms I have had great experiences with large nurseries and miserable experiences with smaller nurseries (and the opposite of course). Should I mention the small operation in Rancho Santa Fe (not Rancho Soledad) where routinely the identify of palms is/was misrepresented, the size of the palm is/was misrepresented, and photos of the palms/cycads digitally enhanced?? Yes, I personally experienced this and will never do business there again. Life is not black and white but shades of gray.

I would also wager that virtually everyone here would have purchased the 15 gallon "Orange Crush" Dypsis that by accident showed up at Rancho Soledad nursery a few months ago. These were about 10-12 feet high and went for $225 and came from a large grower in Hawaii.

Patrick

[pogobob]

Just to show you that these easily could have come from San Diego:

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/grd/1156738921.html

The size of the palms sold by Home Depot is about exactly the size of those in the images in this link (15 gallon) so they are big. The growing medium also looks the same though obviously it is difficult to tell. I have no evidence that they are coming from here but I would not be surprised.

So what you are saying is these guys deserve to perish because they run a bigger operation??

Go to some of those North County specialty nurseries that cater to the palm high brows. Where do you think their Bizmarkias, Foxtails, and Teddy Bears come from if they have any size?? I have seen them and most times its Florida (or Hawaii). I doubt most people growing trunking Teddy Bears bought them as liners.

I suppose those who would not buy from Home Depot also never shop at Walmart or Costco?? How about shopping at Home Depot for other things. I doubt most support your local hardware store.

In my time buying palms I have had great experiences with large nurseries and miserable experiences with smaller nurseries (and the opposite of course). Should I mention the small operation in Rancho Santa Fe (not Rancho Soledad) where routinely the identify of palms is/was misrepresented, the size of the palm is/was misrepresented, and photos of the palms/cycads digitally enhanced?? Yes, I personally experienced this and will never do business there again. Life is not black and white but shades of gray.

I would also wager that virtually everyone here would have purchased the 15 gallon "Orange Crush" Dypsis that by accident showed up at Rancho Soledad nursery a few months ago. These were about 10-12 feet high and went for $225 and came from a large grower in Hawaii.

Patrick

The palms at the box stores are a soft grown root hacked junk unacclimated waste of time. I'm not talking about hardware . I'm saying buyer beware and buy from those who take the time to acclimate thier palms, whether they come from Hawaii or Florida doesn't matter as long as they have been treated correctly.

[The Germinator]

Amen to that Bob! Those cheapo Brahea armatas that HD is selling all have the roots snipped out the drain holes and I think they plop them down hard too while moving. $15 is cheap but they're all withering away. Glad I kept my receipt.

Make me a copy, I bought one. I did have good luck with a huge botryphora that was trimmed and underpotted for 200 bucks and it still looks great after about 8 months.

[The Germinator]

I am a firm believer in not buying palms from the box stores. Go to a local guy (or gal) and help support their operations and their familes.

You also find that it was grown near you and your climate. Acclimating a palm that may have been grown in a different zone may cause set back or decline when planted.

Just something to contemplate about when you are going for the "deal you can't refuse" at the box stores.

I am aware of alot of growers that are struggling. Your support I can assure you would be appreciated.

Just an opinion from a fellow palmaholic.

Ron.

That's right keep the money on main street not Wall Street.

[The Germinator]

I am a firm believer in not buying palms from the box stores. Go to a local guy (or gal) and help support their operations and their familes.

You also find that it was grown near you and your climate. Acclimating a palm that may have been grown in a different zone may cause set back or decline when planted.

Just something to contemplate about when you are going for the "deal you can't refuse" at the box stores.

I am aware of alot of growers that are struggling. Your support I can assure you would be appreciated.

Just an opinion from a fellow palmaholic.

Ron.

I just picked up a nice jelly and fistail there. The problem with me is there are no local growers, I have to drive to SD county to pick up palms.

Edited May 6, 2009 by The Germinator

[Moose]

Just to show you that these easily could have come from San Diego:

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/grd/1156738921.html

The size of the palms sold by Home Depot is about exactly the size of those in the images in this link (15 gallon) so they are big. The growing medium also looks the same though obviously it is difficult to tell. I have no evidence that they are coming from here but I would not be surprised.

So what you are saying is these guys deserve to perish because they run a bigger operation??

Go to some of those North County specialty nurseries that cater to the palm high brows. Where do you think their Bizmarkias, Foxtails, and Teddy Bears come from if they have any size?? I have seen them and most times its Florida (or Hawaii). I doubt most people growing trunking Teddy Bears bought them as liners.

I suppose those who would not buy from Home Depot also never shop at Walmart or Costco?? How about shopping at Home Depot for other things. I doubt most support your local hardware store.

In my time buying palms I have had great experiences with large nurseries and miserable experiences with smaller nurseries (and the opposite of course). Should I mention the small operation in Rancho Santa Fe (not Rancho Soledad) where routinely the identify of palms is/was misrepresented, the size of the palm is/was misrepresented, and photos of the palms/cycads digitally enhanced?? Yes, I personally experienced this and will never do business there again. Life is not black and white but shades of gray.

I would also wager that virtually everyone here would have purchased the 15 gallon "Orange Crush" Dypsis that by accident showed up at Rancho Soledad nursery a few months ago. These were about 10-12 feet high and went for $225 and came from a large grower in Hawaii.

Patrick

[Moose]

Patrick - I appreciate your point of view . You make one assumption that I must respectfully disagree with . It appears that it is your belief that the large material is coming from Hawaii or Florida.

1st - It would be safe to state that to ship large material from Hawaii would be prohibitively expensive and not cost effective.

2nd - Plants shipped from Florida to California must be grown on benches due to nematodes . It has been my experience that Florida growers do not put 7 & 15 gallon material on benches. The cost of building a bench to support such a weight would constitute a diminishing return on the investment, i. e. "too expensive".

Just an opinion from a palmaholic

Kindest regards,

Ron.

[gsn]

Go to some of those North County specialty nurseries that cater to the palm high brows. Where do you think their Bizmarkias, Foxtails, and Teddy Bears come from if they have any size?? I have seen them and most times its Florida (or Hawaii). I doubt most people growing trunking Teddy Bears bought them as liners.

In my time buying palms I have had great experiences with large nurseries and miserable experiences with smaller nurseries (and the opposite of course). Should I mention the small operation in Rancho Santa Fe (not Rancho Soledad) where routinely the identify of palms is/was misrepresented, the size of the palm is/was misrepresented, and photos of the palms/cycads digitally enhanced?? Yes, I personally experienced this and will never do business there again. Life is not black and white but shades of gray.

Patrick

Throwing in my 2 cents worth on the subject.

I agree there are many places where palms can be bought,with both good and bad results,whether it be specialty nurseries or box stores. I have purchased from alot of different sources including backyard growers, speciality nurseries ,and box stores.

palmaddict is correct when he says some of the bigger palms purchased at specialty nurseries can come from other places ,whether it be Florida, Hawaii,or a larger grower in the immediate area, or where ever. There is a well respected nursery here in east central Florida, in Rockledge that most of their stock was not grown by them, but purchased and trucked in from Homestead Florida, grown by a big operation there, maybe the exact same operation selling to Home Depot and Lowes. This is true of alot of nurseries here in central Florida, local nursery operations that don't grow there own plants, but just like the big box stores buy them from growers in south Florida.

The small operation palm addict mentions in Rancho Santa Fe, I know for a FACT didn't grow all of his palms from SEED, including seedlings, and larger (relativly) plants! Some came from, yes you guessed it, FLORIDA, before they were Californian SUN grown! Who really knows where else some might have come from?

I'm all for supporting local nurseries, but sometimes there is little difference in what you are buying from them, (fairly common palms) and a big box store. Sometimes there is a BIG difference,the key is knowing what your looking at (quality of the plant), and making an informed decision with respect to each palm purchase.

Naturally some palms can only be purchased from a speciality nursery, as they are less common, rarer. Support the local grower,when possible,keep him in bussiness. But I say use every resource at your disposal to satisfy your palm habit, and don't feel guilty, or feel looked down upon, for doing so!

Edited May 6, 2009 by gsn

[Matt in SD]

Ron,

Your logic regarding costs of shipping from Hawaii sounds reasonable...but tell that to the owner of Rancho Soledad Nursery. I would not be surprised if they turn more profit than any other true grower in California and they ship a LOT of plants in from a growing ground in Hawaii. They also sell to the local Home Depots when they have excess inventory.

Matt

Just to show you that these easily could have come from San Diego:

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/ssd/grd/1156738921.html

The size of the palms sold by Home Depot is about exactly the size of those in the images in this link (15 gallon) so they are big. The growing medium also looks the same though obviously it is difficult to tell. I have no evidence that they are coming from here but I would not be surprised.

So what you are saying is these guys deserve to perish because they run a bigger operation??

Go to some of those North County specialty nurseries that cater to the palm high brows. Where do you think their Bizmarkias, Foxtails, and Teddy Bears come from if they have any size?? I have seen them and most times its Florida (or Hawaii). I doubt most people growing trunking Teddy Bears bought them as liners.

I suppose those who would not buy from Home Depot also never shop at Walmart or Costco?? How about shopping at Home Depot for other things. I doubt most support your local hardware store.

In my time buying palms I have had great experiences with large nurseries and miserable experiences with smaller nurseries (and the opposite of course). Should I mention the small operation in Rancho Santa Fe (not Rancho Soledad) where routinely the identify of palms is/was misrepresented, the size of the palm is/was misrepresented, and photos of the palms/cycads digitally enhanced?? Yes, I personally experienced this and will never do business there again. Life is not black and white but shades of gray.

I would also wager that virtually everyone here would have purchased the 15 gallon "Orange Crush" Dypsis that by accident showed up at Rancho Soledad nursery a few months ago. These were about 10-12 feet high and went for $225 and came from a large grower in Hawaii.

Patrick

[osideterry]

My approach:

If you live near specialty palm growers, with a good variety of plants, and reasonable-to-competitive prices, it's a no brainer. Buy from them. Big box stores usually only have washies, queens, kings, etc.

If you find a trunking alex king for $60, or a teddy bear for $39, what have you got to lose? My 3 teddies are doing great and have pushed 3-4 spears each in the past year.

That said, I don't go to the big box looking for palms. If I see an interesting one while I'm there, I'll likely by it.