Coccothrinax macroglossa azul

[Really full garden]

This trio is finally going to be planted.These plants are almost five years from seed and the largest is still only 7 inches tall.They seem extremely slow at this stage.I have planted really small Coccothrinax crinitas and they do "speed up".

At this stage there is no sign of azul (blue).

The biggest danger of planting palms this small is that they get stepped on or damaged by dragging hoses.I plan to plant these in a "community" of Zamia floridana so they get some protection and its not so easy for them to get lost in the landscape.

It would be great to see other C.macroglossa azuls with ages and sizes.

[JD in the OC]

It's hard to duplicate the soil of Camaguey, Cuba in order to get the nice blue color to come out.

[PalmatierMeg]

I have a C. macro Azul I bought in Dec 2005 over in Homestead. It is slowly forming a trunk, pushes about 4-5 fronds per year. It doesn't like temps in the 30s even though I cover it with sheets. Fronds turn a sickly yellow and I worry whether it will be toast but so far it keeps plugging along. The new fronds have a nice blue-green color and are tough and rigid like plastic. I really like this palm.

Coccothrinax macroglossa Azul

It is about 2.5 to 3' tall

Trunk view showing lattice-work netting

Closeup of frond. It is planted in good ol' Cape Coral sandy soil but still is a nice blue

Hastula

[Really full garden]

Meg, thats a great looking palm.It does seem silvery.How large was it when planted in 2005?

I wonder if this is one of those plants that might look better (bluer -grey) with a little stress meaning poor soil,less fertiliser,and minimal water.They do come from a harsh environment.

[PalmatierMeg]

Meg, thats a great looking palm.It does seem silvery.How large was it when planted in 2005?

I wonder if this is one of those plants that might look better (bluer -grey) with a little stress meaning poor soil,less fertiliser,and minimal water.They do come from a harsh environment.

I think it was about half this size. It has a definite silvery-blue hue and heavy textured leaves that make it stand out from all my other Coccothrinax. I treat it like the rest - no harsh treatment. Despite its thick leaves it seems more cold sensitive. I wouldn't know how to replicate serpentine soil and don't want to risk contaminating other plants in the garden. I also have a 3-strap leaf Copernicia cowellii that is native to serpentine soils; don't know whether it will make it or not. That thing makes P. ekmanii look like a rocket.

[Scott Cohen]

The biggest color killer for these guys is shade and stress. We had 6 in 10g that came in looking great, but the shady conditions and undersized pots caused them to lose there blue fast. I planted 3 out in full sun and 3 in shade, the sungrown group regained there color about a year later, while the shade group have yet to recupe. a little alkaline soil does not hurt either.

[Really full garden]

The biggest color killer for these guys is shade and stress. We had 6 in 10g that came in looking great, but the shady conditions and undersized pots caused them to lose there blue fast. I planted 3 out in full sun and 3 in shade, the sungrown group regained there color about a year later, while the shade group have yet to recupe. a little alkaline soil does not hurt either.

Scott, thanks thats great information.Mine get about 90% full sun and our soil(sand) is alkaline. I have found that all the Coccothrinax I have planted out - no matter how small- have grown much faster than their siblings. Also less chance to die from water logged pots.

[Palm Guy]

Hi Scott,

Your coccothrinax's look good. I do some silverish tinges in there. My bet is that it will take a while for it to show its true colors.

Cheers,

Mike

[Moose]

Mike Harris (Caribbean Palms) I believe has stated that they will get bluer as they mature. They also may be variable as to how blue. Surely he has some nice ones. Hey Mike, could grace this thread with some images?

Ron.

[Caribbean Palms]

From my own experience growing these I agree with

Meg, even though they have a thick hard leaf they seem more succeptible to cold than others with same type of leaf. Mine are still growing out of last winters effects.

Ron, they vary from a dusty green to blow yer mind metallicsilverblue in habitat. I've never seen one here come even close to the color of those growing in Cuba's serpentine soils.

Mine is 10 years old from seed of the plant below and has only shown faint signs of any silvercolor sporadically and not on every leaf.

The effects of winter and being kept in a small pot too long.

Momma at home in Camaguey, Cuba

[redant]

Wow, these will never be a common palm, we all don't live long enough to ever see one mature.

[The Germinator]

Good looking palm, I just picked up a baby from Poius. He sent me two so I put one in the ground. I hope it survives its first winter here in So-Cal.

[aztropic]

Wow, these will never be a common palm, we all don't live long enough to ever see one mature.

Actually not that slow ONCE the trunk diameter has established.I think mine has more than doubled its height over the last 5 years.It currently has 2 feet of burlap showing.

Second pic is the next generation,a com pot of them from the seed I collected in Cuba,sprouted June 2014.

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[Really full garden]

I had forgotten this thread.It is true these have picked up speed and are growing well with nice bluish color. I lost one of the three planted out.

This is a recent photo of the largest of the two.

[LJG]

Wow, nice job Scott. That is one of the few Azul's that is blue at that young age. I have one about that size and it is very silver underneath but still mostly green on top.

[Really full garden]

Wow, nice job Scott. That is one of the few Azul's that is blue at that young age. I have one about that size and it is very silver underneath but still mostly green on top.

Len, the smaller one just out of the photo is half the size and much greener.Both get the same sunlight,fertilizer etc.

[Gileno Machado]

Nicely grown azul, Scott

[Peter Pacific]

Beautiful palm Scott!

[Jdiaz31089]

How are all these palms doing now? Did anyone try one of these in CA?

[Palmaceae]

Here is my azul, been in the ground for a year and a half.

 

[Really full garden]

This is a somewhat recent photo. This palm just produced viable seeds.

[Neil C]

Amazing and clearly picks up speed with age.

Regards Neil