Variegated Palms

[Phil]

Having recently read Matty B's attempts to get a variegated Howea in from Australia, I thought I'd throw out the topic.  Variegated plants are a whole thing to themselves.  Many people actively seek them out.  Some are fanatics.  Others say "ho hum".  For a nurserymen, spontaneous appearance of variegation is a good thing.  I've seen it with many species; from Nannorrhops to Pinanga to Veitchia.  If you grow a lot of plants, bingo, there's one.  It seems to be a spontaneous variant of some sort and sporadically appears.  There are those who canvas millions of palm seedlings just looking for the rare occurence of variegation.  In Rhapis, the extremes are met with many, many "varieties" with obscure Japanese names.  These are very sought after and very expensive.  In many species, the variegation is transient and eventually disappears.  Such is the case often seen in Howeas.  But, the craze goes on.  Are you a V-Freak?

Phil

[F Zipperbaum]

Put me in the 'I love variegated Palms" group.  Problem is that I can't ever seen to find any for sale!

[Walter John]

I was, but now I'm not so sure. My burnt variegated foxy lady has dampened my enthusiasm. Now if I planted it in shade, well that could be a different story.

[STEVE IN SO CAL]

I'm a variegate freak, just bought my first variegated palm, though...a dyp Baronii. Hopefully it stays variegated.

[Jeff Searle]

I have a beautiful 8' tall Caryota mitis in the yard. It's growing in full sun, and is extreamly fast. With the hurricane that blew over us last year, Caryoya's did not fair well at all. So, I'm hoping this one will grow up and should start seeding in 2 years. Maybe 3 at the most. My question is, will the seed all have varigation in it? Will some seed come up as green plants, what percentages, does anyone know? I sure don't. Yes, I'm still learning many things too.

Jeff

[Scott]

I'd have to have one to say for sure.... ???

[aussiearoids]

I am a big fan of Bromeliads , and there seems to be many variegates in this family . Usually there will be some variegates in a batch of seedlings , with carefull choice of the seed parent you can get a high percentage .

[Palmarum]

I am definetly a connoisseur of variegated palms. I am always on the lookout for then at sales, nurseries, etc. Even the tiniest line of variegation on a seedling will attract my attention. At palm sales I will look at every plant, for just such a reason. Often you have to obtain them from whoever is selling them before they realize its variegated. Otherwise it becomes part of their collection, or you have to pay quite a bit for it. I have one very nice variegated Rhapis, 'Chiyodazuru', and it very easy to grow. I have others that are not easy to grow, and require constant attention to keep alive.

- Here is Jeff's aforementioned Variegated Fishtail from his yard. This photo is not recent, it was taken over a year ago, and hence the palm has gotten quite larger and even more striking.

- Jeff Searle with his very nicely variegated fishtail. This photo still doesn't do the palm justice. The leaf bases have the most exquisite vertical stripes on them.

Ryan

[ariscott]

I have been told to post this pics. No.... it is not ours. It was growing in one of the open garden that we visited this year. I think he germinated 1000 grandis seeds and got 2 variegated - lost one.... so he only got one left.

Very special and very worth the effort!! He put in the chook pen to keep it in... I can imagine how many people would try to nick it.

Regards, Ari

[ariscott]

one more

[Urban Rainforest]

Those Variegated palms are SO beautifull! I especially like the  Caryota Mitas WOW! Have to get me one. Steve

[Scott]

Ryan,

That Variegated Fishtail is really incredible. I think your converting me to variegated.

Jeff's variegated shirt is very appropriate here.

Variegated palms seem to me to be very delicate and sun sensitive, am I wrong? ???

Thanks for sharing the nice pics!

[Palmarum]

  Quote

Variegated palms seem to me to be very delicate and sun sensitive, am I wrong? ???

Many of them will be, since the variegated areas of the leaf can not process sunlight, and will burn easy. However, the variegated Fishtail pictured above, is growing in near full sun, and does fine. It is a real gamble, based on trial and error, raising plants that normally would never survive well in the wild. Always start them in shade, and only move them into more light carefully.

Ryan

[bgl]

Ari,

That's definitely a very spectacular Licuala!!

Jeff,

That's a great looking C. mitis (and Ryan, thanks for posting the pics!). I wonder if it's a sister plant of the one I have? Mine is about the same size. It came from Floribunda in March 2003 as 1G plant. Here's a full view, taken moments ago.

Bo-Göran

[bgl]

And a close-up of some of the leaflets. What I find interesting is the variability between how they look.

[bgl]

And here's a Rhapis excelsa. About 90% of the leaflets are just plain green, while the remaining 10% or so are variegated, again with a lot of variability.

[bgl]

Here's one frond on the same R. excelsa

[bgl]

And another one

[DoomsDave]

Not a palm, but some bamboo, at our SCPS meet today, down in Fallbrook, valley so looowwww

dave

[DoomsDave]

And a close-up

[Jeff Searle]

(Palmarum @ Nov. 18 2006,15:53)

QUOTE

I am definetly a connoisseur of variegated palms. I am always on the lookout for then at sales, nurseries, etc. Even the tiniest line of variegation on a seedling will attract my attention. At palm sales I will look at every plant, for just such a reason. Often you have to obtain them from whoever is selling them before they realize its variegated. Otherwise it becomes part of their collection, or you have to pay quite a bit for it. I have one very nice variegated Rhapis, 'Chiyodazuru', and it very easy to grow. I have others that are not easy to grow, and require constant attention to keep alive.

- Here is Jeff's aforementioned Variegated Fishtail from his yard. This photo is not recent, it was taken over a year ago, and hence the palm has gotten quite larger and even more striking.

- Jeff Searle with his very nicely variegated fishtail. This photo still doesn't do the palm justice. The leaf bases have the most exquisite vertical stripes on them.

Ryan

Ryan,

    Was there a party going on in the yard that night?    Wonder what was in that cup. By the smile on my face, I guess I was feeling pretty good. Oh well, CHEERS!

 I will post an updated pic. of the varig. Caryota this week.

    Jeff

[BS Man about Palms]

(STEVE IN SO CAL @ Nov. 18 2006,07:01)

QUOTE

I'm a variegate freak, just bought my first variegated palm, though...a dyp Baronii. Hopefully it stays variegated.

I saw that baby Steve, I hope you put it in a nice shady spot to keep it happy....

PS- Thanks again for lunch today!

[BS Man about Palms]

I luv Variegated Palms and heres one of my favs from the old board.  A CIDP

[BS Man about Palms]

And if it gets on, a Foxy lady I saw in Ventura earlier this year.

[MattyB]

Pogobob has two mature foxy ladies right next to each other in full sun.  The variegated looks tattered (from the sun I assume), and the green one looks beautiful. I suspect the damage would be worse if Bob was farther inland.  He's within a mile of the ocean.  

Here's the pic.  Variegated and burned on the left, green and nice on the right.

[tikitiki]

My foxy lady burns as well but I still love it. It is pushing fronds like mad. I do not know what I like better the fronds or crown shaft.

[Walter John]

Here's a couple of underneath photos of my variegated foxy lady taken this morning.

[Jeff Searle]

(tikitiki @ Nov. 20 2006,14:58)

QUOTE

My foxy lady burns as well but I still love it. It is pushing fronds like mad. I do not know what I like better the fronds or crown shaft.

Tikitiki,

     Love the close-up of the crownshaft. I think thats the best coloring I'v seen yet.

   Jeff

[Zac in NC]

Wow. Beautiful palms. Ari- I had seen that one as your avatar on that other site, but never the full sized pics. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zac