Copernicia alba

[Alicehunter2000]

This just showed up on my possibilities radar and I was wondering, is anyone growing this in 9a.......if so, could you please show me some pictures. Any experiences to share about this species.........thanks.

[Kris]

Dear David

My C.Alba is growing terrefic in my hot climatic condition,here is a old still of our's growing in roof top garden.And by the way the seeds were gift from joseph for the IPS membership.

By the way the above palm has grown in leaps & bound,i will have to take those stills soon and update the C.Alba maintanence thread ?

Love,

kris

[Austinpalm]

David,

Go to the link below and scroll to near the bottom. There is a picture of a C. alba here in Austin. Been there for several years. I believe is was protected during the really cold stuff in 89 and has done well since. A description of the pictures will be seen as you put your cursor over the picture. The palm is located in north Austin which has been a very warm 8b to solid 9a. Hope this helps.

http://www.palmsocietysouthtexas.org/meeti...PSST_Aug07.html

[floridagrower]

You can grow the Wax palm there in PC. Fair warning though, they are often mislabeled.

[anthrome]

It is native to South America, occurring naturally in parts of eastern Bolivia, Paraguay, N Argentina and SE Brazil. It can be found most commonly in monsoonal savannas. It is also called caranday palms. It can grow up to 100 feet tall in its natural habitat. Of all species in this genus C. alba is the most hardy to cold. Adaptable to 9b through 11. Protected specimens can be grown in 9a. Adapts to a range of soils. It is considered to be the fastest growing and tallest of all Copernicia spp.

[Alicehunter2000]

Thanks everyone for the information.

[Mark Heath]

They'll do just fine where you live David!! We had a 9a winter last year and all of mine had zero damage!

[Alicehunter2000]

Wow! nice gardens there in Austin.....are those waterfalls man-made? Unbelievable.

[FRITO]

David,

Definently one for you to grow in PC. I obtained a smaller 7 gallon that had a bud rot this year (late onset spear pull) but I treated it , it push out 3 funky fronds and has resumed to normal vigor now.

I left it out on night in the mid to upper 20's but I believe I brought it in when I recorded 21.6. in the ground and established this one shoud be good to go for our climate.(9a)

a small specimen will need some protection the first couple years from the few coldest nights a year, but after that- these are so vigorous and seem to like our climate for the most part.

from what I have researched full sun and wet feet make it happiest. maybe a seasonally wet/dry soil works well also but we are pretty evenly moist year round here in north florida.

EDIT:

There is a Copernicia alba at the Kanapaha Botanical gardenin Gainesville, FL.

here is a photo:

Edited November 4, 2009 by FRITO

[Alicehunter2000]

That's a nice picture from Gainsville. If they can grow one....you are right.....It can probably be grown here.

Wet feet and full sun.........I've got just the place.

[plamfrong]

I saw one growing in a pond in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Let's see if I can attach a pic.

[Gallop]

Alicehuntter, you should'nt have any problem w/ C alba I have 4 and they're doing great. I also have 2 D deciepins,P sargantti and a D pemba that's 10 to 12' tall and they all haven't been fazed 'surprisingly' by the the temps in Pensacola FL esp. the Pemba this has been one robust grower for me. I'd call them winners for sure, I have many other marginal palms that have been in the ground now for about 6 to 8 months, we'll see how they fair this winter.

Respectfully,

Gallop

[Lowey]

I saw one growing in a pond in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Let's see if I can attach a pic.

Now thats what I call "wet feet" slow but a beautiful spieces

[Kris]

Dear Clay

Thanks for that lovely images rich link...very nice !

love,

kris

[Alicehunter2000]

Cool Gallup.......can you post any pics. Those are three that I need to try also. I've got several Bizmarkia's in the ground to test there cold tolorance also.....so far ---so good at around 25 degrees F. ......unfazed last year.

Plamfrong........wow! that is really wet feet......ok....along with A. wrightii....this will definately go into the ground here in P.C.

[DoomsDave]

From one Dave to Another . . . .

I've got a C. alba, and it's growing well, here in the Land O'La Ha, but:

It's a thorny [expletive} if you have to weed near it. The spines even pierce those hard-rubber proctology gloves . . . . .

They're a bit slow, but they don't seem bothered by the cold.

[edbrown_III]

Howdy Dave,

To add to what Mark, Daves, Frito Kris, and others mentioned I grow them here in Jax --- I have 2 one in the front is very silvery blue-- over 10 years --- maybe 8 feet tall or so. D. decipiens I lost all the times I tried -

Best regards

Ed

[Davidl]

Heres one that seen 30 with frost with no damage. Im sure it gets colder there but I think they will take lower 20s

[Kris]

Here is a recent still taken just before the commencement of our rainy season !

Love,

kris