Greatest latitude Royal Palm

[bubba]

A topic in Freeze Damage pertains to discussions primarily regarding Florida Royals and their greatest latitude.Most likely, that is near Daytona at 29 degrees North plus. I know numerous specimens are easily surviving in California at latitudes of atleast 34 degrees North.In Europe, I have read about and seen photographs of specimens in Gibraltar(36/11 North), Malaga(36/43 North),Allicante(38/20 North)and perhaps Lisbon,Portugal(38/43 North).

That leaves out the other usual suspects like Australia,South Africa, Greece and points further North in California. Any reports beyond those confirmed in Allicante,Spain at 38/20 North?

[Miccles]

Hi - I have two royals here in Melbourne, Southern Australia...at 38/10 South.

The R.Borinquena has been planted out since last Oct and is 2m tall (no trunk). It is due to face up to its first winter here....which while not being downright "cold", will be an extended cool period. I have heard that this species handles extended cool periods the best of the Royals, so it will be a good test.

I also have had a R.Regia for 3 years, and it is still in a pot. It is 2.5m tall, just beginning to trunk and has really fattened up. I will plant it out next Spring (September).

Regards

Michael.

[Tyrone]

R regia, R oleracea and R borinquena at 32S all doing fine. Probably not at there limit though where I am. Here on the west coast I'd say the limit for R regia would be around 34.5S around the Margaret River winery area in a warm protected spot although I've never seen one south of Baldivis just south of Perth.

Best regards

Tyrone

[bubba]

Miccles, Does not Melbourne have a world class Botantical Garden? Are there any large specimens grown in that Garden?

What about California? Any large specimens far North in a micro-climate?

What about Europe? Any truth to a large specimen in Lisbon, Portugal? Any further North in Barcelona or Valencia?

What about New Zealand, Tazmania or South Africa?

[happ]

Good question, bubba. My experience with R. regia is that it is much more cold hardy than I had initially assumed. I thought it would be too arid here but with regular summer irrigation it seems to be perfectly happy even after periods of strong wind & sustained cool weather. There are royals in Ventura & Santa Barbara at nearly 35N latitude. San Jose is over 37N & I wouldn't be too surprised if royals can grow & look ok there.

[mlovecan]

Hi Bubba,

I'm at 36deg 05'.

My R Regia has really taken off this year and gone from about 5 feet to over 12 feet tall.

I added two small R. Princeps last year and they are both growing well through the winter ( although this winter was quite exceptional with lows generally in the 12 degree range ).

There definitely are mature Royals in Malaga Spain at 36deg 49'.

Regards

Maurice

[richnorm]

Miccles, Does not Melbourne have a world class Botantical Garden? Are there any large specimens grown in that Garden?

What about California? Any large specimens far North in a micro-climate?

What about Europe? Any truth to a large specimen in Lisbon, Portugal? Any further North in Barcelona or Valencia?

What about New Zealand, Tazmania or South Africa?

There are trunking Roystonea in NZ but they are far from being an easy grow! I have heard of a plant growing for several years in the Bay of Plenty which would be approx 38 South.

[Miccles]

Miccles, Does not Melbourne have a world class Botantical Garden? Are there any large specimens grown in that Garden?

What about California? Any large specimens far North in a micro-climate?

What about Europe? Any truth to a large specimen in Lisbon, Portugal? Any further North in Barcelona or Valencia?

What about New Zealand, Tazmania or South Africa?

Hi Bubba,

Melbourne does have a pretty decent botanic garden, located not far from the city center.

http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/

The gardens are well over 100 years old, are there are some huge trees there. As far as palms go, there are very large Phoenix (CIDP, Reclinata (some of these were planted by royalty in 1905 I believe), Dwarf date etc), as well as nice Archontophoenix, Butia, Kentia's and Livistona's. They also have the best Hedyscepe I've ever seen. No royals though. The staff have been a little conservative with the palms they are growing - with a bit of careful planning, they could easily grow many more species I am sure. I bet they could grow Sabals, many Dypsis species, some Ravenea if they wanted to.

But palms are just a small part of the gardens, given our temperate climate here. There is a large focus on other temperate plants/trees from around the globe.

Regards

Michael.

[DoomsDave]

I'll bet if you found a perfect microclimate, you could get a royal to grow up around Sam Frank's Disco . . . . .

[bubba]

I have confirmation on Royals at Lisbon, Portugal at 38 degrees North 43 minutes. Trying to find some High digit Northern Californian micro-climates with Royals to rival leader in the clubhouse.

[Mark_NoVA]

The answer to this type of question always seems to be somewhere in coastal Western Europe! It would be really surprising & interesting if it wasn't....

[Tyrone]

I've just been going through the pictures on my phone and I came across these pictures of a beautiful Royal at Perth Zoo. This one would be maybe 14-15 years old and what got me thinking that these grow here really well. I couldn't believe it when I saw it for the first time about 8 years ago. I had to have one then. It's grown a ton since then. Back 8 years ago I could reach it's crownshaft. Not now.

Also the second photos are from the top of the waterfall in the rainforest walk at Perth Zoo, which is OK, but not a patch on a real rainforest, or even how it looked when they first opened the rainforest exhibit. Still it's a nice atmosphere amongst the trees.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Bill Schmidt]

The answer to this type of question always seems to be somewhere in coastal Western Europe! It would be really surprising & interesting if it wasn't....

This is because NW Europe is on an eastern oceanic boundary current, which moderates the winter temps. Similar locations (already mentioned) are SW Africa, SW America, SW Australia, and NW America.

This concludes today's oceanography lesson.

Best regards,

Bill

[edbrown_III]

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=22498

I hope this isnt wheere the Royals you are talking about live.

Bummer all this cold the palm areas are enduring ---

Best regards

Ed

[Tyrone]

The answer to this type of question always seems to be somewhere in coastal Western Europe! It would be really surprising & interesting if it wasn't....

This is because NW Europe is on an eastern oceanic boundary current, which moderates the winter temps. Similar locations (already mentioned) are SW Africa, SW America, SW Australia, and NW America.

This concludes today's oceanography lesson.

Best regards,

Bill

I would have said that you would grow a Roystonea further south in south eastern Australia than SW Australia but maybe that is for other reasons. SW Oz only goes as far as 35.5S whereas SE Oz goes down to 39S. At 34.5S on the west coast the weather is strongly influenced by the southern ocean instead of the Indian Ocean mainly. On the east coast at 34.5S it's still strongly controlled by the Pacific and the strong currents running down the east coast from the tropics. That strong southern ocean influence is why here on the west coast there is a dramatic difference in temperature and climate between Albany on the south coast and Perth on the west coast, yet they are only 400km (250miles) apart. Going north the same distance up the west coast from Perth and there is about a 1C difference in the warmer direction vs about a 5-10C difference in the cooler direction going south to Albany.

Best regards

Tyrone

[NBTX11]

How about Galveston TX 29+ N. (Outside of the 30-50 yr freeze of course). I wonder how those Houston Royals that someone posted did this winter.

[philinsydney]

There's one in the Sydney botanic gardens at 34S

[philinsydney]

....but it is painfully slow growing

[CoconutFreak]

I have seen a number of Royals, here in the Sydney and Central Coast region.

[Palms1984]

Royal Palms have become quite common in San Diego, CA. I've seen many hundreds throughout the neighborhoods over the years. Of course, some of the very large trees are located in the older neighborhoods and at the San Diego Zoo and in Balboa Park. The oldest tree I know of is growing in Normal Heights...which was planted around 1948 according to an old Palm Journal.

I have hundred of photos of these trees...sizes range from 10 to 55 feet tall.

[bubba]

Pursuant to Epic's advise, I posted this question on Cloudforest Cafe to get imput from potential California specimens in Northern California.I received an answer from Axel, who appears very knowledgable. His belief was that the greatest latitude in California would be 37 North.

Still looking for anyplace that can best Lisbon,Portugal at 38/43.

[Randy]

I would LOVE to be able to grow a healthy specimen roystonia regia in sunny Phoenix! Although our winter this year has been mild, the occasional hard freezes would probably turn it to mush. Besides, they aren't available at a local nursery!

[Cristóbal]

you can grow roystonea regia in phoenix. i see fotos before in palmtalk of royals there.

in this last week i see some roystonea regia in san luis colorado, sonora state. this is on the border of yuma arizona usa.

[John in Andalucia]

I heard today from the botanic garden in Portugal, who are quite excited at the news. The exact location of their Roystonia regia is: 09º 25' 20,645'' W 38º 47' 35,535'' N

I've requested a photo later in the year, to keep the topic current.

[bubba]

John, Thank you for your imput and that Garden should be quite proud!

[Kostas]

I am growing a Roystonea oleracea at 37 40'N but it just passed its first winter in the ground as a 2 leaf seedling(without damage after -1C or a little more) so its not certain if it will live long term or not. As Maurice said,this winter was relatively mild for us although cool and prolonged for Pyrgos...

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

I'll bet if you found a perfect microclimate, you could get a royal to grow up around Sam Frank's Disco . . . . .

Thats " Sam Clam's Disco "

As in " I left my harp, in Sam Clam's Disco "

Anyway... I have heard of a couple of Royals ... " Hanging on " in thee San Joaquin valley.

One famous Royal was growing in Patterson , Ca for years... freeze back... then recover....fineally croaking after 5 years.

Jeff

[Xerarch]

I would LOVE to be able to grow a healthy specimen roystonia regia in sunny Phoenix! Although our winter this year has been mild, the occasional hard freezes would probably turn it to mush. Besides, they aren't available at a local nursery!

You have seen the huge one growing unprotected at the state capital right? There is another large one on 43rd ave just south of Olive in a neighborhood. I posted a picture of the one at the captital a while back. Not sure if you saw it or not.

[DoomsDave]

There's one in Indio, right off Route 111, so they're not afraid of the desert . . . .