Clumping Livistona chinensis

[Jim in Los Altos]

Here's a Livistona chinensis that I planted in my front yard in July of 1990 as a one gallon plant. It started clumping a couple of years later and is starting a new fourth trunk now. The plant is huge but only just beginning to trunk. I posted this palm in 2006 I think but it has grown considerably since then. It's in almost full shade all day.

Fourth stem emerging.

Fourth stem has actually been slowly pushing for a few years.

[Kailua_Krish]

Thats crazy! I didnt think Livistona could clump!

-Krishna

[tikitiki]

My guess is it is a seed that has taken forever to germinate and is fighting for its life against its bigger brothers.

[Jim in Los Altos]

My guess is it is a seed that has taken forever to germinate and is fighting for its life against its bigger brothers.

That would be a fair conclusion except that this palm has been in the ground for 20 years and there's not another Livistona within miles of this one that I know of. The new stem is definitely coming out of the established one's trunk. Also, this palm has not flowered yet.

[Palms1984]

Jim in Los Altos:

Incredible clumping Livistona chinensis! It amazes me how slowly they grow. I just discovered two 20+ foot/ 6.1+ meters tall Livistona chinensis growing at the Holiday Inn next to the San Diego County Building in Downtown. They were also in full fruit. I can't imagine how old these trees are...maybe 50 years? I assume this palm doesn't grow much faster than in Los Altos...possibly one extra frond per year in San Diego?

Edited April 11, 2010 by Palms1984

[Rafael]

I have a 4 mts tall livistona chinensis.

You can see it just here: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=22794

[Palms1984]

I have a 4 mts tall livistona chinensis.

You can see it just here: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=22794

How old is your Livistona chinensis?

[Rafael]

I have a 4 mts tall livistona chinensis.

You can see it just here: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=22794

How old is your Livistona chinensis?

I bought it one month ago.

I have no idea about its age.

[paulgila]

it looks lke its "clumping" right out of the side of the plant in the 3rd pic.is that true?

[Kathryn]

It amazes me how slowly they grow. I just discovered two 20+ foot/ 6.1+ meters tall Livistona chinensis growing at the Holiday Inn next to the San Diego County Building in Downtown. They were also in full fruit. I can't imagine how old these trees are...maybe 50 years? I assume this palm doesn't grow much faster than in Los Altos...possibly one extra frond per year in San Diego?

Wow that's some slow growth! I planted three in from a 3 gallon pot about 10 years ago and all three have six to ten feet of trunk. I haven't officially tracked the leaf production, but I would guess they put out 15 to 20 per year here.

I'm no expert, but I doubt a Livistona chinensis can clump. The additional trunks must be from seed that was already in the pot when planted.

[paulgila]

there is a disease which causes them to become "multi-headed" that affects l.chinensis fairly frequently here in socal,maybe your palm is starting to get it...

[rozpalm]

One of my small ones (ie no wood and about the same size as the op's) exhibits this characteristic.

[Palms1984]

It amazes me how slowly they grow. I just discovered two 20+ foot/ 6.1+ meters tall Livistona chinensis growing at the Holiday Inn next to the San Diego County Building in Downtown. They were also in full fruit. I can't imagine how old these trees are...maybe 50 years? I assume this palm doesn't grow much faster than in Los Altos...possibly one extra frond per year in San Diego?

Wow that's some slow growth! I planted three in from a 3 gallon pot about 10 years ago and all three have six to ten feet of trunk. I haven't officially tracked the leaf production, but I would guess they put out 15 to 20 per year here.

I'm no expert, but I doubt a Livistona chinensis can clump. The additional trunks must be from seed that was already in the pot when planted.

I've always read Livistona chinensis grows slowly...even in the tropics. You must have some good soil and give them a lot of fertilizer.

[Jim in Los Altos]

It amazes me how slowly they grow. I just discovered two 20+ foot/ 6.1+ meters tall Livistona chinensis growing at the Holiday Inn next to the San Diego County Building in Downtown. They were also in full fruit. I can't imagine how old these trees are...maybe 50 years? I assume this palm doesn't grow much faster than in Los Altos...possibly one extra frond per year in San Diego?

Wow that's some slow growth! I planted three in from a 3 gallon pot about 10 years ago and all three have six to ten feet of trunk. I haven't officially tracked the leaf production, but I would guess they put out 15 to 20 per year here.

I'm no expert, but I doubt a Livistona chinensis can clump. The additional trunks must be from seed that was already in the pot when planted.

Nope, Kathryn. This palm has been in the ground 20 years so that wouldn't be possible. When I bought this palm, it had one stem. Then after being in the ground three or four years, the second stem appeared and a year later number three popped out of the side of the first stem. Number four is definitely originating from the existing trunk a couple of inches above the actual soil line.

[Tampa Scott]

I have never thought of L. chinensis as a slow grower. Here is a picture of mine planted 11 yrs ago from a 3 gal pot. Clear trunk of at least 12'.

[paulgila]

Nope, Kathryn. This palm has been in the ground 20 years so that wouldn't be possible. When I bought this palm, it had one stem. Then after being in the ground three or four years, the second stem appeared and a year later number three popped out of the side of the first stem. Number four is definitely originating from the existing trunk a couple of inches above the actual soil line.