Brahea armata vs. Brahea clara

[freakypalmguy]

The "bluer than blue" thread had some discussion about whether B. armata and B. clara are one and the same, or is clara a hybrid, or a completely different Brahea, so I decided to have a look at my trees to see what differences I could find. One big difference between the two, is the speed at which they grow. B. clara is a very robust grower compared to B. armata. Another would be a flower comparison, but unfortunately none of mine have flowered yet. Bruce and Suzi's tree in Fallbrook, CA is the only large specimen that I know of that might be close to maturity. Then there are the visual differences, here are some shots I just took today for comparison, you be the judge.

2 B. armata doubles

[freakypalmguy]

Here are two of my B. clara

[freakypalmguy]

Here's my third clara that is more green and tends to be more rigid,

Here's a frond comparison,

B. armata

B. clara

[Nigel]

Very interesting photos, is Brahea clara supposed to be more tolerant of heat and humidity ?

I ask because I have some new seedlings, all my Brahea armatas died last summer.

[iamjv]

Nice comparison shots... I've only seen one clara and that was in Vegas, it had beautiful rich color like an armata but with droopy frond tips. Maybe it was a hybrid??? Jv

[iamjv]

Managed to find a picture of the stated Vegas Clara... in this shot you can compare an Armata on the left, to the Clara on the right! Really like the way this Clara looks! Jv

[freakypalmguy]

Nigel, I'm not sure of the B. clara's tolerance to humidity, hopefully someone can answer that question for you.

JV, that vegas clara is hot, very nice droopy form.

[wildpalm]

Thanks for the Brahea clarafication! (sorry but someone had to say this)

[Kailua_Krish]

Very interesting photos, is Brahea clara supposed to be more tolerant of heat and humidity ?

I ask because I have some new seedlings, all my Brahea armatas died last summer.

They have definitely been more tolerant here in Florida, I always loose armata seedlings but have lost only one clara.

-Krishna

[Tejastropicals]

I find B. clara 'Icy Blue' seedlings to be much more tolerant of hot humid conditions than B. armata and much more vigorous. The Icy Blue ( from RPS ) are as blue/silver if not more so than B. armata as seedlings.

[George Sparkman]

The differences in color,spines and leaf form are quite variable but B.armata flowers outside of the foliage and B.clara flowers inside the foliage. B.clara is much faster then B.armata.

Happy growing,

George Sparkman

Cycads-n-Palms.com

[Got Palms]

Managed to find a picture of the stated Vegas Clara... in this shot you can compare an Armata on the left, to the Clara on the right! Really like the way this Clara looks! Jv

WOW! don't have a clara but i want one or two now! Thanks for the pic JV!

[DoomsDave]

The differences in color,spines and leaf form are quite variable but B.armata flowers outside of the foliage and B.clara flowers inside the foliage. B.clara is much faster then B.armata.

Happy growing,

George Sparkman

Cycads-n-Palms.com

Practically any palm is!

:lol: :lol:

[Sutter Bob]

I'm still learning how to post photos but I'll try to attach a couple of shots of what a believe is a B. clara loaded with infructescences that I took last year here in Yuba City, CA.

[Kris]

Dear Matt

Beautiful visuals...And i must say the best coloured B.Clara is growing in our steve from so-cal's garden.

And matt if you meet steve kindly give him my regards and request him to interact in this forum.i know his intreast for yucca & agaves..but still guys like me miss him & his construction toturials.

And also thanks for those who have contributed lovely visuals in this thread.

Lots of love,

kris

[Nigel]

Matt ,thanks for the interesting post, and to the other guys for answering my question, very good news indeed !!

[Eric in Orlando]

Brahea clara tolerates the humid FL climate and grows well here while B. armata is susceptible to fungal spotting and does not thrive.

[Palm crazy]

One thing I noticed this year on Clara is it still likes or needs heat to grow fast. Last years growing season was hot and it really put out the leaves, but this years cool summer it hasn't grown much.

I can count on Armata to continue to grow a little over the winter with some spear growth, so I will see if that happens with Clara also. Clara leaves are much more wider and flatter than Armata I've noticed.

I like the droopy look to them.

Love all the photos you really can see the different in the two. To bad it's so hard to find at palm nurseries, (hint ) that have them for sale.

I feel pretty lucky just to have my little Clara.

I have noticed Clara is not as hardy and need daytime temps above freezing during the day, while Armata will pull through just fine. Armata 15F / Clara 18F-22F.

Edited September 21, 2010 by Palm crazy

[freakypalmguy]

Thanks for the Brahea clarafication! (sorry but someone had to say this)

Nice work wildpalm

[freakypalmguy]

The differences in color,spines and leaf form are quite variable but B.armata flowers outside of the foliage and B.clara flowers inside the foliage. B.clara is much faster then B.armata.

Happy growing,

George Sparkman

Cycads-n-Palms.com

Excellent, thank you George, are there any flowering in SoCal?

[freakypalmguy]

Dear Matt

Beautiful visuals...And i must say the best coloured B.Clara is growing in our steve from so-cal's garden.

And matt if you meet steve kindly give him my regards and request him to interact in this forum.i know his intreast for yucca & agaves..but still guys like me miss him & his construction toturials.

And also thanks for those who have contributed lovely visuals in this thread.

Lots of love,

kris

Hi Kris, I agree with you, Steve has some of the most beautiful claras. I miss his contributions here as well and haven't talked to him in a while, but I think his interests had turned to other hobbies, I'll have to go for a visit and see if I can talk him into paying us a visit here.

Take care,

Matt

[freakypalmguy]

I'm still learning how to post photos but I'll try to attach a couple of shots of what a believe is a B. clara loaded with infructescences that I took last year here in Yuba City, CA.

That is a beauty Bob, tons of droop to those leaflets.

[Kris]

Hi Kris, I agree with you, Steve has some of the most beautiful claras. I miss his contributions here as well and haven't talked to him in a while, but I think his interests had turned to other hobbies, I'll have to go for a visit and see if I can talk him into paying us a visit here.

Take care,

Matt

Thanks very much Dear Matt.

[PalmGuyWC]

Managed to find a picture of the stated Vegas Clara... in this shot you can compare an Armata on the left, to the Clara on the right! Really like the way this Clara looks! Jv

Jv,

I'm familiar with that particular B. Clara growing along the entrance to the Mirage Hotel parking garage. It's one of the nicest I've ever seen. Unless there is something new, the Mirage has the nicest palm display in Las Vegas.

Dick

[iamjv]

Dick that is exactly where it is and I totally agree with you that the Mirage has the best display of palms in Vegas. Jv

[Sutter Bob]

Another photo of the previously shown B. clara - this one taken this week. It's been tidied up a bit.

[Sutter Bob]

And another - a bit closer.

[freakypalmguy]

Gorgeous Bob, thank you for the updated pictures.

[edbrown_III]

I am enjoying the commentary and photos.

I have a small one here in Jax --- it has been in the ground since 1987---

Heres a foto --- it is acaulescnt maybe 2 foot of trunk.

Best regards

Ed

[Alicehunter2000]

More Brahea clara photo's anyone.........Is B. clara the most silver of the humidity tolorant Brahea's?

[Sabal Steve]

More Brahea clara photo's anyone.........Is B. clara the most silver of the humidity tolorant Brahea's?

David, have you looked into C. hospita?

[freakypalmguy]

One of my clara's has flowered two years in a row now and as George mentioned, the flowers are contained fully within the foliage. I'll try and get some pics tomorrow.

[Alicehunter2000]

Don't know if C. hospita would be hardy enough for me. Also there is the whole issue of humidity and wet winters here. Was thinking of Brahea's because if there is a cold hardy silver that can tolorate the humidity it might be a long term winner here.

[redbeard917]

David, I don't have an answer for you, but Brahea 'Super Silver' is another one to consider. Also, great pics everyone!

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Don't know if C. hospita would be hardy enough for me. Also there is the whole issue of humidity and wet winters here. Was thinking of Brahea's because if there is a cold hardy silver that can tolorate the humidity it might be a long term winner here.

Brahea Clara is a no-brainer for you, should do great. I heard of folks growing it all the way into south Carolina.

[Sutter Bob]

Here is one of the babies from the mother tree posted earlier.

[Sutter Bob]

Here it is:

[mjff]

I have several armatas and claras. B. armata is very cold hardy. I have a bunch that survived the 02/11 freeze undamaged.

I have several of these large claras, but they aren't very blue. Were actually sold as armata, but the fronds aren't stiff enough and there is no tomentum on their petioles. Trunks also look a little different.

This smaller clara is very blue, it easily matches the armata I have planted about 15' away.

[Kris]

hi mjff

are you sure that the palm seen in your first still is brahea ?

because it looks like copernica alba or livistonia species.

accepting the fact that iam no palm expert.but calling that palm a Brahea is bit hard to accept.

Even iam curious to know what that fan palm really is ?

love,

kris.

Edited November 25, 2013 by Kris

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

hi mjff

are you sure that the palm seen in your first still is brahea ?

because it looks like copernica alba or livistonia species.

accepting the fact that iam no palm expert.but calling that palm a Brahea is bit hard to accept.

Even iam curious to know what that fan palm really is ?

love,

kris.

That's a brahea allright. But your confusion is a reflection of the fact that brahea and copernicia are very closely related. One famous palm botanist even wrote that there is currently not enough scientific merit to keep them in different genera, that this is done out of tradition only.