Licuala peltata

[Jim in Los Altos]

Another surprise this very cool Spring/Summer is the growth of one of my two Licuala in the ground since 2005. I normally get three leaves per year and that's what I'm getting this year too. Each new leaf is slightly larger than the one before it so i'm looking forward do what it produces over the next few years. My shoe for scale is a size 10 1/2.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Growing behind the Licuala is a three year old red stem Hyophorbe indica that looks its best this time of year after the spotted winter leaves have been replaced with healthy ones.

[peachy]

Jim the Licuala elegans grow very well here as long as they get a bit of sun and the frost is kept off them. Mine have bigger leaves than yours and have been in the ground for 3 years. My H.indica gets ratty and spotty in winter but takes off in summer. Mine is a bit taller than yours, planted as a 30cm seedling 2 years ago, and is a fast grower here. Licuala grandis was my big suprise, had them 3 years now and all the experts said they wouldnt last the first winter, but they did. I wish I could get irisines to look as nice as yours do. I just planted a few more of my beloved Hydrangeas....yes I am a glutton for punishment but I adore them so much.

Peachy

[Jim in Los Altos]

Jim the Licuala elegans grow very well here as long as they get a bit of sun and the frost is kept off them. Mine have bigger leaves than yours and have been in the ground for 3 years. My H.indica gets ratty and spotty in winter but takes off in summer. Mine is a bit taller than yours, planted as a 30cm seedling 2 years ago, and is a fast grower here. Licuala grandis was my big suprise, had them 3 years now and all the experts said they wouldnt last the first winter, but they did. I wish I could get irisines to look as nice as yours do. I just planted a few more of my beloved Hydrangeas....yes I am a glutton for punishment but I adore them so much.

Peachy

Peachy, I definitely think you have better growing conditions for the more tropical species than I do. It will take a few years for my Licuala to get what I would consider big leaves because it's almost not warm enough here for it to grow at all but it's planted in a nice microclimate. Hydrangeas and fuchsias probably are easier to grow here because of the coolness I'm guessing. Iresine is practically a weed in my garden but I love it so much I have it planted in several places.

[Patrick]

Awesome!

I am a little bit envious......

[quaman58]

Just amazed Jim. I would have assumed the pathetic growth on mine here is based on lack of warmth. Obviously not. Well done, looks awesome!

Bret

[Jim in Los Altos]

Just amazed Jim. I would have assumed the pathetic growth on mine here is based on lack of warmth. Obviously not. Well done, looks awesome!

Bret

Bret, There's a MUCH smaller one growing to its right a couple of feet that was planted at the same time and was the same size at planting time a few years ago. With marginal species, I usually buy several in the hopes that one or two will be somewhat vigorous. I originally had ten Licuala peltata and seven lived (but didn't grow) for three years before dying. I still have one that's tiny and still potted, the small one that's next to the one in the picture, and the one in the picture that's doing so well so far. Having the right gene's is important.

[mcwolf]

Hi Jim,

that's quite encouraging to hear that you selected the strongest of almost a dozen of seedlings. I guess most of us are just to sparse to keep trying this many for selection. I've got 2 peltata seedlings and can't wait to put them in ground. Probably in 2015 or so...

You are big motivation and keep everyone pushing in even warmer climates to keep up with your benchmarks.

Good stuff and enjoy your jungle,

Wolfe

[industrio7]

How much sun should the sumawongiis get? I've read that they are more resilient and grow faster when they receive some sun instead of complete shade, even at a younger age. So I've placed my 1 gallons under a partial canopy with the plants receiving minimally dampled direct sun for 1-3 hours in the early afternoon and then warm shade for the rest of the day. I live on a south facing slope in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. No burn yet but it's only been 2 months. Anybody with experience here in SoCal wanna share their secrets?

[Walter John]

Great palm, give it sunshine and protection, somehow.

[MattyB]

Jim,

I wonder if the fact that it's L. peltata and not the 'sumawongii' version is the reason it's doing so well. L. peltata 'sumawongii' are very very fickle even in SoCal. It looks great, nice work man!

Industrio,

I think you're on to something. I've always believed that giving the plants the most sun they can tolerate without sun burning them results in optimum health and faster growth. Some of the growth rates of my plants have been astonishing, and I chalk it up to the long hours of sun they've been receiving on my exposed hillside. It's especially impressive when you consider how poor my soil is and how little I fertilize; it's gotta be the sun. Not only is the sun driving photosynthesis, but sun equals warmth, equals growth.

[BS Man about Palms]

Just amazed Jim. I would have assumed the pathetic growth on mine here is based on lack of warmth. Obviously not. Well done, looks awesome!

Bret

. Having the right gene's is important.

I have been a big believer in this for several years now. ONE or TWO plant deaths of a species at a location, DOES NOT mean it will not necessarily live there!

Looking good!

[Jim in Los Altos]

Jim,

I wonder if the fact that it's L. peltata and not the 'sumawongii' version is the reason it's doing so well. L. peltata 'sumawongii' are very very fickle even in SoCal. It looks great, nice work man!

Industrio,

I think you're on to something. I've always believed that giving the plants the most sun they can tolerate without sun burning them results in optimum health and faster growth. Some of the growth rates of my plants have been astonishing, and I chalk it up to the long hours of sun they've been receiving on my exposed hillside. It's especially impressive when you consider how poor my soil is and how little I fertilize; it's gotta be the sun. Not only is the sun driving photosynthesis, but sun equals warmth, equals growth.

Matt,

All my Licuala were marked L. peltata 'sumawongii' but you may be right in that it appears to be regular peltata with its partially split leaves. Do sumawongii leaves ever split at all?

[industrio7]

Matt,

I completely agree that sun hardening a palm as much as tolerated is a good thing, at least in SoCal where out humidity is relatively low and our growing conditions are different compared to our friends in Fla or HI. Hopefully the dry sun exposure will thicken the exterior cell walls of the leaves and will in turn make them more resilient to temperature fluctuations. Let's hope I'm right for the sake of my sumawongiis and ramsayis...

[Palms1984]

Another surprise this very cool Spring/Summer is the growth of one of my two Licuala in the ground since 2005. I normally get three leaves per year and that's what I'm getting this year too. Each new leaf is slightly larger than the one before it so i'm looking forward do what it produces over the next few years. My shoe for scale is a size 10 1/2.

Jim:

Your Licuala peltata 'Sumawongii' palms are looking great!

Last year I had 4 fronds open on my palm...however, this year it has slowed down. It's only just starting to open its third frond this year. My palm always carries many fronds just like your Licuala peltata 'Sumawongii' (without split fronds though). The fronds have more than doubled in size since last year on my palm too.

Have you ever thought about growing L. ramsayi or spinosa? - they are suppose to be pretty hardy also. I've seen some nice specimens growing here in San Diego.

Edited December 2, 2010 by Palms1984

[ariscott]

Licuala peltata 'Sumawongii' leaves do split when they are not protected from the wind. As far as I know... Licuala peltata has narrower leaflets. I hope Mikey can chime in, as he should know. I have 2 normal L. peltata, unless they are not what they said they are....

Regards, Ari

[calyptrocalyx&licuala freck]

Licuala peltata 'Sumawongii' leaves do split when they are not protected from the wind. As far as I know... Licuala peltata has narrower leaflets. I hope Mikey can chime in, as he should know. I have 2 normal L. peltata, unless they are not what they said they are....

Regards, Ari

Hi Ari,

Spot on,hey Ari

if ya want I can get you stuff if you want me to get you stuff .... Pm me how much ya want to spend...

Edited December 2, 2010 by calyptrocalyx&licuala freck

[aussiearoids]

I got a few 'split leaf elegans' from Mark Daish recently .

Will get Mikey to have a look at it when he comes down tomorrow .

[Palms1984]

Here's my Licuala peltata 'Sumawongii' (I took the photo this afternoon), it's about 3ft/1m tall and the largest fronds are about 30in/76cm wide. It's holding 7 fronds, and has a new frond pushing up. I cut 2 fronds off a couple of weeks ago, even though they probably didn't absolutely need to be cut.

Does anyone know how I can green this palm up? Even though it has been a good grower for me it never looks really green. I've given it ironite, chelated 16-16-16 fertilizer, fish emulsion and even Super Thrive. Nothing seems to help!

Edited December 3, 2010 by Palms1984