Info on Raphia Australis (and a couple of other palms)

[basilios]

Hey guys

If you have some experience with a) Raphia Australis, b ) Allagoptera caudescens and c) Pseudophoenix sargentii, could you share your view on their cold/cool tolerance and their general chance in a climate like mine?

Some of the "marginal" palms that survive succesfully (at least so far) in my place include roystonea regia, wodyetia, sabal mauritiformis, thrinax radiata, dypsis decaryi, archonto myolensis, chambeyronia, kentia, syagrus picrophylla, areca triandra (with some winter damage) and a few more. But I have also lost bismarkia, medemia, hyphaene and other heat loving palms...

Thanks!

Edited May 25, 2011 by basilios

[Walter John]

I have Raphia Australis and it takes cooler weather, not frosty, and likes to have wet feet

[basilios]

Thanks Wal...anyone else?

[Tyrone]

I have all 3 here, and yes R australis is exactly as Wal says. Cool tolerant and loves wet feet. The wetter and warmer you get it the quicker and bigger it grows. A caudescens is quite cold tolerant. I have a small seedling which breezes through winter like a Ceroxylon, and a big one I picked up last year that had been neglected and forgotten about for a decade in a colder area than mine and has since gone nuts. It opened a new leaf in a cold front we got on Friday. P sargentii I only have as seedlings, but they seem fine though very slow. The main thing for them appears to be good drainage and good bright sunlight. If you're growing Roystoneas and Arecas even with some winter damage I'd definitely try those three.

Best regards

Tyrone

[basilios]

Good info Tyrone. But I should add that our winters are definitely cooler than yours in Perth, and it's quite common to go from early December to early March with daytime highs steadily below 18C (with the possible exception of a few warmer days in between). We will also get some really cold days, with daytime highs below 10C, even if nightime temps usually won't drop below zero. Can these palms handle such conditions?

[Pedro 65]

Basilios, we are growing inground 3 Raphias. Australis,Farinifera and Vinifera. A total of 7, they are planted at the edges of our both dams and a few in very wet areas on the property. we live in the cool subtropics and our winters nights get cold, this doesnt bother ANY of the above but they ALL have a permanent water source which they relish. Raphias are very colourful palms and deserve wider planting. I will post this and now go take some pics. Happy Growing. Pete

[Pedro 65]

Basilios, we are growing inground 3 Raphia Sp. Australis,Farinifera and Vinifera. A total of 7, they are planted at the edges of our both dams and a few in very wet areas on the property. we live in the cool subtropics and our winters nights get cold, this doesnt bother ANY of the above but they ALL have a permanent water source which they relish. Raphias are very colourful palms and deserve wider planting. I will post this and now go take some pics. Happy Growing. Pete

A Few Pics as promised.Pete

Raphia Australis(need to get in and tidy up this area)

Raph Aust and to the right young Vinifera( The Australis is larger than it looks)

Colourful Rachis of Vinifera, All Raphias have great colour

Raphia Farinifera(Fronds not as erect as Australis ,this takes up a Lot of room

Edited May 26, 2011 by Pedro 65

[Pedro 65]

Basilios, we are growing inground 3 Raphia Sp. Australis,Farinifera and Vinifera. A total of 7, they are planted at the edges of our both dams and a few in very wet areas on the property. we live in the cool subtropics and our winters nights get cold, this doesnt bother ANY of the above but they ALL have a permanent water source which they relish. Raphias are very colourful palms and deserve wider planting. I will post this and now go take some pics. Happy Growing. Pete

A Few Pics as promised.Pete

Raphia Australis(need to get in and tidy up this area)

Raph Aust and to the right young Vinifera( The Australis is larger than it looks)

Colourful Rachis of Vinifera, All Raphias have great colour

Raphia Farinifera(Fronds not as erect as Australis ,this takes up a Lot of room

When planted to compete it goes up up up( Couldnt get the top in pic)

[basilios]

Wow, these are gorgeous palms....thanks Pedro. Que palmeras mas preciosas!

Anyone with experience from a tad more mediterranean climate?

[Pedro 65]

Basilios, we are growing inground 3 Raphia Sp. Australis,Farinifera and Vinifera. A total of 7, they are planted at the edges of our both dams and a few in very wet areas on the property. we live in the cool subtropics and our winters nights get cold, this doesnt bother ANY of the above but they ALL have a permanent water source which they relish. Raphias are very colourful palms and deserve wider planting. I will post this and now go take some pics. Happy Growing. Pete

A Few Pics as promised.Pete

Raphia Australis(need to get in and tidy up this area)

Raph Aust and to the right young Vinifera( The Australis is larger than it looks)

Colourful Rachis of Vinifera, All Raphias have great colour

Raphia Farinifera(Fronds not as erect as Australis ,this takes up a Lot of room

When planted to compete it goes up up up( Couldnt get the top in pic)

After reading all the palms that grow for you,All above should grow with ease as long as you have a permanent water source.

[ed110220]

If you do a search for Raphia australis Google images, most of the results are the row of three that were growing at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens in Cape Town, South Africa. I say were, as they were in flower/setting seed when I last saw them a few years ago, so they have probably died by now as they are monocarpic.

The climate at Cape Town is broadly similar to that in Athens, but with slightly cooler summers and warmer winters and more rain. I would definitely give it a go as they are fantastic looking.

One thing to bear in mind is that the climate stats for Cape Town are taken at the airport which has a very different microclimate from Kirstenbosch - Newlands, where Kirstenbosh is located is on the slopes of the mountain and receives much more rain (almost three times as much) but I would say is probably cooler. It faces East and is well known for going into shade early as the sun sinks behind the mountain. Kirstenbosch is also sheltered from the strong winds that Cape Town is known for that I imagine Raphia would not like (they play havoc with more delicate plants). I'm not sure how windy Athens is.

These three were planted right next to a small stream, so they got plenty of water, and they grow in swamps at Kosi Bay (there is some debate whether they are natural or naturalised there). You will probably have to water them a lot for them to grow well. Oh, and have plenty of space

Here they are before and after flowering, about six years apart:

[basilios]

Thanks for the info Ed, very useful. It's good to know that raphia australis can definitely withstand 2 or 3 months of cool weather...

Edited August 20, 2011 by basilios