Cyrtostachys sp. Hybrid

[Moose]

Anybody else growing this palm?

Reportedly this palm can take much cooler temperatures than the very tropical Cyrtostachys renda (lakka).Supposedly it will not get as brilliant of a crownshaft but pretty darn close. The parentage of this palm remains a mystery - does anyone know? I can't wait to see this little guy move.

I heard through the grape vine that there were some very nice ones at Nong Nooch Gardens. Hopefully some Palm Talk member will post a photo here.

[Hammer]

Oooo. Very cool. Is this going to be viable in SoCal? Any guesses?

[Jeff Searle]

Ron,

I think you already know that I have several of these now ranging from 1 gallon size plants up to 10 gallon( 8-9'). They have proven to be a real easy plant to grow and keep alive. My largest ones are starting to show some good color. And yes, the large ones I saw in Thailand were just about as red as C. renda.

[Tropicgardener]

Sounds like a palm with a great future, hopefully some can be imported into Australia........My C.renda is going quite well due to microclimate but I will be concerned if it gets up past the roofline.

[joe_OC]

Jeff,

Is that the C elegans x lakka?

Edited January 2, 2013 by joe_OC

[palmsOrl]

I bought one of these at the Searle sale and have been treating it like the other Cyrtostachys, just to be on the safe side. From what I've gathered, this is most likely C. renda x C. elegans (or visa versa) and the palm's overall appearance and features seem to suggest this to be the case. I also just noticed that Floribunda has listed the hybrid C. lakka (same as renda) x C. elegans. I'm assuming this is all the same palm. I will buy another in the near future to experiment with regarding cold hardiness.

[MattyB]

[Moose]

Oooo. Very cool. Is this going to be viable in SoCal? Any guesses?

Hammer - this palm is in a two gallon container and its very first winter for me (mild so far). My experience is very limited. The large ones Jeff had were showing some very nice coloration on the crown shafts. All I know is that I have a better chance getting this one to survive than a Cyrtostachys renda. Could it be "viable in SoCal", possibly in the proper microclime. Cyrtostachys as a rule enjoy humidity and are pretty much water pigs. Those requirements need to be considered.

The old cliche - sometimes you gotta break a few eggs to make an omlette. I say go try one.

[drzoidberg1]

hopefully this one will work out for us here in SoCo country. Even if it's not 100% C. lakka still a very Lakka palm bru!

[Palm Tree Jim]

I have decided to give this cross a try here in So CA.

Once I have them and potted up I will post some pictures.

[Pedro 65]

Best of luck with it Ron, Ive "never" tried a renda, its a positive no go here and not worth me doing 100 "trial and errors' ...but...I like the sounds of this Hybrid , will keep my ears out for seed. Thanks Pete

[Moose]

Best of luck with it Ron, Ive "never" tried a renda, its a positive no go here and not worth me doing 100 "trial and errors' ...but...I like the sounds of this Hybrid , will keep my ears out for seed. Thanks Pete

C. renda are a bit troublesome here. I am not willing to excert that much effort protecting one. I will expend energy on a palm for awhile if it has a decent chance of survival. .

[Hilo Jason]

Since the secret is out on these, I figured I would chime in with the little bit of experience I have with this hyrbid / mystery palm. This past May I was in Florida and Jeff Searle pointed out his to me and mentioned the cold they had seen there with no damage at all. He said he thought it would be worth trying in California. So when I got home I ordered a couple of these and they have done amazingly well for me. When I first got them, I kept them outside, under canopy of some of my other palms. They saw 110 degrees with almost no humidity, without any damage. Now that it's winter, they are in my cold frame where they have seen 35 degrees, also with little to no damage!

Whatever this ends up being, it seems very hardy to heat and cold. I plan on planting them out in my yard this spring and I will keep you posted with how they do for me.

[Jeff Searle]

Since the secret is out on these, I figured I would chime in with the little bit of experience I have with this hyrbid / mystery palm. This past May I was in Florida and Jeff Searle pointed out his to me and mentioned the cold they had seen there with no damage at all. He said he thought it would be worth trying in California. So when I got home I ordered a couple of these and they have done amazingly well for me. When I first got them, I kept them outside, under canopy of some of my other palms. They saw 110 degrees with almost no humidity, without any damage. Now that it's winter, they are in my cold frame where they have seen 35 degrees, also with little to no damage!

Whatever this ends up being, it seems very hardy to heat and cold. I plan on planting them out in my yard this spring and I will keep you posted with how they do for me.

But you did see a little damage at 35 degrees? That's interesting because mine have seen colder than that in the shadehouse and not a spot on them. But their little, the real test will be to watch them over the next couple of years, planted out.

PS.....you'll see some big ones on your upcoming visit.

Jeff

[Hilo Jason]

I would actually say no damage as of now. Waiting a few days to see if this recent arctic event will spot them. I'll post a pic when I can. I will say they have not grown fast for me like you Jeff. Probably since we don't have that Florida heat and humidity that I imagine these love. Looking forward to seeing yours soon.

[Trópico]

Growing it as large as I can then it goes to the ground. Better chances for survival!

[Jeff Searle]

Here's a sampling of red color one can expect from a hybrid. I would say it's not quite 100% of a really nice C. renda, BUT.....it's pretty damn nice in my book!!!

[NApalm]

Thats some nice red

[LJG]

Here's a sampling of red color one can expect from a hybrid. I would say it's not quite 100% of a really nice C. renda, BUT.....it's pretty damn nice in my book!!!

Damn Jeff, that is steller. If we can pull that off in FL or even SoCal, that would be some thing huge!

[DoomsDave]

Well, Jeff, scream obscenities and run down the street . . . .

Slap your mama and kick your daddy, that's a nice palm, all right.

Adding to my list . . .

[Vari805]

Dave, you are too funny!

[Hammer]

I want...no. I NEED one!!!!

[Stevetoad]

So your telling me there's a chance...

[Hammer]

Ohhh Stevetoad. I was way off...

[Hilo Jason]

That looks great Jeff! I'm looking forward to mine showing red one day. Will probably take much longer than they did for you though.

[Stevetoad]

Ohhh Stevetoad. I was way off...

Haha I was hoping someone would catch that

[Palm Tree Jim]

My shipment from Floribunda arrived!

My crosses are here. Once the order is sorted, pictures as promised.

[Trópico]

This is from Ryan's Extravaganza picture:

I remember the ones at Nong Nooch to be much more red, or red-to-orange gradient, like Jeff's picture. I saw Jeff's and it looks more of a pale orange color. Are they the same hybrid, from the same parentage?

See the fouth one from the left (or right) of the small potted ones? The one in the center with the mesh style pot? That one is mine! It has pushed one leaf since I purchased it.

Another picture from Ryan.

[MattyB]

So by the time this palm gets to SoCal climate it'll just be green. (debbie downer)

[Moose]

Best of luck with it Ron, Ive "never" tried a renda, its a positive no go here and not worth me doing 100 "trial and errors' ...but...I like the sounds of this Hybrid , will keep my ears out for seed. Thanks Pete

Pete - you are one of the best growers on Palm Talk. I think you should give this hybrid a try. It would look fabulous in your understory!

[Jeff Searle]

Frank,

Two things to remember, my plants are/were much smaller than the ones at Nong Nooch. And, their all coming from one source, therefore they will all turn out to be the same. Color comes with age.

[redant]

So do we know this palm to be Cyrtostachys elegans X lakka for sure? Placing an order shortly so need to make sure what this is.

[palmsOrl]

Unfortunately, mine croaked unexpectedly last month from that typical crown rot where the outer leaves turn brown and the center pulls shortly thereafter and the bottom tip is mushy with rot. This, even though I gave it typical Cyrtostachys protection this past winter, despite its reputed unusual hardiness. I was really surprised and at first, thought the sudden decline might be from overheating of the roots due to the black pot sitting in full spring sun. I WILL be replacing it, as I think this was a random occurrence and possibly a result of keeping the roots too wet.

[Jeff Searle]

Unfortunately, mine croaked unexpectedly last month from that typical crown rot where the outer leaves turn brown and the center pulls shortly thereafter and the bottom tip is mushy with rot. This, even though I gave it typical Cyrtostachys protection this past winter, despite its reputed unusual hardiness. I was really surprised and at first, thought the sudden decline might be from overheating of the roots due to the black pot sitting in full spring sun. I WILL be replacing it, as I think this was a random occurrence and possibly a result of keeping the roots too wet.

Sorry to hear about loosing this. Because this is one tough palm. And it wasn't because the roots stayed too wet, and I seriously doubt that the roots got too hot either. Especially during spring time. I would lean towards just bad luck and it it got a bud rot for some unknown reason.

[JimR]

Pitter. Patter. Pitter. Patter.......that's my heart.

Are the ones from Floribunda the same stock as Jeff Searle's? I have yet to make it to one of his open days. Maybe this is the year.

[cobra2326]

I have a few of these, currently 3 leaf seedlings, but they are quite slow. I thought I heard someone mention that these were actually pretty fast? Can anyone post their experiences?

[akamu]

So is anyone having luck with this hybrid yet in san diego ???

[palmsOrl]

I purchased a palm labeled Cyrtostachys elegans in June of 2009. As it has grown, the developing crownshaft and leaf bases are a pinkish/red/slightly orange color. I have been meaning to post photos of it. I think it may actually be this Cyrostachys hybrid.

[Moose]

The Hybrid

[AlekLO]

This palm is one of my favorite because of the red tree ... and if I had I would have a voice down the house because it has a continental climate ... all in all a beautiful palm tree and it is worth to have ...