Cyrtostachys sp. Hybrid

[akamu]

Moose it looks like your C.renda hybrid has not skipped a beat .That is very encouraging. I am still trying to get my hands on one. Please keep us updated on her progress and ty for posting

[Jeff in Costa Rica]

I have two of these that I got from Jeff Marcus. I ordered them as C.elegans and then was disappointed to find out later that they're actually hybrids. One nice thing about these palms is that they grow at least 3 times as fast as C. renda which are extremely slow as seedlings.

[palmsOrl]

I have two of these that I got from Jeff Marcus. I ordered them as C.elegans and then was disappointed to find out later that they're actually hybrids. One nice thing about these palms is that they grow at least 3 times as fast as C. renda which are extremely slow as seedlings.

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This must be exactly what happened to me, except mine was off of eBay. I was also disappointed when I saw the coloration and made the connection that it must be the hybrid fairly recently. I definitely want a specimen of the Cyrtostachys hybrid, yet for almost 5 years I thought I had a Cyrtostachys elegans, so it was a let down.

[Moose]

A newly opened frond flushing a bit of color.

[Mandrew968]

Ohhh Stevetoad. I was way off...

Haha I was hoping someone would catch that

I did--Dumb and Dumber. Big fan

[Kennybenjamin]

Does the presence of the colour on the new leaf signify a hybrid?? We can't grow lipsticks here so I have generally avoided them and my knowledge is minimal.

I was given this specimen recently and I was told it has been through our winter unprotected, I was also told to plant it.... Could be interesting??

[palmsOrl]

I am debating on whether to eventually treat my 7 footer as I would a Ptychosperma elegans (cold protection-wise, which is seldom required here) and go ahead and plant it in the ground here. Still, it is a Cyrtostachys, so I am hesitant. I would also love to get my hands on a Cyrtostachys elegans. Then again, I may have one after all, as I am beginning to suspect my Cyrtostachys loriae is actually C. elegans, since it is clumping and I thought C. loriae is solitary.

[Kennybenjamin]

Well there it is, in the ground. I will be absolutely amazed if this palm is still here in 8 or 9 months time but only 1 way to find out.......

[Moose]

Does the presence of the colour on the new leaf signify a hybrid?? We can't grow lipsticks here so I have generally avoided them and my knowledge is minimal.

I was given this specimen recently and I was told it has been through our winter unprotected, I was also told to plant it.... Could be interesting??

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Kenny - Mine does the same with the blushing of color on the opening leaf spears. Not sure if they all do it but I can only report my experience. A buddy stopped by the other day and checked out my palm. He has one that is larger and exhibits the same leaf color blush. Both of our palms came from the same source. These are hybrids so there is a potential to some variability.

Jeff Searle is the only person I know of that has cultivated more then a few of these. He may want to add to his observations as to possible variability. As far as the crown shafts coloring up, that seems to occur as the stems start getting a few rounds of rings. Based on the ones I have seen planted at Jeff's home, there does appear to be some variability as to the redness of the crown shaft. Seen a couple that are nearly as red as Crytostachys renda. Have not seen them since Cindy Adair and Lucinda where checking them out this last October. Cindy took pictures, maybe she can find them.

[akamu]

Great looking palm Kenny I hope we see it back on palm talk in 8 months . Cindy pictures please

[LJG]

Well sad to report mine is dying and it never hit lower then 38 in courtyard. I think the cool soils nuked it. All the suckers started rotting out 30 days ago. Bummer and I won't try again.

[Mandrew968]

That prolonged cool is the killer for you guys. We don't go for long without hitting 80F no matter what time of year.

[Firepalm]

Bummer Len! Sorry to see/hear that about your hybrid. Knowing you and your garden, I'm sure you've got something awesome dialed up to take it's place though!

[Cindy Adair]

Great looking palm Kenny I hope we see it back on palm talk in 8 months . Cindy pictures please

As I'm sure you can guess from all my posts, I am still on my farm and don't have complete access to all my photos. I also remember that my camera battery died on me half way through the tour at Jeff Searle's house so can't recall if it lasted for a C. renda hybrid photo or not.

I have just made a note to check out my Florida photos when I return to Virginia ( and it's too cold to go outside!) so will post photos if I have them. If not I will ask Lucinda who was with me.

[Jeff Searle]

This has turned out to be a fabulous palm for many people that normally would never be able to grow Cyrtostachys renda. I personally had them in containers in the shadehouse and go through very low 30's F with no damage. Everyone that has bought them from me has been more than elated with joy. Even though they will not get the rich red in color, many of them will have a more reddish orange to a lightly washed out orange in color. Other characteristics include a longer leaf and much faster growth than C. renda.

[Hilo Jason]

Well sad to report mine is dying and it never hit lower then 38 in courtyard. I think the cool soils nuked it. All the suckers started rotting out 30 days ago. Bummer and I won't try again.

Len - sorry to see this didn't make it for you. I'm not at home now, but when I was a week ago, the two I had in the ground were both still alive. They are about half the size of yours. Not fast growing for me at all, but still living. For the time being anyway. I had a handful more in my greenhouse, but Nick (QUINNPALMS) is taking care of all my greenhouse palms while I'm out of town. So if he sees this he can chime in and mention if they are doing ok or not.

[LJG]

Well sad to report mine is dying and it never hit lower then 38 in courtyard. I think the cool soils nuked it. All the suckers started rotting out 30 days ago. Bummer and I won't try again.

Len - sorry to see this didn't make it for you. I'm not at home now, but when I was a week ago, the two I had in the ground were both still alive. They are about half the size of yours. Not fast growing for me at all, but still living. For the time being anyway. I had a handful more in my greenhouse, but Nick (QUINNPALMS) is taking care of all my greenhouse palms while I'm out of town. So if he sees this he can chime in and mention if they are doing ok or not.

Mine was a large 3 gallon from Searle I never acclimated from the trip on a plane from FL. I also put mine in the courtyard but forgot no sun enters in the winter. I am sure I could have done many things better. I tried it cause you said yours made it through last winter as well. Which is great news!

[neoflora]

Len, Did it drink on the plane?

[Josh-O]

Sad to hear that Len, If there is a guy in Cali who could of pulled it off it surly would have been you

[Moose]

Well sad to report mine is dying and it never hit lower then 38 in courtyard. I think the cool soils nuked it. All the suckers started rotting out 30 days ago. Bummer and I won't try again.

Len - sorry to see this didn't make it for you. I'm not at home now, but when I was a week ago, the two I had in the ground were both still alive. They are about half the size of yours. Not fast growing for me at all, but still living. For the time being anyway. I had a handful more in my greenhouse, but Nick (QUINNPALMS) is taking care of all my greenhouse palms while I'm out of town. So if he sees this he can chime in and mention if they are doing ok or not.

Mine was a large 3 gallon from Searle I never acclimated from the trip on a plane from FL. I also put mine in the courtyard but forgot no sun enters in the winter. I am sure I could have done many things better. I tried it cause you said yours made it through last winter as well. Which is great news!

Len - these really do appreciate strong sunlight exposure. The combination of cold, wet and limited sun may have been too much. I'm not fully convinced that the cold alone was the culprit. However your temperatures this winter may be around its cold tolerance limits.

Here is mine trying to blush some color.

[KennyRE317]

i need to find me one of these. hopefully someone has a bunch of extras

[Hilo Jason]

i need to find me one of these. hopefully someone has a bunch of extras

Hey Kenny, I should have a few of these available. So keep in touch with me about it. I'm out of the country for awhile, but they are in a greenhouse while I am gone and this is their third winter in California. So they should be tested a bit.

[LJG]

Well sad to report mine is dying and it never hit lower then 38 in courtyard. I think the cool soils nuked it. All the suckers started rotting out 30 days ago. Bummer and I won't try again.

Len - sorry to see this didn't make it for you. I'm not at home now, but when I was a week ago, the two I had in the ground were both still alive. They are about half the size of yours. Not fast growing for me at all, but still living. For the time being anyway. I had a handful more in my greenhouse, but Nick (QUINNPALMS) is taking care of all my greenhouse palms while I'm out of town. So if he sees this he can chime in and mention if they are doing ok or not.

Mine was a large 3 gallon from Searle I never acclimated from the trip on a plane from FL. I also put mine in the courtyard but forgot no sun enters in the winter. I am sure I could have done many things better. I tried it cause you said yours made it through last winter as well. Which is great news!

Len - these really do appreciate strong sunlight exposure. The combination of cold, wet and limited sun may have been too much. I'm not fully convinced that the cold alone was the culprit. However your temperatures this winter may be around its cold tolerance limits.

Here is mine trying to blush some color. hybrid color.JPG

Moose I agree. The thing was doing great in mostly sun. If I did try agai I would find a spot with lots of son and one that dries out in winter.

[KennyRE317]

i need to find me one of these. hopefully someone has a bunch of extras

Hey Kenny, I should have a few of these available. So keep in touch with me about it. I'm out of the country for awhile, but they are in a greenhouse while I am gone and this is their third winter in California. So they should be tested a bit.

i think i'm due for a trip out to see your yard soon anyways

hope you're enjoying the trip out of the country and have a safe return trip back

[Cindy Adair]

Great looking palm Kenny I hope we see it back on palm talk in 8 months . Cindy pictures please

As I'm sure you can guess from all my posts, I am still on my farm and don't have complete access to all my photos. I also remember that my camera battery died on me half way through the tour at Jeff Searle's house so can't recall if it lasted for a C. renda hybrid photo or not.

I have just made a note to check out my Florida photos when I return to Virginia ( and it's too cold to go outside!) so will post photos if I have them. If not I will ask Lucinda who was with me.

I found these three photos of Moose with Jeff Searle's gorgeous C. renda hybrid and then two close ups showing nice color!

Just rotate your computer or phone clockwise and the two sideways photos will be perfect. Still on my little iPhone and too tired to to do better tonight...

[Zeeth]

Thanks for the pics! Not quite as red as a normal C. renda but still very pretty! Does anyone know what temps these guys have been tested down to? I'm right on the edge of 9b and 10a so coconuts are marginal here but there are a couple that survived 2010.

[Eric in Orlando]

I planted one out in 2013, a 1 gal. specimen. It survived last winter here but did not survive the dry spring. It was in an area where we had a irrigation problem. They have zero drought tolerance. Jan. 2014 had several nights in the mid to upper 30sF. Absolute low was 34F. But it was growing in a protected spot so it was probably a few degrees warmer.

I planted another out last summer and so far it looks good. We have only had one night below 40F, a low of 38F. I have another to plant out in spring.

[Mandrew968]

I agree--just as thirsty as a regular renda.

[Moose]

Cindy - thank you for locating the pictures. I'm reposting your horizontal ones. Holy crap I look like a porker

If you look at the last of Cindy's photos (post # 65, not posted here) you can see how the petioles / leaf bases are getting redder.

Eric - I'm sure you had yours under canopy for cold protection. Drought tolerant I would say no but if yours has achieved some size with a decent root system, I believe our typical precipitation cycle will be adequate. Supplemental irrigating when several weeks have elapsed with no rain only. The lack of water in your sandy soil during establishment was the problem. I have no doubts that it would still be in the garden if the irrigation problem had not occurred.

Andrew - its not a water hog like Cyrtostachys renda at all. When I first acquired mine I put a 2" deep saucer under the container keeping the soil saturated, something a renda would relish. It survived but very little growth was realized in a years time. Ryan told me I should be seeing a lot of growth. When he found out it was sitting in water, he told me its not renda, quit trying to grow it like one. It started moving when I removed the saucer allowing the drainage.

Keith Z. - I believe the Glocks have one growing in Fort Myers, FL that is flourshing. You should have no establishment problems climate wise for your area.

[Mandrew968]

Moose, you might be right--we had our 6 or 8 in little dishes like renda. They certainly did not die, but were not as fast as I have seen some perform. I decided to repot them as they had little roots at the bottom holes. Now they are in various sizes and have started to grow pretty fast--they are no longer in water dishes. I am not sure why that would slow this palm down though, being in a water dish...

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks so much for fixing my photos! I am better now about turning my camera horizontally to take photos so I don't have this issue in the first place!

[Jeff Searle]

Thanks Cindy for posting your pic's and Ron for turning them. The first time I realized that these palms were more than special, it was after the 2010 freeze we had. It was an awful couple of cold nights. I ended up loosing hundreds of palms that later all found their way to the trash pile. But what I witnessed was, they experienced 31 degrees briefly. And with no damage what so ever on one single plant. Although I can't remember, I'm sure it was back up into the 70's in a matter of a few days.

[mnorell]

It's fascinating for me to see those orange-ish colors on the hybrids above. My big specimen has quite a range on each leafbase, perhaps a deep orange-red to almost purple-red. My C. renda is much more uniformly intense red. Another thing I've noticed aside from the big speed difference is that the hybrid is very robust, with larger trunks and mammoth leaves compared with my renda. It also has not shown any green trunk yet, though it is larger than my C. renda, which shows several rungs of green on its largest trunk. Obviously this robust character comes from C. elegans.

And I have also noticed that the hybrid is not too demanding about water. I have often not watered it for long periods and it has never complained. It is now so big (10' or so overall, maybe a little taller) that I think it has its feet pretty well established and must have a good reach to water. I am terrified of the C. renda going dry as I paid too much to have it croak on me. So I am always dousing it with the hose whenever I am near it.

[sashaeffer]

Had a Hybred seedling from Seabreeze that did fine, showed a little growth then suddenly dried up and died. I "thought" I was giving it adaquit moisture but maybe not. In the time I had it, it didn't really grow fast enough for me that I thought it was worth trying again for the money. If I do, I'll get a larger one. I think we've all had a seedling or small palm suddenly perish for reasons unknown.