One Livistona Decora planted - Tough and Handsome

[Walter John]

I picked this palm up this morning. It was bursting at the seams and so was I.

I had removed a citrus tree from this spot, an orange tree which slaved and suffered over the last 3 years, all it did was gather stink bugs and the like, time to say goodbye mister orange, bring in a true performer, something guaranteed to soothe the soul, a local boy from up the road, Livistona decora, one of my fav palms to be sure.

Here's the spot. Yes, that's suffering palms around with Chambeyronias coming back to life with new red leaves, there is a God.

Bursting out of it's pot, strong palm this.

Planted.

Those Chamby leaves

[Jastin]

Nice!

[Alicehunter2000]

Nice that someone with a much warmer climate, feel that a palm that is much hardier than their climate is worthy enough to be planted amongst their more tropical things.

Did that make any sense?

[Walter John]

Nice that someone with a much warmer climate, feel that a palm that is much hardier than their climate is worthy enough to be planted amongst their more tropical things.

Did that make any sense?

After I read it three and a half times, yes, it made sense, . Although, it must be stated that this palm originates from sub-tropics through to the tropics

[Tropicgardener]

Is my local Livistona and probably my favourite Australian Livistona.........very common around here but absolutely gorgeous.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I have 2 in the ground here, so far. They can grow incredibly fast, nice at my age. Incredibly resistant to freezing weather, considering their origin. I remember seeing Coconuts planted in the area where L. decora is native. For the Aussies, would L. decora experience subfreezing lows within its natural range? In contrast, I have L. drudei in the yard in Jacksonville. It defoliates every winter but it recovers like a champ each spring. When you look at it's natural range, its amazing it survives freezing at all!

[sonoranfans]

I also have two decora. I like the decorative weeping habit and the cold hardiness they offer as canopy for some of my more tender species. And this is my fastest growing fan palm. They do have some of the most vicious spines on the petioles...

[Cindy Adair]

Your Chambeyronias were clearly embarrassed by the non-palm Orange tree . Now that you have such a lovely new centerpiece all should grow well. Lovely!

[Kennybenjamin]

Hey Wal,

I would swear that you have photoshopped my Chambys in your photo.... They look exactly the same after 3 years of looking great. Looks like these flamethrowers are not so heat tolerant when young, bit ironic??? Growing conditions have been tough lately but good to see you posting and planting again!!

I'm sure you are experiencing good growing conditions currently as I am!!!!

Cheers Mate

Ben

[Tropicgardener]

I have 2 in the ground here, so far. They can grow incredibly fast, nice at my age. Incredibly resistant to freezing weather, considering their origin. I remember seeing Coconuts planted in the area where L. decora is native. For the Aussies, would L. decora experience subfreezing lows within its natural range? In contrast, I have L. drudei in the yard in Jacksonville. It defoliates every winter but it recovers like a champ each spring. When you look at it's natural range, its amazing it survives freezing at all!

Keith, L. decora occurs from the Cooloola area adjacent to the bottom of Fraser Island (and not too far north of where Wal lives) right up to just south of Townsville or thereabouts........It is generally a coastal palm that also occurs up to 50km inland at low altitude. As it's range is completely in the warmer subtropics/tropics I am not aware of any areas where it would receive sub freezing temperatures. Here along the central Queensland coast they are usually seen growing along watercourses. Around the sugarcane growing districts of Bundaberg and Mackay you sometimes see very old specimens in paddocks that have been left in place by sympathetic farmers.

[Walter John]

Hey Wal,

I would swear that you have photoshopped my Chambys in your photo.... They look exactly the same after 3 years of looking great. Looks like these flamethrowers are not so heat tolerant when young, bit ironic??? Growing conditions have been tough lately but good to see you posting and planting again!!

I'm sure you are experiencing good growing conditions currently as I am!!!!

Cheers Mate

Ben

Yes Ben, that drought was full of above average heat and the Chambys suffered with some of my smaller ones gone completely. They are coming back though, all I want for christmas next year is an average / normal season.

[Eric F]

Hey Wal,

I would swear that you have photoshopped my Chambys in your photo.... They look exactly the same after 3 years of looking great. Looks like these flamethrowers are not so heat tolerant when young, bit ironic??? Growing conditions have been tough lately but good to see you posting and planting again!!

I'm sure you are experiencing good growing conditions currently as I am!!!!

Cheers Mate

Ben

Yes Ben, that drought was full of above average heat and the Chambys suffered with some of my smaller ones gone completely. They are coming back though, all I want for christmas next year is an average / normal season.

Mine larger ones all suffered very badly from the heat. Even the ones in full shade and that were being watered daily look like yours. Average daytime highs in the area that I have them were around 37C for a few weeks and in low humidity, as they were on gravel and near our air conditioning unit which raises ambient temperatures by about 2C when operating.

I have 3 in 20cm pots, with 50% leaf burn. My younger seedlings in tubes and 140mm pots actually pulled through it a bit better than the larger ones, but the larger ones were all hookeri. Maybe hookeri is less heat tolerant as well.

[Phoenikakias]

I have 2 in the ground here, so far. They can grow incredibly fast, nice at my age. Incredibly resistant to freezing weather, considering their origin. I remember seeing Coconuts planted in the area where L. decora is native. For the Aussies, would L. decora experience subfreezing lows within its natural range? In contrast, I have L. drudei in the yard in Jacksonville. It defoliates every winter but it recovers like a champ each spring. When you look at it's natural range, its amazing it survives freezing at all!

Keith, L. decora occurs from the Cooloola area adjacent to the bottom of Fraser Island (and not too far north of where Wal lives) right up to just south of Townsville or thereabouts........It is generally a coastal palm that also occurs up to 50km inland at low altitude. As it's range is completely in the warmer subtropics/tropics I am not aware of any areas where it would receive sub freezing temperatures. Here along the central Queensland coast they are usually seen growing along watercourses. Around the sugarcane growing districts of Bundaberg and Mackay you sometimes see very old specimens in paddocks that have been left in place by sympathetic farmers.

Hasw anyone ever observed whether specimens with red tinge are faster growing but also less cool or cold tolerant than others without this trait?

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Livvy decora are an easy grow even down here in Tas , as the one at my old place has 2 m of trunk now !

[brodklop]

It has been tough this spring and summer with below average rainfall and above average temps. My chamby hookeri was completely burnt, but fortunately my normal chamby looks good. However my Carpoxylon which as been growing great for 2 years in the ground has been burnt. Last year we had some high temps as well but it was wet as well so it came through good.

Things are looking up with 300+ mm of rain. Bad for those who have been flooded.

That decora should power Wal. Citrus in our area are high maintenance Wal, but worth the effort. Hope to be havesting some good oranges and limes soon.

[PalmatierMeg]

A great palm and totally coldhardy here. I have 6 in the ground and 2 possible decora hybrids. The 3 oldest shade my roof.

[Dave-Vero]

Livistona decora has become popular (as in specimen-sized for mass plantings in commercial landscapes) in southern and central Florida, includiing Orlando. I suppose there could be a palm massacre with the next really disastrous freeze, but so far we're seeing them getting down to maybe -4 C without problems.

I'm looking to plant an L. rigida that's done nicely in a pot over the past year.

[Phoenikakias]

A great palm and totally coldhardy here. I have 6 in the ground and 2 possible decora hybrids. The 3 oldest shade my roof.

What makes you suspect that they are hybrids ? (form, growth habit, color, coldhardiness)

[Phoenikakias]

Livistona decora has become popular (as in specimen-sized for mass plantings in commercial landscapes) in southern and central Florida, includiing Orlando. I suppose there could be a palm massacre with the next really disastrous freeze, but so far we're seeing them getting down to maybe -4 C without problems.

I'm looking to plant an L. rigida that's done nicely in a pot over the past year.

Mine with -2 or -3 C and snow for 2 days had turned markedly yellowish but this was not permanet, as it turned back to normal green following late spring.

[PalmatierMeg]

A great palm and totally coldhardy here. I have 6 in the ground and 2 possible decora hybrids. The 3 oldest shade my roof.

What makes you suspect that they are hybrids ? (form, growth habit, color, coldhardiness)

They were sold to me as L. decora by a palm seller in Loxahatchee in a group I bought in 2011. But as they grew I noticed that their fronds did not droop as much as true decora and that their spines were much, much larger. A local landscaper and palm seller stopped by several weeks ago and I showed the suspect palms to him. He ventured that they were probably decora hybrids, possibly with saribus. They grow as fast as true decora and are just as coldhardy. I've found that my true saribus are actually somewhat more cold sensitive, at least cosmestically, than decora. I'll take some photos and maybe experts on this forum can give me their assessment.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I have 2 in the ground here, so far. They can grow incredibly fast, nice at my age. Incredibly resistant to freezing weather, considering their origin. I remember seeing Coconuts planted in the area where L. decora is native. For the Aussies, would L. decora experience subfreezing lows within its natural range? In contrast, I have L. drudei in the yard in Jacksonville. It defoliates every winter but it recovers like a champ each spring. When you look at it's natural range, its amazing it survives freezing at all!

Keith, L. decora occurs from the Cooloola area adjacent to the bottom of Fraser Island (and not too far north of where Wal lives) right up to just south of Townsville or thereabouts........It is generally a coastal palm that also occurs up to 50km inland at low altitude. As it's range is completely in the warmer subtropics/tropics I am not aware of any areas where it would receive sub freezing temperatures. Here along the central Queensland coast they are usually seen growing along watercourses. Around the sugarcane growing districts of Bundaberg and Mackay you sometimes see very old specimens in paddocks that have been left in place by sympathetic farmers.

I have 2 in the ground here, so far. They can grow incredibly fast, nice at my age. Incredibly resistant to freezing weather, considering their origin. I remember seeing Coconuts planted in the area where L. decora is native. For the Aussies, would L. decora experience subfreezing lows within its natural range? In contrast, I have L. drudei in the yard in Jacksonville. It defoliates every winter but it recovers like a champ each spring. When you look at it's natural range, its amazing it survives freezing at all!

Keith, L. decora occurs from the Cooloola area adjacent to the bottom of Fraser Island (and not too far north of where Wal lives) right up to just south of Townsville or thereabouts........It is generally a coastal palm that also occurs up to 50km inland at low altitude. As it's range is completely in the warmer subtropics/tropics I am not aware of any areas where it would receive sub freezing temperatures. Here along the central Queensland coast they are usually seen growing along watercourses. Around the sugarcane growing districts of Bundaberg and Mackay you sometimes see very old specimens in paddocks that have been left in place by sympathetic farmers.

Thanks Andrew. I saw it around Ayr in June 2011. That area appeared virtually frost free to me. You've confirmed that so now I'm even more impressed with Livistona decora. I've seen it growing in Savannah, GA where daytime highs struggled to reach freezing a couple years ago. I wonder why Livistonas carry that cold tolerance? I'm struggling to think of other examples of palms native to frost free climates that tolerate freezing cold. Phoenix canariensis and the Caribbean Sabals are also examples, I suppose.

[Stevetoad]

Looks like it was going to plant itself if you didn't! L.decora is AWESOME!

[PalmatierMeg]

First photo is of a Livistona decora. Note how deeply cut, narrow and drooping the dark green leaflets are.

The next two photos is of one of the so-called L. decora hybrids. The leaves are lighter green, not so deeply cut or drooping

I tried to photograph their spines but pictures came out blurry. My poor vision makes it difficult to take close-ups. But the spines of the "hybrid" are 2-3x bigger and more "hooked" than the spines of the decora. What does everyone think?

[DGP]

Hi Meg

Your "hybrids" look like L. australis to me.

[PalmatierMeg]

Hi Meg

Your "hybrids" look like L. australis to me.

Really? That would be great. I don't have that species.

[JasonD]

The L. decoras at the Harrah's on Poydras Street in New Orleans are spectacular, and they've seen some brutal cold. Tim Gregory here in the Bay Area reported that his decora survived the freeze of 1990 with temperatures as low as 20F and daytimes barely popping above 35F. It had no trunk damage when I saw it, and a perfect crown, more than a decade later. To me this is actually a nice alternative to a queen palm, for it provides some similar foliage effects without the nutrient difficulties and sheer commonness. Decoras do like their water!

They're a vigorous grower even in containers and as fast as a queen. I'd love to see them rise up alongside queens in California. I don't think they take particularly well to the foggiest, cool-summer areas of Central/Northern California, but I'm pleased to learn of Tassie Troy's success in Tasmania.

[Jonas]

Hello.. I have one of those to.. I planted the seed about 1½ year ago and this is surely the fastest grower that ive seen so far.. It is almost 1m high from ground to top of highest leaf.. I is a beauty and i love it, even thoug it does not belong here in the tropical lowlands of Bolivia..

Jonas

Rurrenabaque

[gyuseppe]

First photo is of a Livistona decora. Note how deeply cut, narrow and drooping the dark green leaflets are.

Livistona decora 01 2-3-13.JPG

The next two photos is of one of the so-called L. decora hybrids. The leaves are lighter green, not so deeply cut or drooping

Livistona decora hybrid 01 2-3-13.JPG Livistona decora hybrid 02 2-3-13.JPG

I tried to photograph their spines but pictures came out blurry. My poor vision makes it difficult to take close-ups. But the spines of the "hybrid" are 2-3x bigger and more "hooked" than the spines of the decora. What does everyone think?

Meg these are not livistona australis

have something of chinensis

Meg you do not really have livistona australis?

[Walter John]

First photo is of a Livistona decora. Note how deeply cut, narrow and drooping the dark green leaflets are.

Livistona decora 01 2-3-13.JPG

The next two photos is of one of the so-called L. decora hybrids. The leaves are lighter green, not so deeply cut or drooping

Livistona decora hybrid 01 2-3-13.JPG Livistona decora hybrid 02 2-3-13.JPG

I tried to photograph their spines but pictures came out blurry. My poor vision makes it difficult to take close-ups. But the spines of the "hybrid" are 2-3x bigger and more "hooked" than the spines of the decora. What does everyone think?

Meg these are not livistona australis

have something of chinensis

Meg you do not really have livistona australis?

agree, looks like chinensis to me too.

[Phoenikakias]

In the first pic Meg's plant does not look like exactly a chinensis, but on the second pic has looks closer to this sp. Maybe close-ups of petiole spines, especially on older leaves would help. I can not rule out the possibility of a hybrid.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I saw Meg's palms in person a few weeks back (and she has a beautiful garden, by the way). Her Dypsis pembana is stunning. Back to her Livistonas....they definately are NOT L. chinensis. The petiole armiture is more reminescent of L. saribus but the leaf tips are not wide enough. A hybrid between L. saribus and L. decora was certainly plausable in my opinion just based on the leaf & petiole structure (and they are still very young so thats about the only thing to use). Though i've seen them in situ, I have not grown L. australis either so there is no way I could rule them out. Also, Meg's soil's parent material is coral and these plants have full sun and both of those influence plant appearance. For example, L. australis growing as an understory plant in a NSW euclaypt forest looks much different than one growing in Meg's garden. So, all I can say with confidence is they are not L. chinensis and that they could be a hybrid.

BTW, sorry Wal for perpetuating the hijacking of your L. decora thread!