Growing King Palms in Johannesburg, South Africa

[ryangraham]

Hi

My name is Ryan and I'm new to this forum. I live in Johannesburg , South Africa. Johannesburg is approximately 2000 feet above sea level and I recently planted 4 King Palms in my garden. Now I probably am taking a long shot growing these palms here. We experience warm to hot summers between 30- 35 degrees celcius in Summer and between 25 - 0 degrees in the winter. The winters vary an often get cold snaps. The King Palm I believe is origin of Australia and we have very similar weather. It's only the altitude that differs. I'm so obsessed with planting these palms because of their beauty.

The only problem I have is that I planted these palms just before winter and they seem to be doing fine, with new shoots coming out already. I'm just very worried about the winter ahead. I have put a frost barrier around them, the see through white one but keeps coming off in the wind. Is it only the roots I have to protect of the leaves as well? I have read up quite a bit on the net regarding this but there's no information regarding my location in Johannesburg.

[DoomsDave]

Ryan!

Welcome to the board!

Keep us apprized of your palms' progress.

Maybe show us some pictures of Jo'burg?

[empireo22]

King palms can take quite a bit of cool weather and grow quite far from the equator. but i think kings would be better suited for pretoria than johannesburg, too much frost in Johannesburg, but being agaisnt the wall should add heat. I would only protect if it forecasts for below -4. im sure there are many microclimates in johannesburg right? keep us updated.

[Hammer]

Welcome Ryan!

It really is all about microclimates. If you have a good one, then no problem. A cold one, then it may be a challenge.

Do your palms have a northern exposure? That may help. Are you on hill? Or in a valley? That will make a difference too.

Please do stay on palm talk. You will learn a lot, make some good friends and please keep us informed with updates on your palms as you go through winter. ...if you explore PT you will see many threads containing complaints and hand wrining about weather. You are not alone.

Again, welcome!

[Dypsisdean]

Are there any other palms in your neighborhood? If so what kind. Do you see any Queen palms around?

[redant]

"the see through white one but keeps coming off in the wind. Is it only the roots I have to protect of the leaves as well?"

Yes the growth point in the crown and leave as well if possible and frost is expected. As dean said, what palms grow around you?

[redant]

A quick google stroll down the streets of Johannesburg , South Africa makes me believe these don't stand a chance, Just my opinion. Big old CIDP's is all I see as far as palms.

[empireo22]

Queens do grow in Jo-burg. Jacaranda mimosifolia is also common.

here is a link showing fruiting bananas and queens in Johannesburg.

http://www.goo.gl/maps/JRzQj

Edited June 2, 2013 by empireo22

[Tassie_Troy1971]

Should be ok as Archontophoenix thrive down here in Southern Tasmania at 43 deg south .

Troy

[Peter G]

Queens do grow in Jo-burg. Jacaranda mimosifolia is also common.

here is a link showing fruiting bananas and queens in Johannesburg.

http://www.goo.gl/maps/JRzQj

Had a quick look through the streets after following this link and noticed the following palms

Queens (plenty)

Washingtonia

Trachycarpus

Phoenix C

Phoenix R

Butia

[Peter G]

and Chamaerops Humilis

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Climate averages for Johannesburg are similar to the San Jose area in Northern California, except you have the ideal setup of almost no precipitation in the Winter. Kings do grow around the San Jose area and get burned occasionally, and on a real bad freeze will actually die. But because it's so hot during the Summer, they regrow rather quickly. I doubt you get the same severity of freezes in Johannesburg that the San Jose area gets.

Just be prepared to loose some fronds some Winters, you average about 5 days below 0C per Winter, that's not bad, not even worth worrying about.

[ryangraham]

Wow thanks so much for all the feedback! Yes we do get quite a few palms that grow well in Johannesburg. Cocos Palms ( not sure of the scientific name ) grow plenty here! Anyway my kings are doing well. They're growing new shoots and seem still very green and look healthy. I gave them some slow release fertilizer some weeks back so not sure if that helped. But to be honest there are so many mixed articles about growing king palms. Some say that -3 degrees celcius will kill them and others say different. I guess I'll just have to see! We're halfway through winter now so hope they hold up. I want to plant some royal palms in my garden in Summer so that too will be interesting!

[ryangraham]

I'm mainly protecting for the early mornings here in winter. This is our coldest time before the sun rises! I think I'll just keep on protecting irrespective of the forecasts. They cost me a fortune these palms!!

[ryangraham]

Queens do grow in Jo-burg. Jacaranda mimosifolia is also common.

here is a link showing fruiting bananas and queens in Johannesburg.

http://www.goo.gl/maps/JRzQj

[ryangraham]

Yes we do have many palms that grow here in JHB! But King Palms are really never seen here! In Durban's tropical climate you see tons if them, as well as Royal palms. So lets see what happens. Thanks for the info though!

[ryangraham]

Climate averages for Johannesburg are similar to the San Jose area in Northern California, except you have the ideal setup of almost no precipitation in the Winter. Kings do grow around the San Jose area and get burned occasionally, and on a real bad freeze will actually die. But because it's so hot during the Summer, they regrow rather quickly. I doubt you get the same severity of freezes in Johannesburg that the San Jose area gets.

Just be prepared to loose some fronds some Winters, you average about 5 days below 0C per Winter, that's not bad, not even worth worrying about.

[ryangraham]

Yes you're right thanks! We do have many microclimates here and can vary from neighborhood. But it does get pretty chilly in the mornings! Sometimes when the wind blows in winter it obviously gets a bit colder. Yes almost zero winter rainfall here but beautiful warm winter days about 25 degrees celcius so ill water quite a bit throughout! Thanks again for your info!

Ryan

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Yes you're right thanks! We do have many microclimates here and can vary from neighborhood. But it does get pretty chilly in the mornings! Sometimes when the wind blows in winter it obviously gets a bit colder. Yes almost zero winter rainfall here but beautiful warm winter days about 25 degrees celcius so ill water quite a bit throughout! Thanks again for your info!

Ryan

Ryan, often palms are not readily available because nursery folks simply conclude they're too marginal. Most public palm planting choices are generally super conservative. You have a fabulous climate for king palms, even if you get some frond burn, don't sweat it, you have plenty of warmth and they will recover quickly. King palms are essentially weeds, they actually grow too fast and need to be replaced after about 20 years. I planted one 10 years ago that I already need to replace because it's too tall.

[ryangraham]

Thanks Axel! Haha weeds! I guess that's a good way of thinking or seeing it! I paid about $120 for the bigger kings and about $ 20 for the smaller ones. Crazy! But I do live these palms and its worth it for me because they are quite rare here. You're right, most nurseries here are very conservative and will seldom sell exotic palms not native to South Africa. Anyway thanks again.

Ryan

[ryangraham]

Wow that's crazy! I heard kings can grow 3 feet per year. Is that realistic? I've actually planted mine way too close together and too close to the wall. A friend of mine is a landscaper and he said they will adapt. Hope this is true!!

[Hammer]

Wow that's crazy! I heard kings can grow 3 feet per year. Is that realistic? I've actually planted mine way too close together and too close to the wall. A friend of mine is a landscaper and he said they will adapt. Hope this is true!!

I think your friend is right. They will adapt. Would probably be better with a little more space but I wouldn't worry. It's more about aesthetics, imo.

[Walter John]

What species are they ? (yes I can tell by looking) This vague common term name is okay to use as a general reference to the family of Archontophoenix but when you're asking some specifics I strongly urge everyone to doco the species. This is necessary especially in this thread as we are talking temps etc and whether these palms will do alright in J berg, and different species of "King" palms will take cold depending on which species they are.

Dean has asked the best question, are there any other bangalows (A.cunninghamiana) growing in the area ? If so, take a good look at them and this will guide you. For frost protection, coverage must go over the whole plant.

[Cedric]

You're right, most nurseries here are very conservative and will seldom sell exotic palms not native to South Africa. Anyway thanks again.

Ryan

Ryan while I love exotics outside of South Africa I'm actually rather indifferent to them when Im at home being a bit of a conservation natzi. However having said that if you go to the Park Hyatt in Rosebank JHB you will see some "kings" growing with unabashed ease near the ornamental pool area back of the main lobby. But even more spectacular by far is the all mighty clump of Phoenix reclinata P canariensis hybrid. It's a shocker like Reclinata on steroids, this particular specimen seems to have the same trunk diameter of canariensis literally but with the clumping habit of reclinata something I've never seen before.

[maxtboshoff]

King palm.

Hi people I also love the king palm, and I want to grow these palms from seeds, maybe just as a hobby. Is there any one that has experience in growing and germination of the king palm. I have read that these palms the(archontphoenix) is relatively easy to grow from seed live in vaal triangle meyertron about 60km and don't think growing them here will be such a great risk.

[maxtboshoff]

Sorry typing to fast and leaving out info. I live about 60km from jhb in meyerton. We can have very cold winters sometimes. Maybe I am taking a gamble to try and grow them here, or I should get a palm more suitable for colder winters.? What does anyone think?

[Alicehunter2000]

Meyerton? Ahhhh.....north or south of JHB S. Africa?

[maxtboshoff]

South of jhb.

[maxtboshoff]

Yes south africa