Cryosophila stauracantha (formerly C.argentea), Rootspine Palm has started flowering here at Leu Gardens. The inflorescence is really beautiful. It is a nice light pink color that fades after a couple days to a cream color. The common name comes from the fact that the palm develops "spines" along the trunk. These spines are actually roots. This palm is native to rainforests from southeastern Mexico to Honduras.

The taller palm behind and to the left is another species of Rootspine Palm, Cryosophila warscewiczii

Awesome!

Way Kool!

Eric, thanks for the photos and info. I have C. warscewiczii and looking at other photos they looked the same, but now I can see some differences. Although the inflorescences look the same, mine don't

have the initial pink tinge and the base of the palms look a bit different as well. The spines on C. warscewwiczii aren't black.

Tim

We have four Cryosophila, two of which were given to us by nurseries. Both nurseries were not sure which species each palm was and told me that they are virtually the same. So I've just accepted ithe fact that I can't tell tell them apart. At least I can now eliminate .stauracantha Are there any cryosophila experts out there who would be able to identify them if I posted pictures?

Lee

A few years ago I had no idea palms could have attractive flowers! Thanks so much for continuing my education and maybe I can begin to identify my gift of a Cryosophila species. Great photos!

Nice. I've got some seedlings destined to be houseplants in my climate. How has either species looked following one of Orlando's rare, frosty winters?

We are in a very warm microclimate in metro Orlando so haven't had too many frosty nights here. They survived upper 20s here with little/no damage but they are growing under tree canopy. We have several specimens in the collection and all seem similar in cold hardiness; C. albida (now C. warscewiczii), C. argentea (now C. stauracantha), C. warscewiczii, and C. stauracantha. I have a C. guagara to plant out.

Eric, how much is admission into Leu Gardens? My family is going up that way for a Disney trip, soonish(not sure of the dates as it's for the kids, not me...). I convinced my wife to check out this garden--you have advertised it so well! Do you still have that Ceroxylon amizonicum, alive?

It is $10 for adults and 3 for children. If you have a membership at another Garden that is a member of AHS, such as Fairchild, then it is free as there is reciprocal membership program.

Awesome Eric!

Have you noticed any differences in their looks as young palms that would help telling the Cryosophila species apart?

I am growing C. warcewiczii for years now and my single seed grown one saw -2,5C under tree canopy with little damage,if any(wind used to shred it a lot so its difficult to say the degree of cold damage or if it just wind damaged,now that it's bigger it doesn't get much wind damage). Greenhouse grown C. warcewiczii's I have been planting the last two years to increase my numbers of this species,have been having a rough time acclimating,one died of bud rot after a brief drought,and my two others defoliated(one of the died to the ground,both recovered fine) in winter without seeing much cold but under deciduous tree canopy and thus probably got a good deal of frost. One of these two I have had for two winters and during both it died to the ground but it has been recovering exceedingly faster each year after winter. The other one I have had for only 1 winter and it retained its spear even though it was in a more exposed area under the same deciduous canopy and should have gotten frost too. It has recovered fine and it's slowly switching its leafs to acclimated ones. I think both are still in acclimation and still switching from the weak greenhouse leafs to acclimated ones that can take the conditions of my area and maybe they will eventually stop damaging and be like my seed grown one that doesn't care at all for winter and grows through it. I will be growing an evergreen tree in the area anyway as I hate deciduous canopy,so they will eventually also have evergreen overhead canopy.

Just my experiences growing this species in Pyrgos,a humid and rainy warm area of Greece with only radiational frosts and extremely rare and short adjacent ones.

It is $10 for adults and 3 for children. If you have a membership at another Garden that is a member of AHS, such as Fairchild, then it is free as there is reciprocal membership program.

I have been a member of the AHS for a long time. Is the Ceroxylon still alive? Thanks

The Ceroxylon parvuum I planted out several years ago is still alive. I planted a C. amazonicum earlier this year and so far it has survived the summer.

It is $10 for adults and 3 for children. If you have a membership at another Garden that is a member of AHS, such as Fairchild, then it is free as there is reciprocal membership program.

I have been a member of the AHS for a long time. Is the Ceroxylon still alive? Thanks

Awesome Eric!

Have you noticed any differences in their looks as young palms that would help telling the Cryosophila species apart?

I am growing C. warcewiczii for years now and my single seed grown one saw -2,5C under tree canopy with little damage,if any(wind used to shred it a lot so its difficult to say the degree of cold damage or if it just wind damaged,now that it's bigger it doesn't get much wind damage). Greenhouse grown C. warcewiczii's I have been planting the last two years to increase my numbers of this species,have been having a rough time acclimating,one died of bud rot after a brief drought,and my two others defoliated(one of the died to the ground,both recovered fine) in winter without seeing much cold but under deciduous tree canopy and thus probably got a good deal of frost. One of these two I have had for two winters and during both it died to the ground but it has been recovering exceedingly faster each year after winter. The other one I have had for only 1 winter and it retained its spear even though it was in a more exposed area under the same deciduous canopy and should have gotten frost too. It has recovered fine and it's slowly switching its leafs to acclimated ones. I think both are still in acclimation and still switching from the weak greenhouse leafs to acclimated ones that can take the conditions of my area and maybe they will eventually stop damaging and be like my seed grown one that doesn't care at all for winter and grows through it. I will be growing an evergreen tree in the area anyway as I hate deciduous canopy,so they will eventually also have evergreen overhead canopy.

Just my experiences growing this species in Pyrgos,a humid and rainy warm area of Greece with only radiational frosts and extremely rare and short adjacent ones.

They do look very similar when they are juveniles. I don't remember the differences as ts been awhile and thise are the only Cryosophila I have grown.

I have noticed too that the fronds are prone to wind damage, they can shred easily.

That is my favorite palm tree, I have 5 C. stauracantha's. Nowhere near that big yet, but I am working on it. What do they do with all of those seeds once they are ready? Do they sell them to raise funds for the gardens?

This is the first time it has flowered. There was another inflorescence before this, about a month earlier but no seed setting on it.

awesome flowers on an amazing palm cheers

Thanks !

I am not sure which species this is, but does anyone know when these fruits are ripe, or what size/color they get to?