Hundreds have failed with beccariophoenix 'windows' in Southern California. I know, because I read all the old SCPS Journals that tell the tales of where even the best palm growers have failed. Yet there are a very small handful of successfully growing 'windows' palms in Socal, Quaman has one of them, it gets no special care and takes some frost and plenty of Winter chill every year in stride. Quaman's theory is that he just got lucky with a specimen that grows well.

So I thought I'd try one... no, wait, I tried four of them. Two that spent one Winter in Socal and two came from Hawaii. Well, one of the perks of living in a climate that is plagued with cold nights all year (as low as 44F in the Summer) is that there aren't many surprises left by the time Winter comes along. My fastest Summer kill was a coconut, it only took 3 weeks in July. Beccariophoenix 'Windows' is now my second fastest Summer kill, taking only 8 weeks: two down, one declining and one still looking good.

Did I win the lottery with the last one? Doubtful, it will be dead by December. There's some sort of strain of "Windows" that can take USDA 10a, but I think most beccariophoenix windows must be zone 12a palms. I still dream of finding a beccariophoenix 'quaman' someday, but alas, this time around it was not to be. Maybe I need to order a dozen from Floribunda and let nature select one that works for me. Perhaps the odds to get the 'quaman' form are even lower.

BTW, Beccariophoenix 'no windows' is also toast, spear pull last month on a 5g specimen. It didn't do anything all Summer, so no loss there. After I heard that Len's large 14 year old 'no windows' bit the dust this Summer, I decided not to replace mine.

So that leaves me with five beautiful specimens of beccariophoenix alfredii that certainly don't mind our cool nights at all. On the contrary, they grow with the same enthusiasm that my brahea palms grow, always pushing new spears and unfurling magnificent new fronds. A fellow Norcal palm grower even gave me one that was grown in Saratoga from seed to a 25 gallon size, and has survived many Winters without damage down to 25F out in the open.

So two potential palms species can now safely be scratched off my list, it's good because I need the room.

Bret is incredibly humble. He's a good grower in a sometimes less than optimum winter microclimate. A planting situated between two, two-story houses is always a sweet spot. Massive protection and thermal whatever you call it.

Bret is incredibly humble. He's a good grower in a sometimes less than optimum winter microclimate. A planting situated between two, two-story houses is always a sweet spot. Massive protection and thermal whatever you call it.

I am sure Bret is a good grower, and we E-mailed back and forth on this a bit.

Mine didn't even survive Summer in between two buildings. I'm pretty sure it's the luck of the draw with a good specimen. Everything was perfect, soil, water, fertilizer. One I could guess could be due to some sort of trouble, but three? That all points back to climate issues.

What are your summer temps like? 70's during the day?

I've heard more than one California grower say that we palm lovers here in Hawaii have it easy. Although I don't believe that that's totally true (We have our own set of problems and you also have better access to palms that can't be found it Hawaii.) it is certainly true of Beccariophoenix. They grow very well here and I've never heard of anyone having a problem with one. We have two of them (One window and one not.) One was planted 2 years ago after being in 1 tall 7 for a year. Since planting it has tripled in size. The second was also from a tall 7 but was stuck in its pot an extra year. It is now at least twice it's potted size.

Lee

What are your summer temps like? 70's during the day?

Upper 70's, some 80's and a few 90-95F. But it's usually 55F by sunset.

My gut tells me it's not your summer weather. Soil kept moist, but not wet, mulched, no water in crown, bright filtered light or part day sun? Just trying to eliminate the basics.

I see gravel around the base and you've mentioned how fast your soil drains. Maybe it's drying out too much between waterings, stressing it and allowing that crown rot in. How often are you watering this plant?

My gut tells me it's not your summer weather. Soil kept moist, but not wet, mulched, no water in crown, bright filtered light or part day sun? Just trying to eliminate the basics.

I see gravel around the base and you've mentioned how fast your soil drains. Maybe it's drying out too much between waterings, stressing it and allowing that crown rot in. How often are you watering this plant?

part day sun, micro bubbler twice a week, supplemental hand water once a week. It got the sane overhead sprinkler treatment that killed the 'no windows'. So water might have gotten into the crown.

the other one that's dying had same watering schedule but no overhead water. Third one is slowly declining as well.

Other palms get exactly the same treatment yet grow real well. Lasteliana highland form opened a new frond and now is pushing another spear. B alfredii going super strong, all growing solidly.

Lens loss was just a freak thing, not typical of No Windows. My Now windows are an easy grow as are most of them. Ditto for Alfredii. As far as the window version, i know of many of those growing in so cal. One by Clark in Rancho Sante Fe was giant. The thing about the windows version is they all look horrible, they are prone to nutrient deficiencies and always look yellow and sickly. But they handle the cold ok , but they dont look good enough to bother with.

Sounds like you're doing everything right. Not sure why they all die. I'd expect them to look crappy in your climate, but at least live through summer. There's just no reason that these shouldn't be thriving for you in summer. Now, in Winter, that may be a different story. Like Gary said, I wouldn't even bother with this species because it's so hard to make look good.

B. alfredii is the real winner. They perform just as well as a native here in Florida. They're one palm that you can just plant in the ground and forget about if you wanted, no fert or irrigation and they'll still grow fine. They're faster with that stuff of course, but it spells good news for them in the landscape industry.

Sounds like you're doing everything right. Not sure why they all die. I'd expect them to look crappy in your climate, but at least live through summer. There's just no reason that these shouldn't be thriving for you in summer. Now, in Winter, that may be a different story. Like Gary said, I wouldn't even bother with this species because it's so hard to make look good.

Matty, I've been told that the B. alfredii in Northern CA look and grow better than the ones way down south. Mine keep growing throughout winter and behave much like P. Torallyi. I'm not sure about B. mad. windows prospects though. Never tried it.

_{My alfrediis stop in the winter and regain momentum with the spring.....probably the multiple sessions of 25F or lower through the winter.....}