Rivularis' first rough Winter

[Scott]

I planted this one in November! Breaking every rule, I suppose.

Here it is just planted...

Then came late December and our usually high winds reached over 80MPH. We even recieved roof damage. But the Rivularis held strong.

Then came the Freeze..... yikes

I really didn't know what to expect. Well it's a bit thrashed, a bit burned, but somehow it's love goes on ???

[Scott]

We'll see what happens in the extreme valley heat in summer... but on the opposite...

Now I'll be planting it's brother or sister in a completely shaded area. Here it is waiting for the darker underside of a very large shade tree

Either way, One in hot sun, the other in shade, they'll both be exposed to the high winds. But at least they'll be able to look at each other.

They both get flooded regularly, and a barrage of food, supomag, etc thrown at them. Hopefully that'll help.

[paulgila]

wow,everything is so orderly in your garden!i mean that in a good way--everything i do has a kind of chaos to it.

[Scott]

Thanks Paul, It's a work in progress. It's actually the side yard.

One of these days I'll do a post of it's progress. A year ago, it was a barren, weed ridden area where nothing had grown in decades.

[paulgila]

i seem to remember seeing pics from last year & it is coming along nicely!

[Scott]

Here is a pic of the area last Spring. Other than advice I've recieved from the forum, I've had no help.

Now today. You'd never know it, but there's 15 palms in this picture and room for more!

[paulgila]

its gonna be really cool there in a few years!

[JimR]

I have a R. rivularis is a semi-protected area (i.e., it is near the house and behind some Veitchias, but otherwise in 50%+ sun on the North side of the house).  It seems to take whatever is thrown at it as long as it gets enough water.  The only burn I have ever seen on it was, I am sure, from not enough water.

[Fred Zone 10A]

Your majesty will come back once the weather starts to warm up as long as you keep it well watered.  Ravenea rivularis was one of the very first palms I planted in 2001 (got it from LA Dave).  Back then I had so few palms that my wife gave each a name.  She stopped that long ago, as I must have about 300 palms, including a half dozen majesties.

I'm going to borrow the photo below, taken on Sunday, from the thread about rock walls.

The majesty was planted in 2003 from a 24" box.  It had about a foot of trunk at the time.  It is in full, inland sun and always looks great.  We get Santa Ana winds at least once a year, including gusts of up to 100 mph.  Nothing seems to phase this palm.  The secret is a big watering basin that I fill nearly every day from March through November and at least once a week from December through February.  This palm LOVES water (and fertilizer).

Oh, and even though this majesty is out in the open, it showed no effect from our freezing weather last month.

[Palmy]

Those majesty's are just so beautiful. I hope one day I can actually be able to plant one here.

[Scott]

Fred, that Rivularis is just beautiful! I sure love them. And they live up to their common name.

It's real encouraging to see that one, and hear you guys talk about it taking whatevers thrown it's way. I imagine you must recieve similar afternoon temps in the sun as we do here in Granada Hills during the summer. It can be brutal. But there's plenty of water too!

There's one on a cross street close by I always check out when I take the dog for a walk.

Thanks for posting the pic.  

Matty - how's that one doing by your driveway?

[Exotic Life]

Scott, over a few years it's a very nice place to walk around i think! Keep up the good work

Fred, You're Rivularis is very nice! Beautifull palm ...!

Robbin