Planted my Dypsis decipiens finally

[Patrick]

Hello all,

I just thought I'd share with you; there has been a lot of talk lately about D. decipiens. Between Jeff in Modesto's awesome tree and the Recent thread by Fallbrook Jason, I realized I HAD to get this thing in the ground! No excuse, really, for waiting this long.

I have a warm, southern facing sunny spot in my front yard and I can't believe it took me this long to decide on this spot- doink! I had a succulent called "pigs ears" growing in the spot that weren't looking so good. They had to go! So, here are the pics of the palm in it's new location:

Trying to get the height right:

Here's a shot up close of the base. This one in particular is the best grower of 3 that I have. All came from Perry at SLO Palms. The other two have stalled on me. I think I was giving them too much water, so I'm trying to save them.

I have killed so many of these in pots from overwatering it's not funny at all! I was really paranoid about the roots also so I cut the pot away from the root ball in the hole. The root ball was pretty wet still so I held off on watering it in once I finished back filling. Maybe I will do that in a couple mornings from now. I feel like I've learned these palms don't care much for wet feet, yes?

Fortunately this is a raised bed with loose sandy soil on top, so I have high hopes that she'll make it. It's clay after about 18", but if Jeff's palm can make it out there, mine can make it out here.

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I don't botch this one! Oh yeah, and no Dypsis decipiens planting is complete without one of these:

Thanks MattyB!

[Stevetoad]

With the Mattyb speed ring that thing will be over head next year

[Patrick]

Here's some more of the good stuff I have around the yard. I re-did the yard about 3 years ago so this stuff has been through two winters now...

Up above you can see a Brahea decumbens planted next to the D. decipiens.

First up is a ButiaxParajubea from Patrick Schaffer. It was pretty darn small when I bought it, maybe juvenille leaves if I recall. I bought it at the very last Nor Cal Palm meeting at Dick Douglas's house so that will give you a feel for how old it is. Maybe 5 years old total?

Next is a Brahea nitida in the center of the grass. I realized the grass needed a trimming AFTER I took the pic, my bad.

Let's see, next is a Jubaeopsis caffra, it's gotta be like 6 years old from a 5 gallon. three years in the ground. It's grown much faster since I planted it. The pink bush to the left is thanks to Jim in Los Altos (thanks Jim!). I forget what it's called. Roots easily from cuttings, though, which is nice!

Look what I found, surprise surprise!

Crinums and a Dioon edule (not sure which one). It's, uhhhhh..... the one that made it out of the three

And, here's a couple shots of the yard overall:

There's a couple of other nice little things tucked in here & there, but this is the bulk of it. Meat and potatoes, so to speak. Hope you enjoyed the tour!

[Stevetoad]

Looks great!

[Sabal Steve]

Nice place. That J. caffra looks perfect.

[Sutter Bob]

I'm rooting for your decipiens!

They're looking more and more like winners up here too.

I'll have to try a Jubaeopsis caffra again.

I lost a Butia x Parajubaea that I bought from Patrick at that meeting but a mule I got there is taking off like a rocket.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you there.

Are you growing ambositrae, betafaka, baronii, or onilahensis?

[Patrick]

Thanks Steves and Bob!

I am trying onalihensis. I've had them for 2 years now at least and have 3 out of 4 still (lost 1 this spring). I think I found a spot to showcase one in the backyard. It's under canopy for protection in a part sun location. Let's hope for the best. They're in large liners so they're small still. It looks like I have 2 clumpers and one solitary.

I have found that the frost burns the leaves pretty reliably so I'm hoping they will harden up a little as they get larger. I tried a couple baronii many years back and they seemed to take the winters really hard, eventually died.

[Patrick]

My Strelitzias are so happy where I have them I figured the climate would be right for the caffra as well. So far so good!

[Sutter Bob]

Baronii under an eave on south side of house are through two or three winters now but are still small.

One thing I've noticed almost paradoxically is that some seedlings seem to do well close to the ground and then as they get taller and more exposed they succumb to the cold. I've seen that with a number of Archontophoenix.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

That jubeaopsis looks fabulous! Your decipiens is a slam dunk, you're not that far from Jeff Earl and he's got an enormous one. Give it lots of water and it will take off.

You should also try an ambositrae, those are dynamite for Norcal.

[Sutter Bob]

Axel,

I'm with you on the ambositrae. So far so good for two here with a bit of overhead canopy.

Give em a try Patrick if you get the chance.

Onilahensis have been tough for me but I think I've finally got a clump growing. They are not a slam dunk here.

[dalmatiansoap]

Bravo!

Definitive that not so many ppl can brag with flowering Jubaeopsis. WTG!

[Ben in Norcal]

That Jubaeopsis is awesome. I just planted a 5g I got from Patric Schafer. I'm not far from you so great to see yours doing so well. I love the petioles.

[Hilo Jason]

Looking really nice!!

[Patrick]

Thanks for the kind words.

Here are some more pics of that Jubaeopsis, different angles. This one split on me as soon as I planted it. It followed the same pattern as Jason's dypsis- with the double spears coming out of the crown and all...............

Funny thing is the younger of the two is the one that's flowering. I guess I should check around the older one....