planting Wallichia disticha

[junglegalfla]

OK, at the risk of sounding like a goof   my question is this.

Does the Wallichia disticha prefer to be planted east/west or doesn't it matter? I ask because the other plant I can think of with similar branching is the traveler's tree. They will eventually try to turn them selves east/west.

[spockvr6]

(junglegalfla @ Mar. 08 2007,14:31)

QUOTE

They will eventually try to turn them selves east/west.

Thats gotta be an old wive's tale junglegal!

Ive seen too many of them which face in other directions!

[junglegalfla]

I've seriously seen them doing that Larry. One in the lot behind me was planted north/south and it is now starting to turn! My friend has a large 10 yr old tall speciman. They let 2 pups grow and although they didn't start off that way, they too are following in moms footsteps and turning e/w.

[Walter John]

(junglegalfla @ Mar. 09 2007,04:31)

QUOTE

OK, at the risk of sounding like a goof   my question is this.

Does the Wallichia disticha prefer to be planted east/west or doesn't it matter? I ask because the other plant I can think of with similar branching is the traveler's tree. They will eventually try to turn them selves east/west.

Yes, East/West is the go.

[MattyB]

Well, I don't know about them turning and stuff but, they do like the sun when they get older, so I'd plant them east/west for best sun exposure so the leaves won't be shading themselves.

[junglegalfla]

I am shooting this pic toward the west. The neighbor's travellers behind me was planted north/south. I've watched it for the last five years, it's twisting counter clockwise east/west more and more each year.

[PalmGuyWC]

So?  Back to Wallichia disticha.  I hear they want to lean, one way or the other, and no matter which way they are planted, they will want to lean.

If I had one, I'd plant it north/south so it would get an equal amount of sun on each side.  Then if it wants to twist, then it will.

Dick

[bgl]

Yes, they do like to lean. Not sure about the east-west thing, have to check mine. Planted 4 of these about ten years ago from 1G pots, and wasn't really thinking about what direction they were facing. But I did plant them all straight up! After a few years, they all began to lean. This one is probably the most severe case.

[MattyB]

Is it leaning towards the light, or do they just topple over somehow?

[Jeff Searle]

Bo,

 By the looks of yours in the picture, it has to be leaning towards more stronger light,no?  I have seen many of these over the years, and never seen one leaning. Mine is out in full sun, it's no giant by any means(maybe 12') and is straight as an arrow. This palm grows straight up, no differently than any other.( not including rattans,etc.)

  As far as the east-west thing, mine is planted in this direction only because of the limited space (in the swale area along the street)I had in the landscape.

Jeff

[bgl]

Jeff,

You're probably right. The one in my photo above is leaning in a southerly direction, but I think the clue is really that there is denser vegetation to the right of it (north of it). My other 3 are leaning in various directions, but in all cases it's probably because they're leaning away from other palms. I have never seen any other palm lean this dramatically, though.

Matt,

I havn't had one topple over yet, but you never know. There's always a first time...

Bo-Göran

[BS Man about Palms]

Anyone know which way Ralph Velez's is oriented?  Looks real nice.   I think its east-west.

[Breadfruit Bill]

All the leaning questions make me wonder about the root structure of this plant?  I've never observed it, but could a small rootball have something to do with it?

[Carlo Morici]

In the year 2000, I planted 6 W.disticha at the palmetum, forming an "arch", therefore oriented in different directions. They did not turn at all and they are still forming the same arch with the same orientations.

Other friends in the Canaries told me their plants turned. But "mines" did not.

Carlo

[Walter John]

Mine is only a few feet high and it leans already, pic later.

[Geoff]

I don't know how many have seen Mardy Darian's amazing collection of Wallichia distichas, planted along side his house (didn't notice them at first- were just trunks by the trail)... had many trees there (this was 6-7 years ago.. may have all flowered by now)... all facing different directions.  I have had several planted and no turning noticed... my current plant is facing north-south and seems happy that way

[MattyB]

(BS, Man about Palms @ Mar. 08 2007,20:03)

QUOTE

Anyone know which way Ralph Velez's is oriented?  Looks real nice.   I think its east-west.

Bill, it's situated due east/west.  I just looked it up on a map.  I assume that he planted it that way because it's in the parkway, in between the sidewalk and the street.

[junglegalfla]

I'm glad to get so much feedback on this thread. Sorry I got a little off track w/ the travelers. The leaning propensity is of great interest. I had not known that. I'm glad I posted! My yard is a small 55X127'. Where ever I put this, I don't not want it leaning, especially toward my home during hurricane season. So far, I'm leaning (excuse the pun) toward an east/west exposure away from the house.

[Carlo Morici]

Fernando in Tenerife grows a few W. bifurcata in the garden. Here is one - he says it turned.

[Ken Johnson]

If you search the word "lean" on PALMTALK it may lead to this post.

distica does like to lean.

BTW travelers that are clumping have all, NSEW, orientations.

[Carlo Morici]

Well, today I realised that one of the six W.disticha I planted at the Palmetum is blooming after just 6 years. So soon we will have five Wallichia. And none turned a single degree.

It is really the shortest-lived palm of the world.

[wendisplantation]

well, I realize I am a bit late on this, but just now reading this thread... I have a Traveller's tree that i have had for 3 years. It has very little trunk as yet, but when my boyfriend moved it (in a huge pot)a year after we had it, he did not orient it e/w as I asked him to, and that thing did start to turn. It has spent the winter in my natural vine cave in the lot next door, but I will have him get  it out, and if it still has the little twist in it I will take a pic. I tried to germ W. disticha once, with no luck...Drats, they are so unique looking...Would love to see Carlo's Arch.

[fiji jim]

I have yet to plant a Wallichia in the ground but have planted many traveller tree/palm.

None have been oriented in any special direction and none have turned except when overcrowded with suckers the suckers twist some looking for space and light.

Someone told me that it is called the traveller tree as it will always align to north/south. It's B S.

They are called the traveller tree because of the enormous amount of water that each branch holds thus providing a drink for the traveller.