Am I going to regret planting these Caryotas?

[Matt in OC]

I have a total of 5 Urens (?). They've all been put in the ground within the past year. The block wall is in super shape with a pretty large footing. Am I going to have problems down the road?

In the last picture, there are actually three trees, a little hard to see behind the berries and ensente.

I love these palms, but would probably rather rectify any problems they might cause now rather than later. Thanks!

[Gonzer]

Too close to the wall.

[Stevetoad]

do you have an easy way to get to them once they flower and die?

[_Keith]

As long as they die in the next couple of years, you'll be fine, lol. If they grow like the monsters I have seen in SoCal they are definitely in the wrong place. But, don't take my word and let a SoCal'er make that call.

[Pete in Paradise Hills]

too close to the wall , they may block out the sun for a sun loving palm, and you'll have a hell of a time removing them after they flower and die. .

[Matt in OC]

Thanks for the replies. The three in the final picture back up to the street so removal shouldn't be too hard, but the two in the first picture do not. I have a neighbor on that side, so those should probably definitely go. I'd appreciate any more thoughts and comments. Thanks!

[DoomsDave]

Mr. Friar, you're probably going to regret everything eventually.

Your urens are a bit close to your wall, judging from your pictures.

Urens get LARGE.

Here's a pic of mine from a distance. They're the tallest palms in the picture. ERUPTING just to the right of that poor dormant Liquid-expletive-ambar in the foreground.

Those are 40 foot telephone poles. The urens were 3 foot tall 5-galloners back in 2003-4. I estimate they're about 60-70 feet tall. Average. BIG is 110 feet.

They are SO EXPLETIVE MAGNIFICENT. But . . .

[DoomsDave]

Here's a picture of the base of my largest.

The Shoe is 12.5" (32 CM) long.

[DoomsDave]

Here's a wholly gratuitous night time picture.

Why?

Why not?

Your palms will squeeze up close to your wall, but the roots won't hurt it.

Removing them when they get their End of Life Orgy and die must be considered. Their wood is hard like stone. NOT like a washie.

Shoot me PM to discuss more, or, come visit and see.

[Matt in OC]

Wow, what great looking Urens you have!

It's good news to hear that they won't hurt the wall, and removal from between me and my neighbor would probably be the biggest concern, but they're such awesome looking palms, and how nice is it to have something grow that fast?? Part of me feels that it'll be a (relatively) long time until I'll have to deal with removing them, but at least the street-side ones would be pretty accessible.

Given what I've heard, I'll probably remove the two in the first picture and keep the three that have a bit more room. Do these transplant well at this size (~10 ft. tall) or should I just consider them a lost cause?

Thanks for all the advice, Dave, and everyone else!

[OverGrown]

they grow large FAST! I planted three and had to remove them 2/3 yrs later... They are not an easy removal as the trunk is very dense and fibrous. I would take them out now while its still manageable. they should only be planted where there is ample space.

[Gtlevine]

I would remove them now. Caryota grow fast and they all seem to flower in less than ten years. Right when they are looking good you have to cut them down. Also, the wood is super hard and roots tough, so digging them out in that spot will be a painful task. I cut out three Caryota gigas that were only 15' and it was torture, but im glad i did, saved me the grief later. There are many more better options for you.

[Josh-O]

Here's a picture of the base of my largest.

The Shoe is 12.5" (32 CM) long.

002.JPG

Dave, I can smell your show from here..

[Moose]

I would remove them now. Caryota grow fast and they all seem to flower in less than ten years. Right when they are looking good you have to cut them down. Also, the wood is super hard and roots tough, so digging them out in that spot will be a painful task. I cut out three Caryota gigas that were only 15' and it was torture, but im glad i did, saved me the grief later. There are many more better options for you.

So true, been there done that. I still have a Caryota maxima that is 40+ foot tall that I don't want to deal with. It looks magnificent but I dread the time I'm gonna have to remove it. I keep it plenty watered and well feed to prevent it stressing and going to seed. Have a Caryota cumingii that is in it final days, that one was stressed by neglect and seeded earlier than is usual.

[Josh-O]

Unfortunately, I have made this mistake with A C. gigas and it is starting to lift up my fence. get them out now while you still can

[Jim in Los Altos]

My tree guy had my oldest and fruitiest C. urens cut down in less than 30 minutes. All 25 feet of trunk cut in three foot sections were gone in what seemed like a flash. The tree was 15 years old. Another is flowering in my backyard so it will be gone in maybe five years. The base of the one cut down has rooted fast so there was no need to remove it or roots when the rest of the tree was cut down. I just planted an orchid on it. My C. gigas, C. no, and C. alpinia are growing fast and I hope I get lots more years out of them but those are the last Caryota I will ever plant. There are plenty of other palm genus with fishtail type leaves that will outlive me instead of the other way around.

I'd leave yours right where they are and enjoy them. If they were C. gigas, I might be warning you though since their trunks are positively massive but I think your urens will be fine there.

[Josh-O]

My tree guy had my oldest and fruitiest C. urens cut down in less than 30 minutes. All 25 feet of trunk cut in three foot sections were gone in what seemed like a flash. The tree was 15 years old. Another is flowering in my backyard so it will be gone in maybe five years. The base of the one cut down has rooted fast so there was no need to remove it or roots when the rest of the tree was cut down. I just planted an orchid on it. My C. gigas, C. no, and C. alpinia are growing fast and I hope I get lots more years out of them but those are the last Caryota I will ever plant. There are plenty of other palm genus with fishtail type leaves that will outlive me instead of the other way around.

I'd leave yours right where they are and enjoy them. If they were C. gigas, I might be warning you though since their trunks are positively massive but I think your urens will be fine there.

I totally agree with Jim

[DoomsDave]

ScionFriar, maybe take a few pics close up of your fishtails' leaves so the leaflets can be seen better. It's possible you might have something other (and smaller) than urens.

Like ochlandra, about 1/2 to 1/3 the size.

[Jim in Los Altos]

I just noticed that my post should have had the words rotted and rots in its third sentence instead of rooted and roots. It takes on a different meaning for sure.

[Josh-O]

agreed.

[Mike in Nelson]

I have a C gigas planted in a similar position close(ish) to a wall. I'm probably more doomed than you are Mr Friar.

[_Keith]

I just noticed that my post should have had the words rotted and rots in its third sentence instead of rooted and roots. It takes on a different meaning for sure.

I guess it is like those word games that go around. By context, my mind put in the correct words and I had not realized until now you said rooted.

[Jim in Los Altos]

I just noticed that my post should have had the words rotted and rots in its third sentence instead of rooted and roots. It takes on a different meaning for sure.

I guess it is like those word games that go around. By context, my mind put in the correct words and I had not realized until now you said rooted.

Keith, for sure. Funny how my fingers typed roots when my mind was thinking rots though. It's just an extra o but then I did it again in the same sentence!

[Matt in OC]

ScionFriar, maybe take a few pics close up of your fishtails' leaves so the leaflets can be seen better. It's possible you might have something other (and smaller) than urens.

Like ochlandra, about 1/2 to 1/3 the size.

Most look the same and I'm pretty sure they're urens. An example is in the first picture.

There's a younger one that looks a bit different, in the second picture.

[Al in Kona]

If it were me I'd remove those first 2 for several reasons. Those trunks do get large and the space where they are growing is dangerously small. They are not a long lived palm and then comes the problem of removing them. Caryotas are beautiful palms but plant them where access for removal can be done more easily.

If you remove those two what were you thinking of replacing them with?

[Matt in OC]

I could replace one with an 8-foot Wody that I recently pulled as it was getting drowned in its old location.

I have any number of currently small palms that I could put there. It's my west wall and gets direct sun for a few hours, and then only things above the wall/neighbor's house will get sun for the afternoon. I have a Hedy, D. lutescens, Teddy bear, C. nucele, or Chambeyronia. All of those should grow up into some sun pretty well. Thanks for the advice!

[Gtlevine]

Wodyetia is a perfect palm to replace them with, I like that idea. Wodyetia are pretty palms that are not too tall so you will always have the crown lower for better visusal. Also they will not get that fat and raise the ground. I would definately replace them with Wodyeti or similar.