Washingtonia filifera in Naples FL

[Palmaceae]

I started a new job last week and noticed something unusual for South Florida, a very nice Washingtonia filifera planted near the corner of the building I am in. Does not look like a hydrid either. Now I want to find one and give it a try. This is in Naples right off of 41.

[Xerarch]

Certainly looks like a filifera to me, nice find, surprising that it looks that good, usually the Florida ones look sickly.

[Kris]

Thanks for those Beautiful visuals..

Love,

Kris.

Edited January 2, 2015 by Kris

[DoomsDave]

Pastor Randy:

I'm far from the last word on this, but my observation is that pure fillies don't like humidity like Florida's much. I suspect the one in your picture could be a hybrid between robusta and filifera, as they will take FL weather better, or so I've heard.

That said, if it's a filly, it's a filly. It certainly has the thick, straight trunk, and lacks the robusta lean. Look as closely at the crown as you can. In a pure filly, the bases of the petioles are completely green; if it's a mutt, it will have some of the brown coloration that robustas have.

If you don't mind hybrids, I can send you seeds. They're being fruitful out here, and multiplying - and MULTIPLYING. If I can't get you seeds, there's bound to be someone who can. Someone from a place like New Mexico will have purebred fillies, as they will take the cold but mutts and robustas can't.

(Shoot me a PM if you like.)

[Palmaceae]

Thanks Dave,

I will take a closer look at the petiole bases next week. The leaves are not the typical green like robusta but more like the grayish/light green like filifera. It definitely could be a hybrid. Looks like this one finished seeding a while back. I would like to get some seeds of a hybrid as they are quite uncommon out here. I will PM you.

[Lou-StAugFL]

There are plenty of these in Galveston Texas that look good and it is as humid as Florida. Surprised there are not more in Florida especially in north and central Florida.

[howfam]

Hey guys, tell me what you think this palm in Lake Worth, Fl. is, true Filifera or Filibusta. I think it's a Filifera with its thick trunk and more olive green leaves. The trunk is also flaking as Filifera will do in humid climates.

[Palmaceae]

Looks like a Filifera, but could be a hydrid.

I looked more closely at the one I found in Naples and the outer part of the trunk is flaking off just like the one you have pictured here. Also it has pure green petioles all the way to the base so I am thinking the one in Naples is pure Filifera.

[howfam]

Hey guys, tell me what you think this palm in Lake Worth, Fl. is, true Filifera or Filibusta. I think it's a Filifera with its thick trunk and more olive/yellow green leaves. The trunk is also flaking as Filifera will do in humid climates.

[howfam]

Palmaceae:

I think the flaking, green petioles, thick trunk, all point to Filifera, but who knows for sure if some tiny bit of Robusta might be present, contributing to their survival in Florida climate. See these Filiferas here in Jacksonville, Fl. outside a Denny's Restaurant. I think they are true Filiferas.

[Matthew92]

I remember seeing at the Silver Sands outlet mall in Destin, FL a clump of Washingtonias with one being thicker and filifera-like. Just looked and was delighted to see it's on streetview: here it is. What do you think? Hybrid? pure filifera? My gut tells me it really is a filibusta.

Now here's a zoom in

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

The ones pictured in Jacksonville look like filifera's as the fronds are dead from the horizon line down and they have serious girth. All of the others pictured look like mutts to me. That's my 2 cents.