I saw a huge specimen of this palm at Dick Douglas garden and it wasn't exactly in desert conditions, as a matter of fact I'd say it was quite damp in that area. So, the question is how wet can it go? I am about to find out. But please weigh in. Where is the wettest place you have seen one?

Well, here we go. May not be a good test, as the soil fell apart from the root ball upon de-potting. Didn't break any roots, but it is safe to say they were disturbed. I think I'll leave the second one potted this year. Although you can't tell in the picture, this is a good sandy mix and about a foot above ground level. I also put down some lime in the surrounding area, and mixed in some fine limestone from the driveway in the planting mix. Looks like we have a solid week of rain coming up, so that's not good. But come April we will dry out hard for 3 months or so. Crossing my fingers.

I have a large one at my house. It is under irrigation, so it gets plenty of water. It's in sand, so the drainage is great. I also have a seedling one at work. Two years ago, it thrived on 34" of rain in three months. Also in sand with perfect drainage. Both are in full sun.

there is a pretty good sized one here sitting in the back that seems to not mind periodic flooding, the ground near the rear of the property is slightly heavier than the front and tends to hold moisture better, its bloomed a few times but I have yet to get any viable seed

there is a pretty good sized one here sitting in the back that seems to not mind periodic flooding, the ground near the rear of the property is slightly heavier than the front and tends to hold moisture better, its bloomed a few times but I have yet to get any viable seed

How many 'heads' or apical points does it have? I thought that each head is hapaxanthic!

We must not confuse the arabica form or cultivar or variety or whatever with the ritchiana one whether from the Kashmir or the Mazari provenance. Former is practically a desert palm and behaves like this while latter behaves fairly differently. \My ritchiana while still in pot used to grow actively only during winter, when rainfall was high. Its substrate consisted of poor, native clay/stony soil. Subsequently, after it had been put in to the ground, it took off when I applied on the soil a water retention agent and covered existing top soil and part of plants aerial part with coarse sand!

This specimen at the Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota growth within a couple of feet from Sarasota Bay. It's been there for 25-30 years I believe and it's flooded with salt water every couple of years or so.

I must have the arabica form then because my leaves are they same color as a sliver bismarcks leaves

The big ones at both Montgomery and Fairchild are in the lowlands areas with brackish water close to the surface. Fairchild's is next to a lake. Mongomery's is in an area that periodically floods, sometimes with pure seawater.

Their leaves are pretty green; maybe that suggests where the original seed might have originated.

The big ones at both Montgomery and Fairchild are in the lowlands areas with brackish water close to the surface. Fairchild's is next to a lake. Mongomery's is in an area that periodically floods, sometimes with pure seawater.

Their leaves are pretty green; maybe that suggests where the original seed might have originated.

Thanks for that info. The more I learn about this palm, the more I realize how little I actually knew.

This specimen at the Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota growth within a couple of feet from Sarasota Bay. It's been there for 25-30 years I believe and it's flooded with salt water every couple of years or so.

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I think mine is planted in the wrong spot .....that thing is huge!

there is a pretty good sized one here sitting in the back that seems to not mind periodic flooding, the ground near the rear of the property is slightly heavier than the front and tends to hold moisture better, its bloomed a few times but I have yet to get any viable seed

How many 'heads' or apical points does it have? I thought that each head is hapaxanthic!

quite a few I'd say I counted close to 10 in this clump, so I guess its safe to say this is the arabic form??

The big ones at both Montgomery and Fairchild are in the lowlands areas with brackish water close to the surface. Fairchild's is next to a lake. Mongomery's is in an area that periodically floods, sometimes with pure seawater.

Their leaves are pretty green; maybe that suggests where the original seed might have originated.

When I saw the title of the thread,I thought intermediately of the palms that Harvey has mentioned.

This thread came at the right time for me. I was unaware of the root sensitivity issues. Can't speak for how they would do in wet conditions. Here's a picture of my Kashmir:

This is/was Rod Anderson's here in Phx. Since removed.

Well, it has survived the wettest windiest spring on record. Bed reached saturation many times. Here it is, recently unburied from weeds taller than it. And as you can see there are plenty weeds left. Yet, it lives and even threw a new spear.

Keith, They are fairly fast growers as well.

The silver form is a rocket ship in dry conditions with drip irrigation.