Most palms in my garden have a story.My Pseudophoenix sargentii probably has the longest.

I arrived in Guatemala in January of 1989 and was disappointed by so few palms being available.I started searching and started hearing about a fellow American that was interested in palms.He lived in Masagua,a hellish town on the coastal plain.I made it there in 1991 and found there had been an American living there and that he even had a nursery.He had died.

I saw where the nursery had been with a few plastic pots toasting in the sun.

After months of investigating I learned that some of his stock ended up in a nursery in Siquinala,so that is where I first saw my P.sargentii. The owner knew it was rare but would not sell it.It was a sad looking palm,almost a bonsai in a five gallon paint bucket.I began a long friendship with Don Pedro and gave him many palms and seeds.I always checked on the poor P.sargentii and it was still in that paint bucket.Almost ten years passed and during one visit Don Pedro gave me the palm.Don Pedro was in his 80s then.

In 2003 I planted the palm in my new beach garden.It did nothing for many years ,but eventually started putting out more fronds and even put on a few inches of trunk.

Today I almosted fainted when I saw the inflorescence.It would be incredible for it to produce seed and I could continue the legacy.

Beautifully grown! It's no surprise that it's now flowering!

Beautiful palm Scott. I haven't been to Siquinala in years, I wonder if Don Pedro is still alive.

Nice palm-passionated story, thanks.

This is almost the way I got a Sommieria from a srilankan grocery owner, but only after 3 years

Beautiful palm Scott. I haven't been to Siquinala in years, I wonder if Don Pedro is still alive.

Peter it would be a miracle if he was still alive.I think it has been six years since I last visited his nursery.I drove him to his daughters house to show me the Dypsis leptocheilos I had given him many years ago and it was setting seed. He did not own the land where his nursery was.It was leased.

Nice palm-passionated story, thanks.

This is almost the way I got a Sommieria from a srilankan grocery owner, but only after 3 years

Philippe I think it is always important when visiting another garden to remember that the palms and plants seen represent far more than just a collection of species especially when you live in a country where it is difficult to acquire new plants.

I wish I could just place an order online or go to an incredible sale at a variety of local nurseries.

Beautifully grown! It's no surprise that it's now flowering!

Thanks,now lets see if it sets seed.

Such a bitter-sweet story and the resultant palm is now so attractive!

Such a bitter-sweet story and the resultant palm is now so attractive!

Jim it seems everything in Guatemala is bitter-sweet.

What a great story. I've been fascinated by this palm species for several years, and I hope to be in a situation to grow my own soon. It would seem that it is slow-growing even in a truly tropical climate. Thank you for saving it!

I took these this morning.The flowers were covered with bees.

Beautiful palm Scott. I haven't been to Siquinala in years, I wonder if Don Pedro is still alive.

I finally made it to Siquinala this afternoon and am very happy to report that Don Pedro is still there and is doing very well for a man in his 90s.I was able to tell him about the Pseudophoenix and show him the photos.He wants some of the seeds and also asked me for some Bismarckia seed.

I hope I am as vibrant and active as he his if I make it to my 90s.

In have a happy update on my Legacy P. sargentii. After many years of seeding attempts this palm actually has several clusters of ripe seeds. I would estimate 30 . They are almost ripe ! Cannot wait to see if they are viable !

Really enjoyed your story.

14 hours ago, joe_OC said:

Really enjoyed your story.

Thank you, the next part of the saga is to see if they actually germinate.

16 hours ago, Really full garden said:

In have a happy update on my Legacy P. sargentii. After many years of seeding attempts this palm actually has several clusters of ripe seeds. I would estimate 30 . They are almost ripe ! Cannot wait to see if they are viable !

Thanks for sharing.

Best of luck on the seed germination.

UPDATE  

I was very pleased to see the first seeds germinating! 
I germinate hundreds of seeds every year , but these are really special.

Hopefully I will have a forest of these thriving at the beach to remember Don Pedro.