Florida yard palm project

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

4 minutes ago, Yunder Wækraus said:

I've come to realize that the omission of certain plants on the beachside is not due to a lack of plant interest on the part of property owners. So, now that I've been humbled, I've decided not to reinvent the wheel: I'm looking closely at what does grow well. The quick answer (beyond coconuts and sea grapes, both of which I have planted), is that several nice plants seem tough enough, including Delonix regia, the native S. palmetto and S. repens, and plumeria.

Good choices Alex.  I would go with those any day.  And don't forget the Natal Plum- VERY salt and wind tolerant, with dark green foliage, pretty little white flowers and a neat reddish purple fruit to eat too.  It makes a nice hedge.

[Yunder Wækraus]

11 minutes ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

Good choices Alex.  I would go with those any day.  And don't forget the Natal Plum- VERY salt and wind tolerant, with dark green foliage, pretty little white flowers and a neat reddish purple fruit to eat too.  It makes a nice hedge.

The Natal plum does look very nice. I'll have to seek one out soon. It's crazy to realize that salt damage on our island can be measured in yards from the beach. My papayas have held up really well--so well, in fact, that I would have told you that papaya is salt-hardy; however, I can show you two large papaya on properties that are 90 yards nearer the surf, and they look awful during the winter (stripped of highest leaves, remaining leaves stunted, etc.). So, yeah, papaya are more salt-tolerant than royal palms (in my limited experience), but they're not really plants that want that salt-laden wind. I'm also looking to invest in acquiring my missing Florida thatch palms: Thrinax radiata and Leucothrinax morrissii.

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

31 minutes ago, Yunder Wækraus said:

The Natal plum does look very nice. I'll have to seek one out soon. It's crazy to realize that salt damage on our island can be measured in yards from the beach. My papayas have held up really well--so well, in fact, that I would have told you that papaya is salt-hardy; however, I can show you two large papaya on properties that are 90 yards nearer the surf, and they look awful during the winter (stripped of highest leaves, remaining leaves stunted, etc.). So, yeah, papaya are more salt-tolerant than royal palms (in my limited experience), but they're not really plants that want that salt-laden wind. I'm also looking to invest in acquiring my missing Florida thatch palms: Thrinax radiata and Leucothrinax morrissii.

I love Thrinax radiate, and have one in my front yard that is about 5 ft. tall in overall height.  It has been in the ground for about 2.5 years.  It looks good and healthy, but has just been growing so slowly.  I think I need to give it twice as much water when it's not raining.  I am not familiar with the Leucothrinax.  I will have to look it up.  Is a Florida native too like the Thatch Palm?

I bet your area is real similar to South Padre, where they get a LOT of salt spray on the Gulf side of the houses and buildings, but on the leeward side (Laguna Madre) side of the houses and buildings it is a whole lot less.  The Royal Palms exposed to the salt spray look horrible, but the ones on the leeward side of the buildings look fine.

[Yunder Wækraus]

29 minutes ago, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

I love Thrinax radiate, and have one in my front yard that is about 5 ft. tall in overall height.  It has been in the ground for about 2.5 years.  It looks good and healthy, but has just been growing so slowly.  I think I need to give it twice as much water when it's not raining.  I am not familiar with the Leucothrinax.  I will have to look it up.  Is a Florida native too like the Thatch Palm?

I bet your area is real similar to South Padre, where they get a LOT of salt spray on the Gulf side of the houses and buildings, but on the leeward side (Laguna Madre) side of the houses and buildings it is a whole lot less.  The Royal Palms exposed to the salt spray look horrible, but the ones on the leeward side of the buildings look fine.

Yeah, L. Morrissii is a FL native too. And you're right: a block away from me toward the lagoon royals look great.

[Yunder Wækraus]

On 1/19/2016, 6:09:47, Mr. Coconut Palm said:

I love Thrinax radiate, and have one in my front yard that is about 5 ft. tall in overall height.  It has been in the ground for about 2.5 years.  It looks good and healthy, but has just been growing so slowly.  I think I need to give it twice as much water when it's not raining.  I am not familiar with the Leucothrinax.  I will have to look it up.  Is a Florida native too like the Thatch Palm?

I bet your area is real similar to South Padre, where they get a LOT of salt spray on the Gulf side of the houses and buildings, but on the leeward side (Laguna Madre) side of the houses and buildings it is a whole lot less.  The Royal Palms exposed to the salt spray look horrible, but the ones on the leeward side of the buildings look fine.

Here's a shot of my C. Argentata today (after the great cold snap of '16  ) https://youtu.be/yceNQQk1Orc

[Mr. Coconut Palm]

4 hours ago, Yunder Wækraus said:

Here's a shot of my C. Argentata today (after the great cold snap of '16  ) https://youtu.be/yceNQQk1Orc

Nice, your Coccothrinax is just slightly bigger than mine that I just planted the other day.  Your plants don't even look phased at all by the cold snap!

[Jupiter1]

On 6/14/2015, 12:45:06, Dave-Vero said:

Coonties are best moved in winter when they aren't very active and are less bothered by having roots cut and leaves lopped.

 

BTW, Kentiopsis. I have a small one going in the back yard, and persuaded a neighbor across the street to plant another.

The kentiopsis are doing great here in Brevard also. Quickly became one of my favs. I have a few dif sizes growing in Palmbay. Would be nice to see them start popping up in local landscapes. 

[Marius]

On 6/12/2015, 11:40:36, Yunder Wækraus said:

I'd like to do that eventually. My house is on city water, but it also has a well with a pump fir irrigation (free water for my plants!). There's no sprinkler system or anything other than a hose right now

Hi

I'm going through the same motions.  Drilled a well and have it connected to my house & yard water reticulation system, but sill need garden irrigation system.  Watering with a hose is hard work in a big garden. Good luck.  It's hard work, but well worth it.

regards

[Dave-Vero]

Regrettably, my Kentiopsis oliviformis flopped over in hurricane Matthew and died.  My neighbors' is just fine and had a splendid summer.  Death by flopping also happened this year to a vigorous  four-foot Copernicia baileyana at Heathcote Gardens in Fort Pierce this year, as a result of Irma.  Odd.  

But coonties are easy to move.