Madagascar Screwpine - a killer tree for Cali

[trioderob]

did not realize what a nice tree this is for Cali till I saw a very nice example over the 4th

what an interesting tree for Southern Cali

Edited July 6, 2015 by trioderob

[trioderob]

[trioderob]

[trioderob]

[masatepino]

A very impressive plant. But nasty spines...

[Sandy Loam]

I thought I had seen Pandanus Utilis around Southern California when visiting. Perhaps I was mistaken. Perhaps I was driving by Draecena Draco and mistaking them for Screwpines.

BTW, Pandanus Utilis tree is extremely common in South Florida and is occasionally seen in Central Florida. I love them and only wish I could grow them this far north in the state.

[trioderob]

they grow here - why cant they grow in FL ?

"SCREW PINE" - has a nice ring to it- no ????

Edited July 7, 2015 by trioderob

[tropicbreeze]

The fruit looks a lot like Pandanus aquaticus, but the rest of the tree is quite different.

[Pedro 65]

Pandanus utilis ( screwpine in US, common name in Oz is Pandanus red edge) is the "fastest " Pandanus to "enjoy" watch grow, "great" pics Rob Pete

[Jeff Searle]

I would never, ever plant one of these in my yard and their not very popular here in south Florida. They were more popular back in the 70's and 80's though. But their extremely messy all year long and the leaves are too big to mow over if planted in the grass. They have to be picked up or raked. You rarely see them anymore in the landscapes and for good reason!!

[trioderob]

wow - ok

I take it back then

'screw pine - a horrible tree for Cali"

(look pretty bitchin tho.......... )

Edited July 7, 2015 by trioderob

[DoomsDave]

The leaves are also spiny. They leave rows of little holes in your skin, and the spines break off and lodge. Not fun.

[trioderob]

ok - I get it

worst post I ever made......................

[Pedro 65]

ok - I get it

worst post I ever made......................

Far from it Rob, they would grow much slower in Cali than Florida, thats why Jeff would hate them as they would grow so fast and to keep a clean trunks they shed the lower leaves ( and "not" all year, just in the "fastest " growing season// I pick up all the fallen leaves b4 I brush cut, they are a great looking Pandanus, plant 1 Rob, "ALL" Pandanus have spines on their leaves, toughen up Dave, or wear "Gloves"

[Silas_Sancona]

Spiny or not, love Pandanus. Maybe they speak back to my Hawaiian heritage.. or perhaps i also have a knack for some savagery in the garden. Anchor plant anyone?

-Nathan

[Hammer]

They remind me of my time in Polynesia. Love the tropical look of them.

[trioderob]

[tropicbreeze]

ok - I get it

worst post I ever made......................

............., "ALL" Pandanus have spines on their leaves, toughen up Dave, or wear "Gloves"

Pandanus amarylifolius doesn't have spines, one of my NOIDs only has small very fine spines, and dubius has pretty ineffective ones. Most of the rest I have, like tectorius, spiralis, aquaticus, basedowii, are well endowed though. But I still like them, I have hundreds on my place, mostly spiralis.

[fastfeat]

Where is this tree-- San Diego? I've seen small ones occasionally in coastal areas, esp. in San Diego Co. Not cold tolerant enough for regular use in most of SoCal. Best suited for collectors' gardens in mildest areas, IMHO. Well-grown ones are indeed impressive. Hurricanes hammer them in SoFla; slow to regrow their symmetry after damage.

[Josh-O]

there are a bunch growing up here in North County San Diego.

If you have the room I say DO IT!!!!

super slow growers for us her in cali

[Palms1984]

I've seen many Pandanus in San Diego. My friend has several and they grow quickly with regular water (which is a rare commodity these days). He's taken large branches and planted them or given them away and they grow easily from large cuttings in summer.

[buzzmonkey]

Wow- that looks like Hawaii or somewhere else equally luscious and tropical.

[Donald Sanders]

I have always loved Pandanus. Many years ago when I lived in S. Cal., I grew Pandanus. I was not alone. I remember at Lotusland, there was a beautiful Pandanus Vietchia.(who knows real nomenclature). I had no trouble with it either, I had many kiekis. I germinated the native Hawaiian from seed I collected here and I grew it outside for many years, albiet in pots. I gave plants to friends and they were beautiful. My friend Barry Osborne has a huge beautiful specimen in Santa Barbara. There was a huge one in a court yard about 3 streets up from the ocean on Santa Monica Blvd.

Our room mate, the late Ron Harris was the curator of palms at the Huntington Gardens, I helped him plant some beautiful Pandanus in the garden and I hear that now 25 years later they are flourishing.

Pandanus monotheca is magnificent. Huge, super fast, slightly blue, almost black trunk and I hear it is OK with a light frost in a chilly climate. Cheap on line from growers in Thailand. I'd try that too.

In my opinion there are many beautiful species of Pandanus that will grow in S. Cal.

It's hard to find real rare or unusual species to buy or even trade. I have about 12 species. Few collectors out there.

Good luck in S. Cal. with Pandanus. The only drawback for you is that they love water.

Aloha, Don

[raimeiken]

awesome looking trees there. I like weird plants like these. I don't mind the spines at all. Would they survive in 9B zone? or only in frost free areas?

[Geoff]

many grow well in 9b California… can't speak for Arizona heat, but the cold and clay soils not a big problem

few maturing Pandanus utilis in California (first shot is plant about 30' tall)

Pandanus utilis and furcatus in my yard (zone 9b)

[Sandy Loam]

awesome looking trees there. I like weird plants like these. I don't mind the spines at all. Would they survive in 9B zone? or only in frost free areas?

I am no expert on these plants, but I have seen pandanus utilis growing randomly in Central Florida zone 9b, so I would assume that it is fine in all 9b zones including the Phoenix, Arizona region. Parts of Central Florida are 10a though.

It should be fine in full, blasting Arizona sun with no shade. As others have mentioned, giving it enough water is likely to be your problem, along with the spiney leaves.

I have another type of pandanus growing in zone 8b/9a and it has survived two winters outdoors with no protection, but some of the leaves look damaged and need to be clipped off by February or March. It takes at least three months for the crown to fill out again after it has had a haircut. Mine, however, is a pandanus furcatus. Several Orlando, FL pandanus furcatus are features in the link below with photos:

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/16887-pandanus-furcatus-updated-photo/

I don't think it is a long term pandanus in my zone, but it could be in yours. For me, it is more of an experiment. In a few years, I will probably experience a freeze bad enough to kill it. In the meantime, though, it is pretty interesting looking. I think it must be over six or seven feet tall by now (to the upper arch of the highest leaf). I hope it will reach a good twelve feet tall before our winter weather final kills it.

[Eric in Orlando]

In FL, Pandanus utilis is a zone 10A plant, borderline in the warmest parts of 9B. Back in the cold winter of 2009-10 winter many of the bigger P. utilis that were growing well around in Orlando dies. Some survived. P. utilis doesn't like long prolonged cold like we had that year.

Pandans are one of my favorite groups of plants. I am experimenting with about 25 species here at Leu Gardens. Rarepalmseeds.com has been getting some unusual species in the last few years.

Pandanus furcatus has handled cold well as has P. tectorius. Surprisingly P. monotheca has not suffered from cold either. RPS has offered quite a few New Caledonian pandans and these seem reasonable cold hardy and cool hardy. Pandanus dubius (pacificus) has proven the least hardy. It is a zone 11, borderline 10B plant. It always suffers below about 42F and dies around 36F.

[trioderob]

that what I like about the palm forum - solid replies

[Silas_Sancona]

In FL, Pandanus utilis is a zone 10A plant, borderline in the warmest parts of 9B. Back in the cold winter of 2009-10 winter many of the bigger P. utilis that were growing well around in Orlando dies. Some survived. P. utilis doesn't like long prolonged cold like we had that year.

Pandans are one of my favorite groups of plants. I am experimenting with about 25 species here at Leu Gardens. Rarepalmseeds.com has been getting some unusual species in the last few years.

Pandanus furcatus has handled cold well as has P. tectorius. Surprisingly P. monotheca has not suffered from cold either. RPS has offered quite a few New Caledonian pandans and these seem reasonable cold hardy and cool hardy. Pandanus dubius (pacificus) has proven the least hardy. It is a zone 11, borderline 10B plant. It always suffers below about 42F and dies around 36F.

Good info Eric, Also remember a number of larger P. utilis specimens burning badly after the 09-10 freeze around Tampa and Pinellas county. All but a couple recovered nicely that following summer.

Will have to find a couple next Spring to try in Phoenix. "Screw Pine meets Saguaro" ...interesting.

Nathan

Edited July 14, 2015 by Silas_Sancona