Medemia argun in Florida

[Eric in Orlando]

This Medemia argun is growing at Leu Gardens in Orlando. It was planted in July 2012. I have tried quite a few in the past without success . They were all planted in areas with regular irrigation . This one is growing in the Arid Garden. It is poor sandy soil with added rocks. It gets no irrigation and is happy.

[DCdesertpalm]

Thanks for sharing. Great growth for not having irrigation. If you can, find the thread I started about my Medemia.

[Zeeth]

Here's the one at Kopsick

[palmsOrl]

That one at Kopsick may need some fertilizer or something, it's looking a bit peaked

[rick]

That one at Kopsick may need some fertilizer or something, it's looking a bit peaked

Looks about as good as a California coconut

[edric]

Thanks Eric, Ed

[Jeff Searle]

Eric, as you know, many times it requires a spot that you try to duplicate as close as possible the cultural conditions that the palm is native to. You might have just found that. Good luck.

[Eric in Orlando]

Thanks for sharing. Great growth for not having irrigation. If you can, find the thread I started about my Medemia.

It should be happy there in the hot desert!

[Eric in Orlando]

I wonder what happened to the one at Kopsick. Here it is in Sept. 2013...

[Eric in Orlando]

Eric, as you know, many times it requires a spot that you try to duplicate as close as possible the cultural conditions that the palm is native to. You might have just found that. Good luck.

This one is #14 that I have tried. They sprout very easily from seed and grow well in a container. Once in the ground the others just sulked for awhile then croaked. They were in full sun, good air circulation and well drained soil. But they got irrigated. This one that is finally growing gets no irrigation and is happy.

[hbernstein]

Montgomery had several growing on very dry limestone in full sun. Last time I was there, they were thriving and getting big.

[Eric in Orlando]

I forgot about those at MBC! I saw them a couple of years ago and they were very nice!

Is there any at Fairchild?

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

My excuse for every palm that fails to thrive and I can't otherwise explain is Root Knot Nematode. Maybe I should try Medemia agrun in my hydrophobic dirty beach sand and see if it feels at home. Certainly having no luck with Nannorhops, & Hyphaene. But I think the Hyphaene was so terribly root bound that its having trouble due to the potting soil drying out and not having enough roots into the surrounding "soil". Then again, between drought conditions, is flood. So that might be an issue too. I think the only palms I can grow (well) in this hydrophobic sand is Saw palmetto and Sabal etonia. Even Washingtonia robusta just sits there like a bonsai specimen.

[Danilopez89]

That one at Kopsick may need some fertilizer or something, it's looking a bit peaked

Looks about as good as a California coconut

Here's a California coconut just for you...

[Eric in Orlando]

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

[Phoenikakias]

Here's the one at Kopsick

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

No wonder that the poor palm ended up like this with such mulch around root zone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is there any mulch in the 'Wadi's'?

[rick]

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

Sorry for trying to have any sense of humor although this somewhat relates to the topic. Like a coconut in CA, Medemia will have a really hard time in FL unless a lot of special measures are taken. This palm comes from one of the most arid places on earth. We get more rain in a month of our "dry" season than the Nubian Desert gets in a year. Presumably then it would have little to no need for any sort of defense against fungal attack. When combined with our plentiful rain and humidity its a recipe for disaster.

Here is a Medemia at Montgomery Botanical Center taken last year during the IPS biennial tour.

It is growing on almost pure rock and if I remember correctly our tour guide even mentioned they had trouble with this species. The coconuts growing just a few feet away seem quite happy though.

[LJG]

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

Sorry for trying to have any sense of humor although this somewhat relates to the topic. Like a coconut in CA, Medemia will have a really hard time in FL unless a lot of special measures are taken. This palm comes from one of the most arid places on earth. We get more rain in a month of our "dry" season than the Nubian Desert gets in a year. Presumably then it would have little to no need for any sort of defense against fungal attack. When combined with our plentiful rain and humidity its a recipe for disaster.

Here is a Medemia at Montgomery Botanical Center taken last year during the IPS biennial tour.

DSC_0067.JPG

It is growing on almost pure rock and if I remember correctly our tour guide even mentioned they had trouble with this species. The coconuts growing just a few feet away seem quite happy though.

DSC_0072.JPG

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

Sorry for trying to have any sense of humor although this somewhat relates to the topic. Like a coconut in CA, Medemia will have a really hard time in FL unless a lot of special measures are taken. This palm comes from one of the most arid places on earth. We get more rain in a month of our "dry" season than the Nubian Desert gets in a year. Presumably then it would have little to no need for any sort of defense against fungal attack. When combined with our plentiful rain and humidity its a recipe for disaster.

Here is a Medemia at Montgomery Botanical Center taken last year during the IPS biennial tour.

DSC_0067.JPG

It is growing on almost pure rock and if I remember correctly our tour guide even mentioned they had trouble with this species. The coconuts growing just a few feet away seem quite happy though.

DSC_0072.JPG

I liked the coconut joke

As far as the amount of precip, I don't think that is really it. I think it is related to soil culture. Maybe they don't like basic soils of FL? The reason I don't think precip matters as much is because look at these growing in Thailand at Nong Nooch:

[Danilopez89]

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

Sorry for trying to have any sense of humor although this somewhat relates to the topic. Like a coconut in CA, Medemia will have a really hard time in FL unless a lot of special measures are taken. This palm comes from one of the most arid places on earth. We get more rain in a month of our "dry" season than the Nubian Desert gets in a year. Presumably then it would have little to no need for any sort of defense against fungal attack. When combined with our plentiful rain and humidity its a recipe for disaster.

Here is a Medemia at Montgomery Botanical Center taken last year during the IPS biennial tour.DSC_0067.JPG

It is growing on almost pure rock and if I remember correctly our tour guide even mentioned they had trouble with this species. The coconuts growing just a few feet away seem quite happy though.

DSC_0072.JPG

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

Sorry for trying to have any sense of humor although this somewhat relates to the topic. Like a coconut in CA, Medemia will have a really hard time in FL unless a lot of special measures are taken. This palm comes from one of the most arid places on earth. We get more rain in a month of our "dry" season than the Nubian Desert gets in a year. Presumably then it would have little to no need for any sort of defense against fungal attack. When combined with our plentiful rain and humidity its a recipe for disaster.

Here is a Medemia at Montgomery Botanical Center taken last year during the IPS biennial tour.DSC_0067.JPG

It is growing on almost pure rock and if I remember correctly our tour guide even mentioned they had trouble with this species. The coconuts growing just a few feet away seem quite happy though.

DSC_0072.JPG

I liked the coconut joke

As far as the amount of precip, I don't think that is really it. I think it is related to soil culture. Maybe they don't like basic soils of FL? The reason I don't think precip matters as much is because look at these growing in Thailand at Nong Nooch:

Wow those things are real beauties! They look pretty tall too. I wonder why they don't like Florida. Looking at DCdesertpalm's mademia thread they seem to be pretty fast. Over on his side of town he has fast draining soil. Mainly sand from the sand dunes. And gets TONS of sun exposure. I wonder how much he is watering his mademia.

[Eric in Orlando]

That is odd they are a struggle in FL and not at Nong Nooch.

[Eric in Orlando]

Please lets keep this a coconut free post and stick to Medemia and growing it in Florida, Arizona, California, etc. Theres plenty of coconut topics elsewhere.

Thanks!

Sorry for trying to have any sense of humor although this somewhat relates to the topic. Like a coconut in CA, Medemia will have a really hard time in FL unless a lot of special measures are taken. This palm comes from one of the most arid places on earth. We get more rain in a month of our "dry" season than the Nubian Desert gets in a year. Presumably then it would have little to no need for any sort of defense against fungal attack. When combined with our plentiful rain and humidity its a recipe for disaster.

Here is a Medemia at Montgomery Botanical Center taken last year during the IPS biennial tour.

DSC_0067.JPG

It is growing on almost pure rock and if I remember correctly our tour guide even mentioned they had trouble with this species. The coconuts growing just a few feet away seem quite happy though.

DSC_0072.JPG

I just didn't want the thread to turn into yet another CA Coconut topic since 2 out of thousands tried are growing there. (But it is a good comparison!)

[Eric in Orlando]

Are there any others in FL growing? It seems very touchy here, like Livistona carinensis.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I swear, its nematodes!

[Eric in Orlando]

Definitely with Chamaedorea!

[Phoenikakias]

It does not like cool and moist together, this combination presents the best recipe for a quick killing. A cold and desicating dry northern wind seems to help decisively in my climate for the survival plus a couple of application of a copper based fungicide during winter, plus my dry summer... Otherwise it loves pumice.

[Beach palm]

I have four small ones, about 12-18" inches tall growing by the beach in st. Augustine Florida. Also a nannorrhops and hyphaene. I grew the medemia from seed. I planted the fastest grower in 2014 and the other three this spring. They seem to be doing good so far. They are quite the bluish grey color. They are in an area that gets frequent irrigation from a well water sprinkler system. I only amended the soil very slightly and other than the potting mix they are basically planted in beach sand. I have a very slight pine park mulch around them. I have been fertilizing them lightly with a pro palm mix. We'll see how they do. I am keeping my fingers tossed. I do basically cut the water off to all my plants in the winter. The summer heat really seems to burn it off. I am more concerned with rotting in the winter. The other two also seem to be doing ok so far. The hyphaene did not like the winter and got a pretty good burn even though most of the palms came out unscathed. It did come back quickly and seems to be growing good this summer.

[oliver]

I agree whole heartedly with Len. I suspect it has something to do with Florida soil. In Brownsville, we have slightly basic (around pH 7.8) soil. We do have cool moistish winters and receive less rain than Florida but reasonable (30 or so inches per year) Myself and friend Dr. Romeo Montalvo have the only ones that we know of around here. His is 12 or so years from seed and mine is about 6 or 7 years. Both receive decent light but are irrigated regularly in addition to the rain. They have proven to be very hardy and quite fast growing. Our Livistona carinensis, Hyphaene's and Nannorhops also seem to do very well despite not being in a desert.

[LJG]

I agree whole heartedly with Len. I suspect it has something to do with Florida soil. In Brownsville, we have slightly basic (around pH 7.8) soil. We do have cool moistish winters and receive less rain than Florida but reasonable (30 or so inches per year) Myself and friend Dr. Romeo Montalvo have the only ones that we know of around here. His is 12 or so years from seed and mine is about 6 or 7 years. Both receive decent light but are irrigated regularly in addition to the rain. They have proven to be very hardy and quite fast growing. Our Livistona carinensis, Hyphaene's and Nannorhops also seem to do very well despite not being in a desert.

Wow, nice one. Thats only 12 years old?

[oliver]

No word of a lie Len. That big one belongs to Romeo Montalvo. He bought his property 15 years ago and wasn't much into palms at first. I talked to him today and he recalls getting one of the first batches of seeds from Toby a few years after he moved there. He got 10 seeds and every one germinated, but 9 out 10 died when the roots hit the bottom of the pot. He noticed the trend and put this one in the ground within 6 months of germination. Dates were not recorded but he is fairly sure it is no more than 12 years old. It is a male btw, just in case someone has a female! Romeo is looking to be cupid!

[Zeeth]

I agree whole heartedly with Len. I suspect it has something to do with Florida soil. In Brownsville, we have slightly basic (around pH 7.8) soil. We do have cool moistish winters and receive less rain than Florida but reasonable (30 or so inches per year) Myself and friend Dr. Romeo Montalvo have the only ones that we know of around here. His is 12 or so years from seed and mine is about 6 or 7 years. Both receive decent light but are irrigated regularly in addition to the rain. They have proven to be very hardy and quite fast growing. Our Livistona carinensis, Hyphaene's and Nannorhops also seem to do very well despite not being in a desert.

Nice! It seems like they're fast growers when they're happy. The one at Kopsick was sllllloooooowwwwww so I wasn't incredibly surprised when it bit the bullet.

[Kris]

Nice visuals, Thanks.

Love,

kris.

[Tingtongthai]

Pranburi Thailand 1  year 3 months in the ground, Im looking for more seed if anyone has them, Nong Nooch have some but not selling or answering e mail about it at the moment

[Josh-O]

nice!! What a great looking palm!!! 

[Tingtongthai]

This is about 2.5  years from seed

[DCdesertpalm]

Wow! I thought mine was growing fast. Guess not. Great palm!

[edric]

I agree whole heartedly with Len. I suspect it has something to do with Florida soil. In Brownsville, we have slightly basic (around pH 7.8) soil. We do have cool moistish winters and receive less rain than Florida but reasonable (30 or so inches per year) Myself and friend Dr. Romeo Montalvo have the only ones that we know of around here. His is 12 or so years from seed and mine is about 6 or 7 years. Both receive decent light but are irrigated regularly in addition to the rain. They have proven to be very hardy and quite fast growing. Our Livistona carinensis, Hyphaene's and Nannorhops also seem to do very well despite not being in a desert.

 

Wow, nice one. Thats only 12 years old?

I think it's the same Fungi that kill 'Mad-fox', Ed

[Josh-O]

bump!!

can anyone tell me where I can buy this palm? I'm looking for one to plant at my Vista garden.

Heck, seed will even do  

thanks for your help.

please send me a PM if you have any available or any possible leads

[quaman58]

Josh,

 

Randy (Inland palms) has picked up a couple from Kevin Weaver in the past. They're just buried within a bunch of other stuff according to him..

 

Bret

[Kris]

Dear Paul,

Nice and healthy Nubian Desert palm and thanks for the visuals..

Love,

Kris Achar

 

[Kris]

6 hours ago, Josh-O said:

can anyone tell me where I can buy this palm? I'm looking for one to plant at my Vista garden.

Heck, seed will even do  

thanks for your help.

please send me a PM if you have any available or any possible leads

Dear Josh,

i got my Medemia palm seeds from Rare palm seeds site.Fresh and all of them germinated for me(my pack was small pack)

http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/small.shtml

In a particular season or month they have it.

Love,

Kris.