I was driving in the neighborhood and ran across these beauties.....hard to believe it so I took several photos...I will get to know this gentleman....he is my new hero....

I'm sorry but those aren't bottle palms (hyophorbes). I think those are ravenea. Although they are pretty good substitutes for that latitude.

Edited August 18, 201510 yr by Cocoa Beach Jason

Interesting looking majesties

I am glad I got your attention!

Yep, Majesties. Still not something you see every day. Is this in Brentwood John?

Ravenea rivularis

Yep, Majesties. Still not something you see every day. Is this in Brentwood John?

Yup...very surprising....

Interesting! Well, I am having good success with R glauca, so maybe not a total shocker?

There was a very nice one growing down the street from me.

New owner moved in and took a chain saw to it.

Hard to get these things established in our heat.

To good to be true, alas! Though in the costa tropical of Spain, more or less at same latitude with NoCa, I think that Hyophorbe does grow outdoors, but this should be really very exceptional.

They are cool looking. And P. roebellinii next to em?

Interesting! Well, I am having good success with R glauca, so maybe not a total shocker?

The winters here generally do them in...we get colder here and stay colder than Clayton/Concord. The past 3 or 4 years we have has as a rule pretty mild temps for out area and that may be the reason they have achieved the size that have today, along with the fact they are generally protected from the dry winter breezes we get here and they are placed where they get the most heat during the winter days....below 30 for these guys is very hard on them.

Here is a happy bottle in NorCal

Here is a happy bottle in NorCal

Very nice! How long have you been growing it? Any protection in winter?

Objection! It`s growing in a pot, so not an example for a safe conclusion, but otherwise a BIG applause for this accomplishment!!!!

I've had it for a couple of years and I'm not letting it see below 35F. Outside temps for the same period have seen a low of 30F so I don't want to take any chances Although eventually it will be too large for a pot.

Edited August 20, 201510 yr by enigma99

Nice Derrick! I wouldn't want to have to wheel that thing around all winter.

Nice Derrick! I wouldn't want to have to wheel that thing around all winter.

It will go under canopy and stay there until it is safe. Last year my canopy low temp was 36F. But if we get a freak freeze then I am going to have a lot of work to do

Bottles in CA want full sun in the summer but canopy in the winter, so they are hard to find a good spot in the ground

Edited August 21, 201510 yr by enigma99

If we get a freak freeze, I'm just screwed. Too much in the ground to try and protect...

I planted 4 in the ground at beginning of summer. They are just thriving. Everyone tells me they gonna die? Why? I live in San Diego, 7 miles from the beach, enough inland for heat, and it will never get below 50 degrees at night in the winter so why would it die? I'm gonna prove everyone wrong lol. we will see.

Here is 1. Will up load more later.

I love those bottles!

Nice Derrick! I wouldn't want to have to wheel that thing around all winter.

It will go under canopy and stay there until it is safe. Last year my canopy low temp was 36F. But if we get a freak freeze then I am going to have a lot of work to do

Bottles in CA want full sun in the summer but canopy in the winter, so they are hard to find a good spot in the ground

Well, Derrick, then you might feel sorry for us here in The Netherlands, who have to do this job twice a year?!

Wim.

I planted 4 in the ground at beginning of summer. They are just thriving. Everyone tells me they gonna die? Why? I live in San Diego, 7 miles from the beach, enough inland for heat, and it will never get below 50 degrees at night in the winter so why would it die? I'm gonna prove everyone wrong lol. we will see.

I think your bottles should do quite good

I planted 4 in the ground at beginning of summer. They are just thriving. Everyone tells me they gonna die? Why? I live in San Diego, 7 miles from the beach, enough inland for heat, and it will never get below 50 degrees at night in the winter so why would it die? I'm gonna prove everyone wrong lol. we will see.

I think your bottles should do quite good

Sounds like they should do good for you. As long as the roots don't rot during winter. They are kinda like coconuts I guess.

Here's my Bottle. It made it through last winter unprotected. I plan on buying more since they look so cool.

Its the one on the left.

Danny,

Try putting you next bottle in a more exposed area. It may just make it in you climate with out protection like coconut palms in la Quinta?

Bottle palms get a bad rap here in southern California. I have a fatty with 15 rings of trunk that gets 6 hrs of south facing sun every day 9 miles inland in Vista and has done great.

Josh,

I do plan on planting the next ones in a more open area. I want the neighbors to be able to see them as they drive by. I think I can get away with that as long as I throw a blanket over them to protect them from the few freak cold nights.

That sounds like a a good plan