Mule Palm in Full Shade/Filtered Light

[nitsua0895]

I made the terrible mistake of planting a Mule palm in my front yard where it gets shade from three different oak trees all throughout the day. During the winter when the sun angle is lower and the trees have lost their leaves it's fine but of course it won't be growing much during that time of the year. So is this palm doomed unless I cut back or cut down one of the trees to at least get it full sun during the afternoon? 

It gets filtered light in the middle of the day and it's still pushing out new growth but I read on the Jungle Music website that Mules can languish when they don't get enough sun.

 

[mcrawford]

My mule is planted in full sun in central Az for the past 3 yrs and does fine.

A more fitting question might be will this guy transplant.

[nitsua0895]

1 hour ago, mcrawford said:

My mule is planted in full sun in central Az for the past 3 yrs and does fine.

A more fitting question might be will this guy transplant.

I planted it in February so it's probably not very established. Have you transplanted a Mule before? Here's a photo of mine.

 

[DoomsDave]

Hmm.

Shade is no problem for a mule. Not much fazes them. Eventually, it will get tall enough to pierce the canopy and get the sun. Or if not, then . . .

Depending on how cold it gets, the overhead oak tree cover could be a lifesaver. You're in 'Bama, which gets cold. Not like Ohio, but too cold for a delicate tropical flower like me and most of the other PT habitues.

I'd leave it where it is, and get another one to plant in full sun. Then see what happens, Then tell us. If they both grow, that will be nice to know, since a mule is bodacious enough canopy to maybe protect tenderer plants beneath.

(I admit to bias, with a yard having something like 300 palms in the ground.)

[Collectorpalms]

Most important is early morning sun in Winter, so that during bitter cold spells, the trunk will warm fairly rapidly from sun. Also* one grown in Summer sun* will make a thicker trunk that will be more likely to take on one of those 2 or 3 days below 32F events.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Collectorpalms

[Ben in Norcal]

If you want to move it, do it now.  It won't have rooted in much if at all - you can probably pop it right out with no set back whatsoever.  

[ErikSJI]

This Mule palm is surrounded by huge oak trees. Rarely gets direct sunlight. Mule palms transplant easily. They do better in direct sunlight. I have a few friends that have been growing them indoor as well in Canada for the last 5 years.

[mcrawford]

We have below freezing weather here every winter.

Last yr the mule spot got to 26F.  It has been as cold

as 22F w/o damage, but it warms quickly in the morning.

[Alicehunter2000]

It will be fine....maybe even look more stretched out and coconut looking in the shade. Tough palms for sure.  Most of mine are in dappled shade and do great.

[Ben in Norcal]

3 hours ago, Alicehunter2000 said:

It will be fine....maybe even look more stretched out and coconut looking in the shade. Tough palms for sure.  Most of mine are in dappled shade and do great.

What a perfect-sized mule, David!