Filifera CAN grow in the southeast

[Brad Mondel]

How many times have you heard that Washingtonia Filifera cannot grow in the hot and humid southeast? Today that myth is busted with the discovery of a mature specimen near my home town. I'm located in Greenville, S.C which is a hardiness zone 8a. This palm has been here since 2000 and was planted along side with some filibusta hybrids which no longer exist. I suppose the hybrids perished from the cold and were removed but the Filifera survived. 

Here is the hybrid palms in 2011:

 Filifera:

 

And here is the Filifera now: 

Pretty incredible to see this species here. I never thought I'd see it again after leaving California. I am more confident in growing this species now. I do have a young specimen at home. 

[Matthew92]

I have recently sprouted seedlings. Excited to try them in ground here in NW Florida. Much of the not so good Southeast filifera trials I've heard/seen were in central/south FL where the humid/sultry conditions are almost year round, or at least much more than up here. I'm also eager to see how they're going to with our extremely fast draining soil. There is a wide median in the road leading into our neighborhood that I've tried planting trees in to spruce up. The soil is particularly dry and sandy (no irrigation) and maybe that would be a great place to try them.

[Alicehunter2000]

We have them here. Chevrolet place on 23 St. has some large trunking individuals that have been there for at least 20 yrs.....also there are a couple at the intersection of 23rd and Hwy 77 at the Hancock Bank. 

They will grow in North Florida but don't look that good IMO....Filibusta hybrid....even the ones that lean strongly toward the filifera look much better IMO. Sorry I don't have pictures. I posted them before a long time ago...maybe I can dig them up.

[Brad Mondel]

30 minutes ago, Opal92 said:

I have recently sprouted seedlings. Excited to try them in ground here in NW Florida. Much of the not so good Southeast filifera trials I've heard/seen were in central/south FL where the humid/sultry conditions are almost year round, or at least much more than up here. I'm also eager to see how they're going to with our extremely fast draining soil. There is a wide median in the road leading into our neighborhood that I've tried planting trees in to spruce up. The soil is particularly dry and sandy (no irrigation) and maybe that would be a great place to try them.

We have clay soil up here with about a foot of dark "topsoil". I've heard from others that nematodes could be what prevents filifera from growing in Florida and not the humidity. Clay soil is supposed to have less nematodes than sand. I'm not sure what soil type this specimen is growing in because it was planted in a giant "planter" made of brick. We now know that filifera can grow just fine in high humidity and heat. 

[Laaz]

We have a few around town as well.

 

[_Keith]

But how to you know absolutely for sure it is not 'filibusta'?

 

[Laaz]

Possible I guess, but the trunk is about double the width of the normal Filibustas.

[Kris]

Nice visuals. ..and w.filiferas are my fav too...this palm does grow in hot wet tropics,but need some soil ammendment and care till they put some trunk.

Thanks and love,

Kris.

[PalmTreeDude]

2 hours ago, _Keith said:

But how to you know absolutely for sure it is not 'filibusta'?

 

 

2 hours ago, Laaz said:

Possible I guess, but the trunk is about double the width of the normal Filibustas.

It looks like a Filifera to me, like you said we may not know for sure. But I say it looks like Filifera.

Edited August 5, 2016 by PalmTreeDude

[_Keith]

I am not saying it is or it isn't.   Inquiring minds always wonder.

 

[PalmTreeDude]

17 minutes ago, _Keith said:

I am not saying it is or it isn't.   Inquiring minds always wonder.

 

Nice!

[Small palm]

I'm happy to see this thread. It's nice to see reports of W. filifera growing in the southeast. I sent seeds to a member in Florida and I hope they do good down there. 

High heat during the Summer seems to be key for this species. I live in the SF Bay Area about 30 miles northeast of San Francisco. My hometown has a mild climate that doesn't see too many hot days, and the W. filiferas growing here look okay, but they don't look as big and healthy as they should.

About 30 miles northeast from my hometown is a city called Vacaville located in the Sacramento Valley and there are a lot of hot days during the Summer there. Vacaville has many large beautiful W. filiferas around town. After observing this, I started to realize the difference hot Summers make. 

The good thing is the southeast gets a lot of heat too. I think fast draining sandy soil should help when it comes to the high rainfall during the humid Summer months. As many of you know the areas this palm come from are dry during the Summer. 

Goodluck to everyone trying this species. 

- Chris

[NorthFlpalmguy]

I've killed a few hundred here in the big bend if that counts for anything. Some will survive but they look terrible and even some hybrids look bad. The less supplemental water they get the better IMO.

[smithgn]

Brad, I can't really tell if this is filifera or robusta, but I was driving through Greenville the other day and spotted this:

I almost drove off the road Lol This is at the corner of Mills Avenue and Augusta Street. I also saw some serenoa repens planted as an accent plant at a TD banking building downtown.

[smithgn]

Dangit, the picture didn't upload

[smithgn]

But anyway, its at a hotel, right next to the entrance. I tried to post the picture from Google Earth but it's not letting me for some reason. I'll try tomorrow.

 

Edited September 3, 2016 by smithgn

[redbeard917]

On 8/4/2016, 6:09:03, Alicehunter2000 said:

We have them here. Chevrolet place on 23 St. has some large trunking individuals that have been there for at least 20 yrs.....also there are a couple at the intersection of 23rd and Hwy 77 at the Hancock Bank. 

They will grow in North Florida but don't look that good IMO....Filibusta hybrid....even the ones that lean strongly toward the filifera look much better IMO. Sorry I don't have pictures. I posted them before a long time ago...maybe I can dig them up.

[Kris]

Dear Lucas,

Nice still.And the washy in the right did catch my attention...

Thanks.

Kris.

[DoomsDave]

Those are fillies, all right!

There's a lot of people who want seed . . . .

[Brad Mondel]

On September 3, 2016 at 3:38:16 AM, smithgn said:

But anyway, its at a hotel, right next to the entrance. I tried to post the picture from Google Earth but it's not letting me for some reason. I'll try tomorrow.

 

Hi Smith, I've seen this one also. It's about 10 minutes from my house. I believe it is a robusta in a very good micro-climate. I have planted two robustas near the foundation of my house to see how they do here. The soil in my yard drains very well so I think they will do great. 

[PalmTreeDude]

I am trying a Filifera in VA (zone 7a/7b boarder) next spring. I am planning on planting  it in full sun (like it should be planted) and in a very dry area of my yard. But what I am most worried about is the cold! But if it gets through the first 3 years fine, I think it will be good with cold, from that point on.

Edited September 4, 2016 by PalmTreeDude
Typo

[Brad Mondel]

3 minutes ago, PalmTreeDude said:

I am trying a Filifera in VA (zone 7a/7b boarder) next spring. I am planning on planting  it in full sun (like it should be planted) and in a very dry area of my yard. But what I am most worried about is the cold! But if it gets through the first 3 years fine, I think it will be good with cold, from that point on.

Just try to keep it as dry as possible and it may survive. I've seen filiferas in a snowy Utah where it got pretty cold! Utah is dry so they do well despite the frosty winters. 

[PalmTreeDude]

4 minutes ago, Brad Mondel said:

Just try to keep it as dry as possible and it may survive. I've seen filiferas in a snowy Utah where it got pretty cold! Utah is dry so they do well despite the frosty winters. 

Thank you for the tips! I am going to try to keep it as dry as possible. Utah can get cold! If they can grow there, why not Virginia? In a dryer area.

[Laaz]

The Charleston monster this morning.

 

 

[Laaz]

[PalmTreeDude]

1 minute ago, Laaz said:

Lovely palm!

[NorCalKing]

4 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

Thank you for the tips! I am going to try to keep it as dry as possible. Utah can get cold! If they can grow there, why not Virginia? In a dryer area.

Depending on where in Utah, it is a desert. I know Virginia is not a desert lol

[smithgn]

5 hours ago, Brad Mondel said:

Hi Smith, I've seen this one also. It's about 10 minutes from my house. I believe it is a robusta in a very good micro-climate. I have planted two robustas near the foundation of my house to see how they do here. The soil in my yard drains very well so I think they will do great. 

It's worth a try. They will defoliate every year, but I think it's worth it in the long run. I have two as well right against the foundation of my house lol Even in our mild winter they both defoliated except for the closest half that was nearest to the brick on my house. By June they had a full crown of fronds.

[PalmTreeDude]

3 hours ago, NorCalKing said:

Depending on where in Utah, it is a desert. I know Virginia is not a desert lol

Oh  yeah! Defentaly not a desert!

[Brad Mondel]

3 hours ago, smithgn said:

It's worth a try. They will defoliate every year, but I think it's worth it in the long run. I have two as well right against the foundation of my house lol Even in our mild winter they both defoliated except for the closest half that was nearest to the brick on my house. By June they had a full crown of fronds.

Can you post the pic you took of the Washingtonia at the hotel? I think others would enjoy seeing it. 

[smithgn]

Well, it wasn't a picture that I took. It was a fuzzy image from Google Earth/street view. My sister lives there, though, so next time I'm up there I will definitely be stopping by that hotel to snap a picture of that Robusta.

Edited September 5, 2016 by smithgn

[Laaz]

A few better shots of the Charleston monster.

 

[PalmTreeDude]

5 hours ago, Laaz said:

A few better shots of the Charleston monster.

 

Thanks for the different angles, it looks really nice, I wish more of these were grown in the south east, I like them more than Robusta. I wish they would grow a little faster though!

Edited September 8, 2016 by PalmTreeDude

[Brad Mondel]

6 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

Thanks for the different angles, it looks really nice, I wish more of these were grown in the south east, I like them more than Robusta. I wish they would grow a little faster though!

I can't believe it's fruiting! Wow. 

[PalmTreeDude]

Sorry for the bump, but how are all of these filiferas doing?

[RR soFLA]

Love those South Carolina Washies, I remember seeing a few nice ones in Charleston years ago.

Bad looking Washies in South east Florida became a pet peeve of mine after living in Ft. Lauderdale for fifteen years. Whether it’s climate, soil or something else, there are many planted all over and most look like penciled, dwarf versions of this otherwise robust palm. There are a few good looking individuals here and there, but for the most part one might ask, why plant so many there… I know, I know,

they’re cheap and fast growing, ugh.

[JPKpalms]

I live in Greenville too, and it is impressive that there is a filifera growing here. All its fronds do get burnt every year, but it keep coming back with no problem. I have a filifera that I'm going to plant in the ground when it gets bigger. I also have robusta that's been in the ground for three years now up against my house, but I have to really protect it with Christmas tree lights and insulation.

[Xerarch]

Here are a couple google street view pics of both washies in St. George Utah. 

[Brad Mondel]

The cold and wet winter rains have arrived and my young filifera is yellowing up a little. I haven't been by the large filifera lately but I'll check on it soon. Hopefully my youngster will pull through. 

[smithgn]

On 11/24/2016, 10:15:26, Xerarch said:

Here are a couple google street view pics of both washies in St. George Utah. 

I just looked up st. George Utah and apparently just recently they saw a low of -1 degrees in 2013. Pretty impressive. St. George record low is -11; don't think they'd survive that.