King palm full sun

[Rtrw]

Hello all!  I am considering putting a triple king palm in our front yard.  In particular I really like the purple king.  The location would get full unobstructed sun.  I am inScripps ranch which is a suburb of san Diego.   Our temps do get to the high 80's and occasionally low 90's .  I have read conflicting articles on how kings fare in full sun.   My thoughts are anything that gets 40-50 feet tall should not have issues.   I do see them in my area.   Any thoughts?  I really like the purple kings and would love to have one.  Do I simply need to purchase an older/larger one that can tolerate the sun?

[NorCalKing]

Well I can't speak for San Diego, but here in Nor Cal (inland) where we get into 100f+ days (including last week) in direct sun, my regular cunninghamiana fair just fine. I do tend to water them more however when triple digits are in the forecast. 

[RedRabbit]

My kings were 1-5g and couldn't tolerate the Florida sun at all. Apparently they're fine later in life, but when they're young their root system isn't sufficiently developed to keep them hydrated in full sun. I winded up losing 3 and have 2 more that might not make it.  Two others were getting beat up bad then I constructed some shade for them and they've been okay since. I think you might need to be at 25g before they're sun hardy enough.

Edited October 2, 2016 by RedRabbit

[enigma99]

Regular cunninghamania, sure. But for purpurea I'd keep it in part shade

Edited October 2, 2016 by enigma99

[KrisKupsch]

Hi

If you get small A.purpurea, they prefer shade. If your climate is drier than 2000mm a year, they prefer shade. I always recommend A.p. be in the shade at least when planted under a 300mm size. They always look better with some dappled shelter. All my sunny ones have historically died, though some A.p. I've planted in sun in a bog have done good, but again from a 300mm pot. I've seen them in full sun and other growers attest to their sun tolerance but if your in the tropics with full blazing heat, then their leaflets appear to recurve to avoid the brunt of the sun. I don't think they look as good in that situation. A.c. do fine in sun from an early age if mulched, as do A.a. obviously, A.maxima and A.tuckeri I have in full sun from a 4" pot, they are easy. I have never put an A.myolensis straight out and all are in shade here but in the wild the parents are in the sun but constant water from the creek. 

Regards KrisK

[Jim in Los Altos]

The only way I'd recommend A. purpurea in the sun is if you grove plant several close together. They tend to "protect each other from direct sun and the cold. Also, it's impossible to water them too much. They love water and will even grow in a wet mucky soil. 

 

[Briank]

Depending on were you live in scripps ranch. I know the area, there is a lot of shade from all the tall Eucyluptis trees.  Maybe place on West Side of yard were it only gets AM sun.  But you should be fine, 'just might get little Brown tipping leaves early on till it acclimates over a few yrs.  good choice.