Dypsis prestoniana variations?

[Kim]

"When do these start flowering?!"

Um... it varies. Not joking. I have 2 --  first planted in 2010, the second in 2012. The second one produced seed before the first, and  the first didn''t flower for at least 8 years. Others at my neighbor's place flowered when barely trunking, my initial C. prestonianus had a good 6 ft. of trunk first. And that was not in California, so who knows.  Best of luck with your palm -- enjoy watching it grow, it will be a beast!

[Tracy]

23 hours ago, JD in the OC said:

Just planted this 25gal Chrysalidocarpus (Dypsis) prestonianus in my side yard this morning and thought i would add it to this older post instead of starting a new one.  
 

When do these usually start flowering?!  (I hope i didn't plant it too deep.  

Hi JD, nice specimen you acquired.  Mine were similar size when planted, and looking through the thread, I see note of the larger older one with a couple of inflorescense in 2020.  The smaller one that began this thread, actually flowered first, so less than 4 years from planting at a similar size than yours.  

I can't address how fast these will grow in the "other OC"....   Yeah, one of my grandfather's moved to Orange County (California) hoping to grow Oranges after WWI.  To us, it's the one with the original Disneyland and Knotts Berry Farm, so is the "REAL OC."  I remember the smudge pots in the groves to protect from frost.  I had to poke fun, because even Kim was confused in her post as to where you are.  The pertinant fact is that you may get a little faster growth because of your climate than I have had.  That said, this is one Chrysalidocarpus that seems to really like the coastal zone of Southern California from Santa Barbara to the border with Baja California.  

As far as the depth goes, I would think that it would be more important there than here, due to the amount of rainfall you get.  Keep us posted on how it does, I think you are going to love the palm!  I will add a couple of updated photos of mine to the thread.

[Kim]

Oh, that''s funny -- too much media influence, "the OC." Automatically brings to mind "the OC" in California. Apologies.🙄 Easy enough to read under your name you are in Florida. 😜 Still, the variability applies. And again, best wishes with your palm, it will be a beast if all goes well.

[JD in the OC]

9 hours ago, Kim said:

Oh, that''s funny -- too much media influence, "the OC." Automatically brings to mind "the OC" in California. Apologies.🙄 Easy enough to read under your name you are in Florida. 😜 Still, the variability applies. And again, best wishes with your palm, it will be a beast if all goes well.

Lol.  Yes i can see how that would create confusion.  I grew up in Orange County, CA hence the Palmtalk handle.  I just never had the heart to change it.  Been living in Lee County FL for 18 years now.  JD in the LC maybe?..

Yes, my coastal zone 10b climate here gives me about 3x the growth speed than Orange County. I'm hoping my preston flowers in a year or two.  That's interesting about different sexual maturity ages in different specimens.  I'm going to hit mine with bloom blaster next Spring.  If some begin flowering when they begin trunk like you said, mine should be close.  I'll let the first inflor or two make seed, then attempt some crosses.  Palms like to learn to reproduce on their own at the beginning in order to get their gebrillin and auxin levels figured out for fruit development, then they can be hybridized more effectively.

JD

[Tracy]

2 hours ago, JD in the OC said:

Lol.  Yes i can see how that would create confusion.  I grew up in Orange County, CA hence the Palmtalk handle.  I just never had the heart to change it.  Been living in Lee County FL for 18 years now.  JD in the LC maybe?..

Yes, my coastal zone 10b climate here gives me about 3x the growth speed than Orange County. I'm hoping my preston flowers in a year or two.  That's interesting about different sexual maturity ages in different specimens.  I'm going to hit mine with bloom blaster next Spring.  If some begin flowering when they begin trunk like you said, mine should be close.  I'll let the first inflor or two make seed, then attempt some crosses.  Palms like to learn to reproduce on their own at the beginning in order to get their gebrillin and auxin levels figured out for fruit development, then they can be hybridized more effectively.

JD

It will also help with pollinating for hybrids if the spadix is still within reach without needing a ladder.  Your always invited to return to my garden for any cross-pollinating projects.   Kind of a long jaunt though.  I never thought to look where OC in Florida is, but its a bit north of you in the center of the state.  Kind of ironic that Florida's Disneyland is also in an Orange County, but I'll guess that it picked up that County label after Mickey Mouse acquired property there.  Floridians, feel free to educate me.  Since your handle references the original OC, maybe "JD from OC" would be the appropriate change?  

[JD in the OC]

Lol...all of my palms require a ladder of some size in order to pollinate.  Esp my two teddys. 18ft orchard ladders pictured below.  

All my flowering palms are planted as 15/25gals and their flowers are out of reach within a few years of planting.  It's a good problem to have.. 😉

JD from the OC. I like that!

[steve99]

 Here's my Dypsis Prestoniana, I'm not sure what variant is it but it has growth rings to die for.

 

 

[Tracy]

On 11/2/2025 at 8:29 PM, steve99 said:

 Here's my Dypsis Prestoniana, I'm not sure what variant is it but it has growth rings to die for.

 

 

Wow, those are some really big growth rings.  Can you share the whole "enchilada " as we say here, a.k.a. foliage and all?

[Kim]

On 11/2/2025 at 8:29 PM, steve99 said:

 Here's my Dypsis Prestoniana, I'm not sure what variant is it but it has growth rings to die for.

 

 

That look reminds me more of mananjarensis. My prestoniana never had wide-spaced green rings like that, even with an average 140 inches (355 cm) of rain annually.  But different locations, different climate, who knows?

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, Kim said:

That look reminds me more of mananjarensis. My prestoniana never had wide-spaced green rings like that, even with an average 140 inches (355 cm) of rain annually.  But different locations, different climate, who knows?

 

11 hours ago, Tracy said:

Wow, those are some really big growth rings.  Can you share the whole "enchilada " as we say here, a.k.a. foliage and all?

This might help, as Kim pointed out what I was thinking. 

[steve99]

7 hours ago, Tracy said:

 

This might help, as Kim pointed out what I was thinking. 

Here is a few more pics

 

[JD in the OC]

Looks more like a malcomberi or something...

JD

[Tracy]

16 hours ago, JD in the OC said:

Looks more like a malcomberi or something...

JD

Adding kerosene to the fire here.