lakeland Palms and Others of Interest

[PalmBossTampa]

7 hours ago, Merlyn said:

I was in Venice Beach last summer and rode my bike from Anna Maria Island down Longboat Key and Lido Key.  I saw these all over the place in great shape, but completely forgot to look up what they were.  Let me know how it fared with the cold and frost!  I have sea grapes and autograph plant here doing well except for the occasional heavy frost.  Even the seagrapes will grow back from the roots when all the trunks are killed back.  If Silver Buttonwood survives defoliation and bounces back reasonably quick then I definitely need to find a spot for one.

If i remember correctly from my landscape contracting days, they will defoliate and come back from limbs pencil sized or larger. Kinda like how duranta gold mound reacts to cold. Leaves aren’t tough enough

[kinzyjr]

@Merlyn + @PalmBossTampa

I stopped at WaWa and noticed what I thought were Silver Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus var sericeus) :

Google Streetview - November 2024

They were planted before the 2022 Christmas Freeze and are still there growing there.

I took a closer photo and posted it to this thread: Conocarpus erectus var sericeus

Take a look and let me know if you think they are something else.

[TropicsEnjoyer]

On 1/1/2026 at 9:08 PM, PalmBossTampa said:

If i remember correctly from my landscape contracting days, they will defoliate and come back from limbs pencil sized or larger. Kinda like how duranta gold mound reacts to cold. Leaves aren’t tough enough

duranta is one of my favorites. leaves get fried but looks good as new in spring. i have the green tree variety 

[kinzyjr]

The freeze put a beating on the garden and all of the other gardens in the area.  Most of the tropical and subtropical palms in the area suffered heavy damage or are dead already.  More will likely die as the temperature rises and fungal infections spread.  Some of the palms that I figured would die are still alive, and some that I figured could survive the onslaught are slated for the bone pile.

It's not all bad news.  The last 15 years were a period of experimentation and success with the survivors of 2010 and their offspring proliferating.  After this event, there will undoubtedly be less of a local seed stock.  Whatever is left has certainly passed a big test in regard to advective cold.

Come spring, the garden will begin to take on a different look.  There should be more open space and some different plants taking their shot at becoming staples in the landscape.  With recent rainfall patterns and winters not as amenable to growing true tropicals, there is a garage full of more cold-and-drought tolerant species that are slated to make an appearance.  Stay tuned  

[happypalms]

1 hour ago, kinzyjr said:

The freeze put a beating on the garden and all of the other gardens in the area.  Most of the tropical and subtropical palms in the area suffered heavy damage or are dead already.  More will likely die as the temperature rises and fungal infections spread.  Some of the palms that I figured would die are still alive, and some that I figured could survive the onslaught are slated for the bone pile.

It's not all bad news.  The last 15 years were a period of experimentation and success with the survivors of 2010 and their offspring proliferating.  After this event, there will undoubtedly be less of a local seed stock.  Whatever is left has certainly passed a big test in regard to advective cold.

Come spring, the garden will begin to take on a different look.  There should be more open space and some different plants taking their shot at becoming staples in the landscape.  With recent rainfall patterns and winters not as amenable to growing true tropicals, there is a garage full of more cold-and-drought tolerant species that are slated to make an appearance.  Stay tuned  

I admire your determination, and the well that’s growing palms out of there native habitat situation! Winners and losers but the garden must go on so to speak! 🪴