Boredom at the big box stores

[redant]

It used to be that in the summer the big box guys would start getting some interesting palms to chose from. Would look forward to some new discoveries every couple of weeks, kill some time and find something new for the garden. So far this year I have not found one thing of interest. They seem to be concentrating on the mainstream stuff, washies, coco's, foxtail, bizzies,bottles, veitchia merrillii, Areca lutescens,cat palms, Ravenea rivularis, and queens is all I ever see anymore. While I give them credit for the bizzies and the bottles, it used to be nice to see something a little different now and then. Guess I'm ready for a trip to the specialty growers!

[Tad]

i think jeff said it best on another post, "whats rare anymore?" it keeps getting harder and harder to come up with somthing for the mass markets that has a whole lot of wow power, and still be profitable/feasible....

[Cycadcenter]

For a wholesale nursery to supply plants to one of the big box stores is now a brave marketing decision.   Many nurseries have gone BK due to their marketing practices.

Basically the nurseries have to supply stock "on consignment" only getting paid when the plants sell,  this combined with their 12 month guarantee offers where the nursery is "charged back" for the dead plant is it any wonder you don't see more "rarer, marginal" plants being offered

[Jeff Searle]

Forget the Home Depots and Lowes.  Unless your just starting out, or at the beginning stages of collecting unusual or different plant species, your not going to find it there.

   More and more people are getting tired of planting Queens and roebelenii's. Don't you want your yards to stand out? There are collectors and growers that specialize in either new speciecs or hard to find plants, and this is where your going to find that "gem". These days are far different from 10-15 years ago, when there were far fewer choices to make. This goes for not only palms, but crotons, aroids, bromeliads and woody ornamentals.

    A good way of learning who's got what and where to go, is by going to a meeting of your local chapter of the palm society in your area. And, there are many other society meetings for different plant groups. Also, it's a good way of meeting people and learning more maybe of a peticular plant.

[Dave-Vero]

I have a few big box plants, including two palms, but it's extremely rewarding in our area (the Florida Atlantic coast south of Cape Canaveral) to make the effort to visit some of the local nurseries and especially the growers.  Plant sales are a good way to meet some of them.  The annual Gardenfest at a local park that hosts art shows has become a big deal in just five years.

[redant]

I have many palms from IPS sales in Boynton beach and visit some great growers in Loxahatchee from time to time. I enjoy both the sales and the growers but these are rare events for me because of the distance involved or the sales being once or twice a year. Many times I'm just looking to kill a couple of minutes or am passing by one of these big box sellers so I pop in to see if any hidden gems are lurking in the vast sea of ordinary palms. It used to be yes but no longer so.

Jeff,  you used to have a website, did you give up on it. I had it marked for years, hoping to go by some day. I don't see it is available anymore.

[spockvr6]

(redant @ Jul. 25 2006,13:30)

QUOTE

Many times I'm just looking to kill a couple of minutes or am passing by one of these big box sellers so I pop in to see if any hidden gems are lurking in the vast sea of ordinary palms. It used to be yes but no longer so.

I do the same Doug.

And yes.....I have also seen a lack of good finds this year.

[paulgila]

certain "home despot" stores in san diego seem to be getting more interesting palms such as veitchia arecina,

arenga pinnata,& chameyronia macrocarpa lately,although only in locations that are in more upscale neighborhoods.(i may have mentioned this in the old forum)

[Dypsisdean]

You guys are so spoiled.  

I'm dating myself, but I can remember looking and calling for months before finally locating a Chambeyronia and H. belmoreana. And then they were small 1 gal. and not cheap. It blows my mind how many more palms are offered now than 20 years ago. I sure hope I'm around in another 20.

[Trópico]

(pohonkelapa @ Jul. 25 2006,15:09)

QUOTE

certain "home despot" stores in san diego seem to be getting more interesting palms such as veitchia arecina,

arenga pinnata,& chameyronia macrocarpa lately,although only in locations that are in more upscale neighborhoods.(i may have mentioned this in the old forum)

May I borrow that term for some more Palmspeak?

Home Despot - When big box stores at other IPS members' localities seem to carry a few interesting palms while the ones at home do not!

[paulgila]

i asked jim wright where he got the seeds for his amazing garden 35 years ago & he said from other "palm people",so it seems that before the event of the garden super store there was more of an "underground" seed

movement & you had to be in contact with other palm nuts to get the good stuff!

[DoomsDave]

Not all big boxes are the same.

Here, and there, you'll find a store that's staffed by people who are into odd stuff, and spread the gospel of same.

One such was the infamous Home Despot of Playa del Ray, across la Playa from Loyola Marymount University, where Dreamworks tried and failed to build a huge complex in the marsh.

Don't know if it's still the cool place to go, but I'd sure stop by on my way to pick stewardesses in bars in Marina del Rey.

dave

[Jeff Searle]

Redant,

    Yes, I still have my web site up. It's WWW.rainforestcollection.com.

[palmazon]

Home Dedpot in Crown Valley had Dypsis leptocheilos  in #5 cans for $35 last month - about 2" caliper; I got two and haven't seen them there since.

[redant]

(Jeff Searle @ Jul. 26 2006,08:41)

QUOTE

Redant,

    Yes, I still have my web site up. It's WWW.rainforestcollection.com.

All the millions of times I have been at Weston for Kids soccer games and I never stopped there! Next Weston trip I have something to look forward to.

[spockvr6]

(redant @ Jul. 26 2006,10:15)

QUOTE

(Jeff Searle @ Jul. 26 2006,08:41)

QUOTE

Redant,

    Yes, I still have my web site up. It's WWW.rainforestcollection.com.

All the millions of times I have been at Weston for Kids soccer games and I never stopped there! Next Weston trip I have something to look forward to.

Doug - As I mentioned in another thread, I used to live but a few blocks over from Searles and I never even knew it was there  But, back then I wasnt really into palms/plants quite so much.

[DoomsDave]

(palmazon @ Jul. 26 2006,09:46)

QUOTE

Home Dedpot in Crown Valley had Dypsis leptocheilos  in #5 cans for $35 last month - about 2" caliper; I got two and haven't seen them there since.

Palmazon!

You can NEVER have too many D. Leptocheilos.

Ever.

Crown Valley in Laguna Niguel?

Near my cousin's (non-palmed) dive?

Oh, hail Mary, kiss a fairy . . .

dave

[Sabal Steve]

certain "home despot" stores in san diego seem to be getting more interesting palms such as veitchia arecina,arenga pinnata,& chameyronia macrocarpa lately,although only in locations that are in more upscale neighborhoods.(i may have mentioned this in the old forum)

like the one off of the 805 at imperial?

[paulgila]

Haha, no.

Since this thread was started 7 years ago things have changed at the store in question-for the worse.

[LilikoiLee]

It used to be that in the summer the big box guys would start getting some interesting palms to chose from. Would look forward to some new discoveries every couple of weeks, kill some time and find something new for the garden. So far this year I have not found one thing of interest. They seem to be concentrating on the mainstream stuff, washies, coco's, foxtail, bizzies,bottles, veitchia merrillii, Areca lutescens,cat palms, Ravenea rivularis, and queens is all I ever see anymore. While I give them credit for the bizzies and the bottles, it used to be nice to see something a little different now and then. Guess I'm ready for a trip to the specialty growers!z

Your box stores carry a better selection of palms than ours do. I've never seen a bizzie,veitchia, washie or rivularis in one here. Haven't seen a catarctarum either. Sometimes they do carry a common pinanga which are sometimes outside in full sun.

Lee

What's a cat palm (C. caractarum?)

[LilikoiLee]

For a wholesale nursery to supply plants to one of the big box stores is now a brave marketing decision. Many nurseries have gone BK due to their marketing practices.

Basically the nurseries have to supply stock "on consignment" only getting paid when the plants sell, this combined with their 12 month guarantee offers where the nursery is "charged back" for the dead plant is it any wonder you don't see more "rarer, marginal" plants being offered

Cycad, you would please let me know what 'BK stands for? Thanks, Lee

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

BK = bankrupt

[Phoenikakias]

For a wholesale nursery to supply plants to one of the big box stores is now a brave marketing decision. Many nurseries have gone BK due to their marketing practices.

Basically the nurseries have to supply stock "on consignment" only getting paid when the plants sell, this combined with their 12 month guarantee offers where the nursery is "charged back" for the dead plant is it any wonder you don't see more "rarer, marginal" plants being offered

Bitter thruth and an explanation of 'bargain' possibility in the big box stores. A nursery can withstand such challenge only by producing in mass-quantities palms, sort of industrial mass-production. That can be achieved only by raising them 'in vitro' using standard temps, water and nutrition under artificial light in a medium light enough (to compress freight cost) and capable of ease regulation of ph and ec. Now take this palm in to your garden or cold frame and count the days needed before you find it carked.

[Eric in Orlando]

I know part of it is a certain wholesale grower that used to supply one of the store chains went out of business. I used to see things like Arenga engleri, Licuala ramsayi, Licuala grandis, Wallichia disticha, Pinanga kuhill, Dypsis leptocheilos and Veitchia arecina at the one near me.

Lately I did see some nice 30gal. Copernicia alba. They sold quickly.

[Alicehunter2000]

Dang...should have picked up that Allogoptera arena last year at the box store...a true rarity around here

[Mandrew968]

Palms at Home Depot?!

[palmislandRandy]

I know part of it is a certain wholesale grower that used to supply one of the store chains went out of business. I used to see things like Arenga engleri, Licuala ramsayi, Licuala grandis, Wallichia disticha, Pinanga kuhill, Dypsis leptocheilos and Veitchia arecina at the one near me.

Lately I did see some nice 30gal. Copernicia alba. They sold quickly.

You're thinking of Morningstar Nursery in Delray Beach, Fl. They used to supply the orange big box. They are gone.

An Orange Areca vesteria purchased there got me started

[Eric in Orlando]

That would be them. Wasn't sure if you could name names !

[palmislandRandy]

That would be them. Wasn't sure if you could name names !

Why not, they're history!

[Moose]

Morning Star was a great nursery. Then they got in bed with HD, started making some serious $$$. But they reinvested and cranked up their production (leasing land, building shade houses). They pretty much put all their eggs in one basket, appeasing the HD account. The landscapers and palm collectors who had supported them in the early years started to get neglected and drifted away. Then HD started with the "I'm gonna give you $1 less per palm, then it happened again. Then it was grow me 50,000 of these - but the next year it was "no we can't sell those anymore, we don't want them. They were treated like a factory. Once HD realized they had complete control of the operation they ran them into the ground offering less & less. The fire sale that occurred when they went under was very sad - like watching vultures consuming carrion.