Hi.  I'm new to the site, and beginning my Sacramento, CA "Hawaiian Style" garden. 

So of course Copernicia alba is often said to be the hardiest Copernicia.  But it's not really as nice as some others, in my opinion, like baileyana  or fallaensis.  So I was wondering what the current opinion on the second hardiest Copernicia would be.  We get super hot summers of 90 to 100 every day, with the occasional week in the 100's.  Winters are cool and wettish (about 20 inches fall per year, mostly between November and March, but frosts rare, and not below 27 degrees in recent years.  I have several protected areas and Copernicias are so slow growing that I think I can protect it pretty well until it's established.  

Any thoughts?  Thanks!

Bruce

Zone 9B, CA,  Mediterranean climate

Do you actually grow a C alba?

No, but the photos I've seen do not seem nearly as cool as baileyana, fallaensis, and hospita.  I had an alba a while ago, but I planted it too young, without protection and it only lasted a few years.  Copernicia is such a slow growing plant that I only want the ones that seem worth waiting for to me.  I'm not so young that I want to make a mistake and wish I'd planted something else!

 

Bruce

Edited October 28, 20178 yr by bar

Prunifera is the second most cold hardy and look almost exactly like an alba. 

Baileyana is supposed to be the hardiest of the "cool" copernicia. 

Thanks.  I wasn't sure if baileyana or faellensis would be hardier.  Certainly it's easier to find a larger baileyana than a faellensis. 

What about X textilis, which is a hybrid of the two?    I've sent away for seeds for this hybrid.  I hope it  might also grow faster as well, perhaps with some hybrid vigor.

 

Baileyana definitely hardier than fallaensis or hospita

 

Baileyana it is then!

I second hardiest from my experience has been C. macroglossa.  The leaves are cardboard thick, making them hardier then other species.

I have alba, baileyana, hospital, and cowelli growing in 9b central Florida.  All 4 have made it through 1 baby freeze last year in the ground.  All were protected but the macroglossa since I knew it could take it.

its a toss up I think between maccroglossa and Prunifera. they both sail through freezes and high temps relativity unscathed here in cali

On 10/28/2017, 2:14:33, bar said:

Thanks.  I wasn't sure if baileyana or faellensis would be hardier.  Certainly it's easier to find a larger baileyana than a faellensis. 

What about X textilis, which is a hybrid of the two?    I've sent away for seeds for this hybrid.  I hope it  might also grow faster as well, perhaps with some hybrid vigor.

 

 

Hi Bar,

Copernicia x textilis  = (C. baileyana x C. hospita)

not baileyana x  Faellensis  but, I'm sure this would be fairly hardy since it has bailey in it.

Oops.  My mistake.  C. macroglossa is sort of cool too, although without those massive blue/gray leaves.  I think it looks best when small, which is probably a good thing for a Copernicia considering how slowly they grow.

Bruce

3 hours ago, bar said:

Oops.  My mistake.  C. macroglossa is sort of cool too, although without those massive blue/gray leaves.  I think it looks best when small, which is probably a good thing for a Copernicia considering how slowly they grow.

Bruce

Before I ever knew what a Cop. baileyana or faellensis were, I was always fascinated by the largest C. macroglossa specimen that sits prominently near several benches where Kentiopsis O., several Veitchia, And a couple Foxy Ladies tower overhead at Kopsick whenever I'd visit when I lived in Clearwater.  The Palmatium also has a baileyana but I wasn't as impressed with it compared to all the pictured examples I've seen. Thinking it's just in a bad spot, anyway..

When I lived in Bradenton, there was a nice  mac. specimen near the house that had its skirt cleaned regularly. As cool as they are with the dead fronds still attached, I did like the look of this palm without the skirt as well.

I'd say throw one in the mix if you have the space, just for the curiosity factor as it gains size. I doubt anyone in Sacramento will have one... ..and I'll bet they're want one once they see it. 

On 10/28/2017, 5:06:33, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

Prunifera is the second most cold hardy and look almost exactly like an alba. 

Baileyana is supposed to be the hardiest of the "cool" copernicia. 

In terms of cold, macroglossa and hospita are the two Copernicia that are the hardiest.

On 10/28/2017 at 9:54 PM, bar said:

Baileyana it is then!

Did you plant one in Sacramento? The only Copernicias known to be able to handle the persistent cool weather in NorCal are alba and prunifera. The other species need much more heat year round (think warm dry winter days in Florida), and languish in our winters. But interested to hear your experience.

This is kinda weird, but my experience with Macroglossa is the exact opposite of the previous comments.  Mine have 100% defoliated from cold and frost almost every single time it gets into the 25-30F range.  I lost one small one to frost and ~25F.  The other 3 grew back, which makes them fairly tough.  But Baileyana and Fallaensis have been much, much hardier than any of my Macroglossa.  Maybe it's because they are still very young and only about a foot tall.  Maybe it's because the fronds are sort of wide and flat, and collect maximum frost.  At the same 25F and frost the 3' tall Fallaensis took 25% burn and the 3' tall Baileyana took 50% burn.

3 hours ago, Merlyn said:

This is kinda weird, but my experience with Macroglossa is the exact opposite of the previous comments.  Mine have 100% defoliated from cold and frost almost every single time it gets into the 25-30F range.  I lost one small one to frost and ~25F.  The other 3 grew back, which makes them fairly tough.  But Baileyana and Fallaensis have been much, much hardier than any of my Macroglossa.  Maybe it's because they are still very young and only about a foot tall.  Maybe it's because the fronds are sort of wide and flat, and collect maximum frost.  At the same 25F and frost the 3' tall Fallaensis took 25% burn and the 3' tall Baileyana took 50% burn.

Gigas has been hardier than macroglossa for me . 

16 hours ago, JubaeaMan138 said:

Gigas has been hardier than macroglossa for me . 

That's great news to me!  I just planted a Gigas in the front yard, about 6 feet away from a Macroglossa that keeps getting defoliated around 27-30F.

3 hours ago, Merlyn said:

That's great news to me!  I just planted a Gigas in the front yard, about 6 feet away from a Macroglossa that keeps getting defoliated around 27-30F.

My macros usually look like crap during winter . I don’t see 27 to 30

thas cold coldest mine have seen is around 36 briefly