Hey all,

I've posted a picture of a neighbors Veitchia once before. It was purchased from a backyard grower a few years back with as Veitchia sp. As it's grown, it has become a beautiful palm, that grows reasonably quickly and always looks good, even though we get plenty of cool weather during the Winter. Now that it's developed a distinctive crownshaft, we're trying to figure out which it is. It's a smallish Veitchia, definitely not joannis or arecina (which also can grow here, albeit slowly). It gets part day sun & is protected somewhat. Right now, I'm leaning toward V. filifera or possibly vitiensis based on online images. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance..

What a fantastic looking palm tree. I hope you can get a ID on that beauty soon

That's why I'm calling on the experts like you Josh!   

Are we sure that’s a Veitchia and not a Ptychosperma?

Pretty sure Matt. There's a similar sized Pytchosperma elegans growing on the other side of the house. The crownshaft is the biggest difference, with it's mottled look.

How about Veitchia petetiola?

I'm growing one in my garden that has done very well.

Perhaps I can take a few pictures today and post for comparison.

Bret, looks like V. filifera, at least it has many of the same characteristics as the one in my garden. Would be a nice palm for SoCal gardens, multiples would be killer. 

Not V. vitiensis, habit and coloration are totally different. 

Here are a few pics from this morning. 

Tim

 

 

Veitchia filifera now includes 3 spp that were previously classified as 3 separate species.

V.petiolata, V.pedionoma and V.sessilfolia. To me the old V.sessilfolia from the Natewa Bay region is very similar to V.vitiensis as we have them planted close to each other in our garden.

V.vitiensis and V. filifera (one formally V. pedionoma) are found in the highest elevations so are probably more cold tolerant than the others.

Great thread! I wasn't aware filifera existed. It sounds like filifera might be worth a try for those of us in Central Florida where arecina isn't quite cold tolerant enough.

Great info guys, thanks. I think you're right Tim, yours is a spitting image of Terry's. Thanks for the visuals!

Temperate?

How do you define temperate?

La Habra temperate is different from South San Diego temperate.

I do dearly hope I'm wrong, of course.

Dave, 

This coastal canyon area is always cool compared with the mesas or other relatively flat coastal areas. I probably get 20 plus nights a year where the it's below 40f. That seems to be the limiting factor for a number of heat loving palms. I would assume La Habra is generally a couple degrees warmer than we are. 

Bret