Large Washingtonia of Albuquerque

[ChrisA]

Hello All,

 

After seeing the google maps post with the address of some large palms in Albuquerque, I was compelled to drive over as soon as I got the change.  At this location there are 3 palm trees that have been there for quite a while.  I am not sure when they were planted, or what kind of protection they have gotten.  According to the weatherunderground website a nearby weather station has recorded a low temperature of 16.4 on 12/8/17.  This is the same lowest temperature I've seen at my west side house this year as well. Most fronds are still green, the only outright dead fronds are those that have expired as part of the aging process; those lie folded down against the trunk in true Washingtonia style. 

 

Below are photos of all three (don't miss the third smaller palm in the courtyard), as well as a crown close-up, and trunk close-up. 

 

If anyone has specific information on these individuals I'd love to know their history! If not, I plan on writing an old fashioned letter.

 

Enjoy!

 

[ChrisA]

Last one exceeded the size!

 

Here it is:

 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Those are nice dasylirion wheeleri as well. 

[ChrisA]

Lol!  I agree,  somehow missed the Desert Sotols when I was there.

 

Thanks for rounding out the experience! I was hyper palm-focused.

[samuraipalm]

Hey Chris, 

Those are some awesome pictures of the Washingtonias!  I've been trying to look for those palms for so long, and they look amazing right now! Despite being the dead of winter, it's amazing that the fronds are so green. It really has been so warm here and probably wont be much cooler than what it's like right now. If I had never seen that picture before, Albuquerque would be the last place I'd guess of where the picture was taken. Those are by far the tallest palms you'll ever see here

I found a few more filiferas while surfing around on streetview which you may have or haven't seen yet. The palms are by the Coors and Paseo intersection in NW Albuquerque. I haven't seen them yet in person but on google street view they look pretty healthy. I'll try to go down there and snap some pictures...

https://www.google.com/maps/@35.1830672,-106.6563553,3a,75y,4.65h,86.41t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sNiV2ZzweEWsxYQLs3y_QIQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I will also add another list of other palm spots I found to the other forum of the palm locations in ABQ.

-Steve

Edited January 6, 2018 by samuraipalm

[Julian777]

On 1/5/2018 at 2:22 PM, ChrisA said:

Hello All,

 

After seeing the google maps post with the address of some large palms in Albuquerque, I was compelled to drive over as soon as I got the change.  At this location there are 3 palm trees that have been there for quite a while.  I am not sure when they were planted, or what kind of protection they have gotten.  According to the weatherunderground website a nearby weather station has recorded a low temperature of 16.4 on 12/8/17.  This is the same lowest temperature I've seen at my west side house this year as well. Most fronds are still green, the only outright dead fronds are those that have expired as part of the aging process; those lie folded down against the trunk in true Washingtonia style. 

 

Below are photos of all three (don't miss the third smaller palm in the courtyard), as well as a crown close-up, and trunk close-up. 

 

If anyone has specific information on these individuals I'd love to know their history! If not, I plan on writing an old fashioned letter.

 

Enjoy!

 

Where are the Washingtonias located?

[jwitt]

On 1/5/2018 at 2:22 PM, ChrisA said:

Hello All,

 

After seeing the google maps post with the address of some large palms in Albuquerque, I was compelled to drive over as soon as I got the change.  At this location there are 3 palm trees that have been there for quite a while.  I am not sure when they were planted, or what kind of protection they have gotten.  According to the weatherunderground website a nearby weather station has recorded a low temperature of 16.4 on 12/8/17.  This is the same lowest temperature I've seen at my west side house this year as well. Most fronds are still green, the only outright dead fronds are those that have expired as part of the aging process; those lie folded down against the trunk in true Washingtonia style. 

 

Below are photos of all three (don't miss the third smaller palm in the courtyard), as well as a crown close-up, and trunk close-up. 

 

If anyone has specific information on these individuals I'd love to know their history! If not, I plan on writing an old fashioned letter.

 

Enjoy!

 

Chris- The 2 large ones were planted in the mid or late 90's if memory is correct. I believe they were planted 10 feet or so sized. Trucked up from El Paso if memory serves me. They did go thru the 24" of snow in 2006, and -10f in 2011. They were not protected.  The Palm on the left did not show any life until the week of July 4, 2011 after that ten below and single digit high!  I cannot speak to the filifera next to the house. Nice post! Sailorbold might know some more info.  Intel saw -10f, as did Rio Rancho, Corrales saw -11f. 

Edited April 21, 2020 by jwitt

[Christopher M.]

I along with my partner and two best friends planted these palms!  I trucked them in from PHX, purchased at White Talk Palms in Late February 1998!!  It took two Jeep Wranglers to pull them out of the moving van!  That was the advantage of being the first house in the cu-de-sac!  Fun times!  So happy to see they are growing strong!

I keep in touch with the current owner.

BTW— There is one in the backyard next to the pool too!

Everyone told me they would die, but 22 years later they are loving life!

Christopher M.

[Ben G.]

Thanks for chiming in and sharing this information. 

Sounds like you went through quite a lot to get these trees in the ground. Looks like your hard work paid off though.

[Josue Diaz]

On 2/4/2021 at 1:04 AM, Christopher M. said:

I along with my partner and two best friends planted these palms!  I trucked them in from PHX, purchased at White Talk Palms in Late February 1998!!  It took two Jeep Wranglers to pull them out of the moving van!  That was the advantage of being the first house in the cu-de-sac!  Fun times!  So happy to see they are growing strong!

I keep in touch with the current owner.

BTW— There is one in the backyard next to the pool too!

Everyone told me they would die, but 22 years later they are loving life!

Christopher M.

Honestly those palms look incredibly beautiful in that setting with the New Mexican architecture and the yuccas. Good job!

[jwitt]

On 2/4/2021 at 2:04 AM, Christopher M. said:

I along with my partner and two best friends planted these palms!  I trucked them in from PHX, purchased at White Talk Palms in Late February 1998!!  It took two Jeep Wranglers to pull them out of the moving van!  That was the advantage of being the first house in the cu-de-sac!  Fun times!  So happy to see they are growing strong!

I keep in touch with the current owner.

BTW— There is one in the backyard next to the pool too!

Everyone told me they would die, but 22 years later they are loving life!

Christopher M.

Christopher- thank you for the followup.  One of those palms actually flowered and set seed this year. You could very well soon be a granddaddy! I have watched these palms for a couple decades. 

[MSX]

Hey guys, what tree is that?

[SailorBold]

On 12/8/2021 at 7:44 AM, MSX said:

Hey guys, what tree is that?

 

I believe that is a desert willow...

 

From today...

[Little Tex]

Wow, These guys make the Fayetteville washy look WEAK! 

[Desert DAC]

On 12/8/2021 at 7:44 AM, MSX said:

Hey guys, what tree is that?

The coarser limb and twig growth looks like a Chitalpa, generally stressed in the desert of central and southern NM. If so, it requires more water than native desert willow and it's often hurt or killed by oleander leaf scorch up there and down here.

[MSX]

15 hours ago, Desert DAC said:

The coarser limb and twig growth looks like a Chitalpa, generally stressed in the desert of central and southern NM. If so, it requires more water than native desert willow and it's often hurt or killed by oleander leaf scorch up there and down here.

Thanks! I like the branching of this tree. It's interesting how to tell the difference between Chilopsis linearis (desert willow) and Chitalpa tashkentensis just by looking at bare winter crowns? Desert willow seem to have seed pods hanging on the tree through the winter, something Chilopsis doesn't have, how true is that?

I suppose this is Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)?

 

[Silas_Sancona]

On 8/3/2022 at 10:28 AM, MSX said:

Thanks! I like the branching of this tree. It's interesting how to tell the difference between Chilopsis linearis (desert willow) and Chitalpa tashkentensis just by looking at bare winter crowns? Desert willow seem to have seed pods hanging on the tree through the winter, something Chilopsis doesn't have, how true is that?

I suppose this is Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)?

 

Looks like Desert Willow to me.. Nice specimens too.

[Chester B]

I can confirm Chitalpa don’t produce seed pods. I have two of them and they have straight branching like most trees. 

[Desert DAC]

On 8/3/2022 at 11:28 AM, MSX said:

Thanks! I like the branching of this tree. It's interesting how to tell the difference between Chilopsis linearis (desert willow) and Chitalpa tashkentensis just by looking at bare winter crowns? Desert willow seem to have seed pods hanging on the tree through the winter, something Chilopsis doesn't have, how true is that?

I suppose this is Chilopsis linearis (desert willow)?

Your later photos are definitely of a desert willow. Agreed on seed pods (Chilopsis) vs. none (Chitalpa), too.

[SeanK]

On 4/21/2020 at 2:22 AM, jwitt said:

Chris- The 2 large ones were planted in the mid or late 90's if memory is correct. I believe they were planted 10 feet or so sized. Trucked up from El Paso if memory serves me. They did go thru the 24" of snow in 2006, and -10f in 2011. They were not protected.  The Palm on the left did not show any life until the week of July 4, 2011 after that ten below and single digit high!  I cannot speak to the filifera next to the house. Nice post! Sailorbold might know some more info.  Intel saw -10f, as did Rio Rancho, Corrales saw -11f. 

I recall the bad cold in ABQ about ten years ago. No doubt these looked dead by winter's end. They sure look good now.

[SailorBold]

Here is a late summer pic of my TorC filifera... getting some size..

[GabrielPalms]

Has anyone seen the washy's on radayo in 2022?

Edited November 5, 2022 by GabrielPalms

[GabrielPalms]

Has anyone seen the big California fan palms in 2022, did they seed this year? Are they alive? Please let me know thanks

[ahosey01]

On 8/30/2022 at 3:42 PM, SailorBold said:

Here is a late summer pic of my TorC filifera... getting some size..

Don't you also have a giant BxJ hybrid?

[fr8train]

On 11/5/2022 at 12:03 PM, GabrielPalms said:

Has anyone seen the big California fan palms in 2022, did they seed this year? Are they alive? Please let me know thanks

I was there a few months ago, I wish I had checked it out. I did see a handful of Washingtonias that were alive, but none that size. 

[GabrielPalms]

I went to go see the big Washingtonia Filiferas yesterday and they look pretty good! Very Healthy and big.

[GabrielPalms]

6 minutes ago, GabrielPalms said:

I went to go see the big Washingtonia Filiferas yesterday and they look pretty good! Very Healthy and big.

They also trimmed them from this photo

Edited November 9, 2022 by GabrielPalms

[jwitt]

Had to upvote you Gabriel. You actually deserve 2, just for the traffic/roadwork. Some know!

There is a poster(ltapia) who I think said he got seeds this year.  It first seeded last year, I believe.

They browned out in mid February this year after seeing 7f.  They were full on green til that time.

Edited November 10, 2022 by jwitt

[jwitt]

On 2/4/2021 at 2:04 AM, Christopher M. said:

I along with my partner and two best friends planted these palms!  I trucked them in from PHX, purchased at White Talk Palms in Late February 1998!!  It took two Jeep Wranglers to pull them out of the moving van!  That was the advantage of being the first house in the cu-de-sac!  Fun times!  So happy to see they are growing strong!

I keep in touch with the current owner.

BTW— There is one in the backyard next to the pool too!

Everyone told me they would die, but 22 years later they are loving life!

Christopher M.

Christopher, Not sure if you are aware.  For quite sometime(nearly 10 years), these palms have been visible from the southbound lanes of 528.  It's actually a stunning view.  They are becoming well above the neighborhood treeline.  I really want  to walk one of these days and get a shot. 

So, for the some of us, we see your end result, near daily and rarely if ever even enter that neighborhood. 

Thank you!

[GabrielPalms]

On 11/9/2022 at 9:58 PM, jwitt said:

Had to upvote you Gabriel. You actually deserve 2, just for the traffic/roadwork. Some know!

There is a poster(ltapia) who I think said he got seeds this year.  It first seeded last year, I believe.

They browned out in mid February this year after seeing 7f.  They were full on green til that time.

Did they really seed this year? I thought they didn't, but I don't know. I hope they seed next year, I will go check them out next year also. 

[GabrielPalms]

This photo was on Google maps in February 2022 and you can see the old flower stalk in the red circle.  

Does anyone have any pictures of the flowers or seeds?

Edited November 12, 2022 by GabrielPalms

[GabrielPalms]

On 2/6/2021 at 11:58 AM, jwitt said:

Christopher- thank you for the followup.  One of those palms actually flowered and set seed this year. You could very well soon be a granddaddy! I have watched these palms for a couple decades. 

Hey jwitt when exactly did the Washingtonia Filifera flower? In February? The reason why I say February is because when you said they flowered it said you posted it in February. 

[jwitt]

13 hours ago, GabrielPalms said:

Hey jwitt when exactly did the Washingtonia Filifera flower? In February? The reason why I say February is because when you said they flowered it said you posted it in February. 

Fall 2021 it set seed 

I swear someone said they had seeds sprouting from this year's collection. Maybe I am going senile.

Edit- nope, not senile.  

 

 

Edited November 12, 2022 by jwitt
Found post

[Cody Salem]

On 11/9/2022 at 8:58 PM, jwitt said:

Had to upvote you Gabriel. You actually deserve 2, just for the traffic/roadwork. Some know!

There is a poster(ltapia) who I think said he got seeds this year.  It first seeded last year, I believe.

They browned out in mid February this year after seeing 7f.  They were full on green til that time.

 

 

I like the data table you have here.  Is that a local thing or is it available for all NOAA stations?

[jwitt]

1 hour ago, Cody Salem said:

 

 

I like the data table you have here.  Is that a local thing or is it available for all NOAA stations?

www.weather.gov

All their stations 

 

 

 

 

[jwitt]

Today's pics 11/12/2022

 

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2022 by jwitt

[jwitt]

Corrales 11/12/22

 

 

[Ltapia]

On 11/11/2022 at 7:23 PM, GabrielPalms said:

Did they really seed this year? I thought they didn't, but I don't know. I hope they seed next year, I will go check them out next year also. 

They did seed this year actually have seedlings growing right now got a ton from a buddy that knows the owner I can give you some let me know ?

Edited November 18, 2022 by Ltapia

[jwitt]

Ltapia- if you have an extra seedling or two come Feb, or some seed, I would be very interested.  

[Ltapia]

10 minutes ago, jwitt said:

Ltapia- if you have an extra seedling or two come Feb, or some seed, I would be very interested.  

Yeah I can give you seeds now