Syagrus amara

[redant]

Never seen much talk about this palm. I really like it and has been a super easy grower for me requiring nothing. Get little to no irrigation or fertilizer, never has shown any cold damage. Should really be used more often in FL

[knell]

they are beautiful and one of my favorite Syagrus, quite stunning on the horizon with some space... but also very messy when seeding! just imagine a queen palm but all the seeds are the size of duck eggs

[quaman58]

Always loved this palm. I wish we could grow it like you guys in Florida can. This was one of the first palms I bought, probably in 2003 or thereabouts. It’s about 12 feet tall & just beginning to trunk. Steady, but slow..It’s always got some nutritional deficiencies I can’t figure out. But here it is in all its glory..

Edited November 22, 2018 by quaman58

[realarch]

I remember how impressive this palm was when it was small and had those huge strap leaves. Boy, it out grew that phase pretty fast, but it's still an attractive palm. 

Just starting to seed and so far not overwhelmed by the quantity. 

Tim

[Hilo Jason]

15 minutes ago, realarch said:

I remember how impressive this palm was when it was small and had those huge strap leaves. Boy, it out grew that phase pretty fast, but it's still an attractive palm. 

Just starting to seed and so far not overwhelmed by the quantity. 

Tim

I might need to get some seed from you so I can try this over here at my place.  I think this might be my favorite Syagarus. 

[realarch]

Well we'll see if the seed is viable. I picked up the seed for the ones in the garden from the ones at UH Hilo. Big yellow golf ball sized fruit.

Tim

[redant]

Mine in that picture is 7 or 8 years in the ground. Must be slower in Fl. I have one the exact same age planted in a less then desirable spot that still only has strap leaves. The big C. No that was shading it out came down last year during Irma so it's picking up some growth. 

[realarch]

These palms like lots of sun, now that your small one has more light, it should grow much faster like you said.

Tim

[Eric in Orlando]

Looks great! Syagrus amara is an awesome palm that should be more widely available in Florida along with S. pseudococos and S. sancona. They are hardy in south FL and into the warmer parts of central FL. Hardiness is similar to Wodyetia. In the old palm book "Palms of the World" (McCurrach) it was still known by its old name Rhyticocos amara but mentions that it could possibly be a good seaside palm for Florida as it has some salt tolerance.

[Eric in Orlando]

Here is a S. amara at Leu Gardens, planted in 2000. It is about 25ft tall. It was a bit beat up after Hurricane Irma last year and had some minor burn after 1 windy night at 28F last winter but is growing out of it. We had another nice younger specimen about 6ft tall elsewhere but it was crushed by a falling tree from Hurricane Irma.

 

 

[Zeeth]

Another nice thing about this species is hurricane tolerance.

[PalmatierMeg]

I've been avoiding the Syagrus genus since wilt killed all my queens and mules. But I have 3 Syagrus planted on my garden I lost tags for and no longer remember what is what. I ought to post photos of them. I once looked into amara but didn't follow through. It has a more elegant, open look than queens.

[redant]

The clean crown shaft is really nice on these, the boots pull right off leaving a very clean look. Not all nasty like the queens.

[redant]

While doing some work in the far back I was once again impressed by this palm.