Adonidia (Veitchia) merrillii in Arizona

[ctopher2391]

Hi everyone,

I don't know a ton about these types of palms, other than I love them, and it's too hot for them here in Phoenix AZ 

I've been communicating with a nursery in San Diego, and I'm going to paste his emails to me below, and attach a pic.  I am hoping someone can give me some advice based on the details he is providing.  Would these do okay in partial sun, planted in the ground in AZ?  Or in a pot in my relatively bright (but of course dry, not humid) foyer?  Should I forget about having these here altogether?  Any advice is appreciated.

Email # 1 : 

Last spring you emailed about Adonidia (Veitchia) merrillii.  We didn’t have any.

But, we just have available some nice V. merrillii hybrids.  These should have better cold hardiness.

They are nice 1 gallons.  Photo below.

We don’t know which other Veitchia hybridized the merrillii but the sees came from the merrillii.

It should be an interesting palm.

If any interest, let me know.

My Response:

That looks awesome. How do you think it would do in Phoenix AZ, partial shade, full shade, inside?

His response:

Hard to say.  When we got the seeds, some germinated green and have trouble with our winter.  I figure these are the true merrillii.

The ones with speckles on the stem (same seed batch) are untouched.  So, they are more cold hardy from hybrid vigor.

But, how cold they’ll take is not known.  I figure into the upper twenties most likely – maybe? A little better.

[quaman58]

Hard to say for sure, but the stem sure looks like Veitchia arecina. It would be a bit cold hardier than Adonidia. I don't really see Adonidia features in it, but it's always a possibility.

[AZPalms]

Imo living here in Phoenix, it would be toast from the summer heat and winter chill. I could be wrong but from what I’ve gathered most Adonidia are on par with cocos for cool/cold tolerance. I’ve also read that V. Winin and arecina has decent cool tolerance and could possibly work here in shade. Don’t know. 

If you’re going for tropical look and with hardiness for the valley, I’d look at mules, beccariophoenix, coco queens etc. just my 2 cents. 

Or buy that sucker up and give it a shot! Who knows! 

[Matt in OC]

I have a few of these palms in question. I'm hoping they are a Adonidia and Veitchia cross, but I can't tell. They've been fine for me through the winter. Veitchias can get burned even here with the hot, dry winds we've had, so I'm not sure how they might fare in AZ. Straight Adonidia would likely be a no go.

[quaman58]

My experience with Adonidia is that they are very hardy to hot, blazing sun. I made that comment on this forum a couple years back & someone (I think Meg) from south Florida said they they are sun hogs in her part of the world as well. I guess the point being that it might be OK with the AZ sun. Cold is going to be the bigger issue.

[PalmatierMeg]

Pure Adonidias will be certain no-grows in AZ & CA. They are quite cold sensitive and resent low humidity. If you decide on an Adonidia hybrid, give it dappled morning sun under canopy and place it where it can't be dessicated by desert winds. I don't know how a pure Adonidia would do as a houseplant but suspect not well long term. They want high light, very warm temps and high humidity. Here in Cape Coral they take blazing sun but also get the benefit of summer rain and very high humidity. Sun in AZ is accompanied by unbelievably low humidity and drying winds.

If you have discretionary income and tolerance for risk to ship in an Adonidia/Veitchia hybrid from CA, go for it and keep us updated. Will a bi-generic hybrid of these two related palms succeed better - who knows?.

[bubba]

What Meg and Brett said...

[Silas_Sancona]

In regards to growing Adonida here, in general, i'd have to agree w/ Meg and others.. More than likely they'd be toast after their first summer.. esp. if exposed to full sun. In a pot out of direct sun.. possibly?  Winter exposure is kind of a toss up,  imo depending on where in the valley you are located..  Closer to downtown, maybe?  if they survived the summer..  Even here where i am in Chandler.. where both Delonix regia and Cassia fistula can be found in my neighborhood, i doubt it's warm enough most winters to keep Adonida happy and it isn't what id consider *cold* here. Again though, can't say that with 100% confidence.

Veitchia, at least some, might be a hair more tolerant ..though likely not through our summer sun / heat.

While i take part of the blame for results i had w/ seedlings i'd brought w/ me from FL when i moved here, they didn't make it past June of that year.. and that was provided plenty of water, and  placed under our patio, out of the sun.. In the ground, started under / between large Mesquites, they might stand a chance.. but i say that conservatively..  I'm sure there are spots around town where someone might pull it off.. Just not me, lol.. 

As for Adonida in CA.. Part of me agrees that, even in the ideal-ist spots around San Diego, they'd also be a no-go.. On the other hand, i did come across the mention of one, possible fruiting, specimen somewhere down there in a thread over on the Tropical Fruit Forum last year.. Supposedly was potted though, and no one there posted any pictures so i'd consider the info suspect.. Really, who knows. Tempted to try one myself later on, just to gain my own insights. 

A cross might give some degree of advantage over the parents,  just how much, esp. under our conditions?  That is a good question..

[aztropic]

Forget Adonidia.Ptychosperma species have a similar look and can definitely survive Phoenix if planted on an eastern exposure.Here are two that I grew from seed in the pic.We had 1 night this winter hit 28 F so some palms have burn but always recover.Nothing was protected.Lineup left to right.

Hyophorbe lagenicaulis

Ptychosperma elegans

Ptychosperma salomonense

Roystonea regia

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona