Walmart Palms

[Mangosteen]

Walmart is not usually the place that comes to mind when looking to purchase palms,  but the one in Hilo might be an exception.                                                                                                                              Not a lot of variety, but the palms they do offer are prized right.

One gallon size Red Sealing Wax (over 3 feet in height) $38.77.

One gallon size Dwarf Areca Catachu ( 3 feet in height) $18.88.

[Neil C]

Wow, amazing prices especially the dwarf catachu!!!

Regards Neil

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

Only in hawaii haha those would be dream palms for anyone else in the continental US 

[Palm Tree Jim]

What a find!

[Silas_Sancona]

TNow that's just not nice, teasing us like that. Lol

Would probably buy 4 or 5 of those Dawf  A. C's if  I spied any in a Wally World here.  Half the time, what plants can be found at the two closest locations here are half dead on the rack theyre displayed on.  Wonder if they ship, store to store.( One can wish, right?  )

[John hovancsek]

I got my lipstick palm from them 

[PalmatierMeg]

To die for!!!

[Jeff Searle]

I was there recently. But you have to understand, their customer base is nowhere nearly what it is here in south Florida. And look at the size of palms in 1 gallons? Supply and demand.....

 

Jeff

[Fusca]

On 10/21/2019 at 2:04 AM, Mangosteen said:

One gallon size Dwarf Areca Catachu

Can you tell if they are indeed true dwarfs at that size?

[Mangosteen]

2 hours ago, Jeff Searle said:

I was there recently. But you have to understand, their customer base is nowhere nearly what it is here in south Florida. And look at the size of palms in 1 gallons? Supply and demand.....

 

Jeff

So palms at these sizes would be in 5 gallon containers in S. FL? What do you think they would retail for?

[Mangosteen]

1 hour ago, Fusca said:

Can you tell if they are indeed true dwarfs at that size?

I've grown some of these Dwarf Areca catachu palms from Walmart for a few years now. All are certainly dwarfs, but some stay shorter and more stout than others.  

[PalmatierMeg]

3 hours ago, Fusca said:

Can you tell if they are indeed true dwarfs at that size?

Maybe, although I was told you have a better chance to tell when they are 3g. Bear in mind dwarfism occurs along a range from semi- to extreme (no petiole at all). I have germinated 75-80 seeds in the past two years. Some were normal to semi-dwarf (petioles 2-5" long, some leaf scrunching). Perhaps a dozen showed varying degrees of dwarfism (petioles 1/2" to 1" long, leaves highly scrunched). Not one seed yielded the coveted extreme dwarf.

However, I was able to tell seedlings with some degree of dwarfism from normal catechus by the following signs: 1) scrunched, wide leaves; 2) shortened petioles; 3) shorter, squatter in height; 4) slower growth.

Also, exposure to full FL sun enhances dwarf characteristics. Shade grown dwarfs will stretch out and appear less so.

[Jim in Los Altos]

If I were there I’d buy them up and list them on eBay for triple the cost plus shipping and I’d sell every one of them! 

[Fusca]

17 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Maybe, although I was told you have a better chance to tell when they are 3g. Bear in mind dwarfism occurs along a range from semi- to extreme (no petiole at all). I have germinated 75-80 seeds in the past two years. Some were normal to semi-dwarf (petioles 2-5" long, some leaf scrunching). Perhaps a dozen showed varying degrees of dwarfism (petioles 1/2" to 1" long, leaves highly scrunched). Not one seed yielded the coveted extreme dwarf.

However, I was able to tell seedlings with some degree of dwarfism from normal catechus by the following signs: 1) scrunched, wide leaves; 2) shortened petioles; 3) shorter, squatter in height; 4) slower growth.

Also, exposure to full FL sun enhances dwarf characteristics. Shade grown dwarfs will stretch out and appear less so.

Thanks Meg, that's good info for potential buyers.

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

6 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

If I were there I’d buy them up and list them on eBay for triple the cost plus shipping and I’d sell every one of them! 

Ill take 2 please 

[John hovancsek]

They do label them as dwarf but most of them are not true dwarfs , however they do show signs of dwarfism you just have to select wisely . The pic is one I chose and looks like crap because I put it in a full sun spot and is adjusting 

[Mangosteen]

On 10/22/2019 at 6:23 AM, Fusca said:

Can you tell if they are indeed true dwarfs at that size?

Here's a Walmart one gallon about two years after planting in the ground just north of Hilo at about 350' in altitude. (Full sun with a little late afternoon shade, mulch, fertilizer, 150 inches annual rainfall and winter minimums in the low 60's). Doesn't seem to be bothered by any local bugs or diseases.

[GottmitAlex]

17 minutes ago, Mangosteen said:

Here's a Walmart one gallon about two years after planting in the ground just north of Hilo at about 350' in altitude. (Full sun with a little late afternoon shade, mulch, fertilizer, 150 inches annual rainfall and winter minimums in the low 60's). Doesn't seem to be bothered by any local bugs or diseases.

Gorgeous 

[The Gerg]

21 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

If I were there I’d buy them up and list them on eBay for triple the cost plus shipping and I’d sell every one of them! 

That’s for sure.

Man oh man!

[PalmatierMeg]

I took these photos of 3 1g palms I germinated from dwarf Areca seeds. They are about 18 months old germinated from the same batch of seeds and have been growing under shadecloth on my back lanai. Two of them have definite signs of dwarfism but how dwarf they will be in the long run I couldn't say at this point, although I suspect neither will be an extreme dwarf. The seedling in the middle shows little, if any dwarfism and will probably grow up to be normal or, at best, semi-dwarf. I will plant it in my jungle next spring.

Photo #1 - 3 Areca catechu seedlings from dwarf seeds

Photo #2 - Closer look at left and right seedlings

Measurements for palm on the left:  Total Height = 9.5"; stem height to 1st petiole = 2"; petiole length = 3/4" to 1"

Measurements for palm on the right: Total Height = 8"; stem height to 1st petiole = 1.5"; petiole length = 3/4" to 2"

Photo #3 - Taller palm in the middle has few, if any, dwarf traits

Measurements: Total Height = 16"; stem height to first petiole = 3.5"; Petiole length = 3/4" (lowest leaf) to 4" (newest leaf)

Photos #4-5 - Leaf comparisons: "Normal" vs "Dwarf"

[Hilo Jason]

I’ve bought several of these dwarfs here in Hilo as well. This one below is actually the first palm I bought when I moved here 2 years ago. I was at Home Depot and got stopped in my tracks when I saw they had these!  As mentioned in previous posts, these won’t all turn out to show the compact dwarf traits, but I always just look for the stumpiest overall palm with little to no petiole. Here it is after 2 years in the ground:

Then a year ago I bought 2 more of these at the local garden store in town (but all grown by the same nursery).  These 2 below have been in the ground for about a year from a 1 gallon pot.

 

[PalmatierMeg]

Outstanding,  Jason!

[John hovancsek]

On 10/24/2019 at 10:30 AM, Hilo Jason said:

I’ve bought several of these dwarfs here in Hilo as well. This one below is actually the first palm I bought when I moved here 2 years ago. I was at Home Depot and got stopped in my tracks when I saw they had these!  As mentioned in previous posts, these won’t all turn out to show the compact dwarf traits, but I always just look for the stumpiest overall palm with little to no petiole. Here it is after 2 years in the ground:

Then a year ago I bought 2 more of these at the local garden store in town (but all grown by the same nursery).  These 2 below have been in the ground for about a year from a 1 gallon pot.

 

Gosh,  why can't mine look like yours? They are amazing 

[Hilo Jason]

On 10/25/2019 at 1:53 PM, John hovancsek said:

Gosh,  why can't mine look like yours? They are amazing 

I can’t take too much credit since I just dug the holes. I’m fortunate to have a good amount of soil here. I’ve also fertilized quarterly for these first 2 years to help get the garden established as quickly as possible. 

[Jeff Searle]

On 10/24/2019 at 4:30 PM, Hilo Jason said:

I’ve bought several of these dwarfs here in Hilo as well. This one below is actually the first palm I bought when I moved here 2 years ago. I was at Home Depot and got stopped in my tracks when I saw they had these!  As mentioned in previous posts, these won’t all turn out to show the compact dwarf traits, but I always just look for the stumpiest overall palm with little to no petiole. Here it is after 2 years in the ground:

Then a year ago I bought 2 more of these at the local garden store in town (but all grown by the same nursery).  These 2 below have been in the ground for about a year from a 1 gallon pot.

 

Hi Jason,

     Exceptionally nice!!

[Hilo Jason]

13 hours ago, Jeff Searle said:

Hi Jason,

     Exceptionally nice!!

Thanks Jeff!