Planting Question Phoenix, Arizona

[wrigjef]

Hey guys,  

   I purchased a Beccariophoenix Alfredii last month from a local nursery.  My plan was to put it in the ground at the end of February.  In “normal” years we won’t see a frost or freeze past Feb 15th.  
 The hole for the Palm is dug and the palm is in a pot on my back patio.   It’s about 8 feet tall in a pot so we’re not talking about planting a seedling.

My question is this, would you plant it tomorrow Jan 25th seeing this forecast or would you wait until the end of February?   
Thanks for the help in advance. 

[AZPalms]

Number one, where on earth did you find that in Phoenix, I’m here and would pick one up!

Number 2, nice score! I would personally wait about a month and then go ahead and plant. Could you do it now? Yes. But why chance.

The B. Alfredii I have are in all day sun and about 3/4 day sun. Lots of water during summer and growing season. They’ll do well for you. If it was me, I’d also make sure to acclimate it to the site before planting. 

 

Max 

[wrigjef]

43 minutes ago, AZPalms said:

Number one, where on earth did you find that in Phoenix, I’m here and would pick one up!

Number 2, nice score! I would personally wait about a month and then go ahead and plant. Could you do it now? Yes. But why chance.

The B. Alfredii I have are in all day sun and about 3/4 day sun. Lots of water during summer and growing season. They’ll do well for you. If it was me, I’d also make sure to acclimate it to the site before planting. 

 

Max 

Hey Max,

 I purchased it from Pacific Palms Nursery

1740 West Briles Road way up North off I-17 South of Carefree Highway.  
They have a least 50 or more grown from very small plants in container on the property.  I believe he said they are all 5 years old.  $199 out the door and worth it. 
They also have some nice Mules.  When I bought this they had a couple nice Foxtails which I had no idea why they would have those here for sale as they won’t last long! 

[AZPalms]

32 minutes ago, wrigjef said:

Hey Max,

 I purchased it from Pacific Palms Nursery

1740 West Briles Road way up North off I-17 South of Carefree Highway.  
They have a least 50 or more grown from very small plants in container on the property.  I believe he said they are all 5 years old.  $199 out the door and worth it. 
They also have some nice Mules.  When I bought this they had a couple nice Foxtails which I had no idea why they would have those here for sale as they won’t last long! 

That’s awesome! Do you know if they’re open on the weekends? Their site says no. I thought they were wholesale only??

[wrigjef]

25 minutes ago, AZPalms said:

That’s awesome! Do you know if they’re open on the weekends? Their site says no. I thought they were wholesale only??

Closed on weekends but you can drive out there and walk through them.  There is always a few employees on the property and are very cool.  If you are serious about buying one you need to get there before 3pm on weekdays.   I think the owners name is Mark. He will remember me buying it last month.  He said he grew them locally in the hopes the landscape companies would snatch them up but they have not caught on yet.  They are a wholesaler but will sell to private individuals such as yourself.  He is as nutty about palms as we are so enjoy talking with him if you make it out there.  

[aztropic]

There's no way he grew those palms himself to that size in Phoenix... Pacific palms imports alot of their material from Botanics wholesale in Florida.If you look at the soil it's growing in,you'll probably see noticeable sand in the mix.Kudos for him taking a chance on importing something a little different though.

I have a couple alfredii planted in my yard from 5 gallon size about 8 years ago and they are still smaller than the 1 in that pot.They put out several new fronds per year here,but take forever to fatten up.They are tough palms that will take a good freeze,and I would plant it tomorrow without concern.We will not get another freeze in the valley this winter.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[wrigjef]

1 hour ago, aztropic said:

There's no way he grew those palms himself to that size in Phoenix... Pacific palms imports alot of their material from Botanics wholesale in Florida.If you look at the soil it's growing in,you'll probably see noticeable sand in the mix.Kudos for him taking a chance on importing something a little different though.

I have a couple alfredii planted in my yard from 5 gallon size about 8 years ago and they are still smaller than the 1 in that pot.They put out several new fronds per year here,but take forever to fatten up.They are tough palms that will take a good freeze,and I would plant it tomorrow without concern.We will not get another freeze in the valley this winter.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

Hey Scott,

    We have met before on this forum hope all is well.  
  I have to disagree on these BA’s because I have visited Pacific Palms for the last 12 years at minimum.  They used to be located off Cave Creek Road, right parallel to the 101.  Mark,  the owner told me about the B Alfredii’s he was growing around 2014?   We chatted for about an hour on the rare palms he was growing.  We toured a field of BA’s that we’re literally a foot tops and looked like Needle palms that could grow in VA.   BUT he was for real!  These were those palms and I had not visited his nursery since they moved to the new location.  On the day I bought this palm he had no idea we spoke about them 5 years earlier and told me the same story until I reminded him we met years earlier so it believe it’s the same stand of Palms I saw 5 years ago.   
I remember he felt disappointed these new discovered palms did not literally take off selling to wholesale landscapers so he was selling them reasonably to private parties who love palm trees.  Pay a visit and ask for yourself.   Cheers!   

Edited January 25, 2020 by wrigjef

[RyManUtah]

Do you recall the prices on those mules? I wanna take a trip to get some. Would rather go to Phoenix. Closer growing conditions to me than coastal Cali 

[wrigjef]

3 minutes ago, Ryagra said:

Do you recall the prices on those mules? I wanna take a trip to get some. Would rather go to Phoenix. Closer growing conditions to me than coastal Cali 

$299

Edited January 25, 2020 by wrigjef

[wrigjef]

10 minutes ago, Ryagra said:

Do you recall the prices on those mules? I wanna take a trip to get some. Would rather go to Phoenix. Closer growing conditions to me than coastal Cali 

St George, Utah!  Love the idea of a Mule up there!  It’s a hardy Palm in dry areas.  

When it comes to palms there is something about a dry cold compared to a wet cold that makes the difference between survival or death. Dry cold rules for survival. 
I say BUY that MULE and plant it this spring Protect it a bit on nights below freezing next winter.  A light frost cloth may do it up there!   Cheers!

[RyManUtah]

6 minutes ago, wrigjef said:

St George, Utah!  Love the idea of a Mule up there!  It’s a hardy Palm in dry areas.  

When it comes to palms there is something about a dry cold compared to a wet cold that makes the difference between survival or death. Dry cold rules for survival. 
I say BUY that MULE and plant it this spring Protect it a bit on nights below freezing next winter.  A light frost cloth may do it up there!   Cheers!

Thanks for the tips! I want to acquire two of them. Very standout ish for this area in a sea of washies. I’m looking about that size, and to pick it up in person so I am choose the characteristics. 

[wrigjef]

3 minutes ago, Ryagra said:

Thanks for the tips! I want to acquire two of them. Very standout ish for this area in a sea of washies. I’m looking about that size, and to pick it up in person so I am choose the characteristics. 

I actually think Mule Palms May do well in Saint George!  Pay the money for the larger ones and plant early spring.  Mid March for your local.  Next winter you can build a small PVC frame to hold a frost cloth on cold nights and you will be golden!

cheers!

[aztropic]

22 hours ago, wrigjef said:

When I bought this they had a couple nice Foxtails which I had no idea why they would have those here for sale as they won’t last long!

 

Foxtails actually can be grown successfully in the valley if sited correctly.Here's mine - 20 years in the ground from a 5 gallon and currently flowering.It has been completely torched a couple times over the years by our occasional freezes but so far,has always recovered.Maybe I just got lucky?

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[AZPalms]

1 hour ago, aztropic said:

Foxtails actually can be grown successfully in the valley if sited correctly.Here's mine - 20 years in the ground from a 5 gallon and currently flowering.It has been completely torched a couple times over the years by our occasional freezes but so far,has always recovered.Maybe I just got lucky?

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

Scott, don’t be bashful! You’ve got skills my friend!! That Foxtail is my inspiration to grow one successfully here in Phoenix. I have two in the ground now. Fingers crossed! 

[wrigjef]

5 hours ago, aztropic said:

Foxtails actually can be grown successfully in the valley if sited correctly.Here's mine - 20 years in the ground from a 5 gallon and currently flowering.It has been completely torched a couple times over the years by our occasional freezes but so far,has always recovered.Maybe I just got lucky?

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

Wow beautiful!  

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

On 1/24/2020 at 5:07 PM, wrigjef said:

Hey guys,  

   I purchased a Beccariophoenix Alfredii last month from a local nursery.  My plan was to put it in the ground at the end of February.  In “normal” years we won’t see a frost or freeze past Feb 15th.  
 The hole for the Palm is dug and the palm is in a pot on my back patio.   It’s about 8 feet tall in a pot so we’re not talking about planting a seedling.

My question is this, would you plant it tomorrow Jan 25th seeing this forecast or would you wait until the end of February?   
Thanks for the help in advance. 

That is a helluva deal on a great looking palm. I hope it does well for you. I envy your dry cold compared to my wet cold winters. 

[wrigjef]

17 hours ago, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

That is a helluva deal on a great looking palm. I hope it does well for you. I envy your dry cold compared to my wet cold winters. 

Thanks, can’t wait to get it in the ground.  I would be tempted to put one in the ground where you live as well.  Especially if the size of mine!  

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

8 hours ago, wrigjef said:

Thanks, can’t wait to get it in the ground.  I would be tempted to put one in the ground where you live as well.  Especially if the size of mine!  

I have one that eventually will be put in the ground but much smaller then what you got. I really really hope this palm can be grown here , one of my favorites. 

[wrigjef]

I finally got this BA in the ground yesterday and very excited!  The rocks will go in next.  

[pfancy]

Good idea on getting a large one. The five gal I planted 5ish years ago is maybe 5’ now. Mine never burns. Hot or cold. Also good to see that dude is selling cool stuff again.

[aztropic]

On 3/8/2020 at 12:31 PM, wrigjef said:

I finally got this BA in the ground yesterday and very excited!  The rocks will go in next.  

Update on the BA? Never thought we would have to be concerned about our SUMMER weather killing palms,but this past one,our hottest ever on record,has taken out several of mine.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[wrigjef]

5 hours ago, aztropic said:

Update on the BA? Never thought we would have to be concerned about our SUMMER weather killing palms,but this past one,our hottest ever on record,has taken out several of mine.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

It’s older fronds fried badly and it looked lousy most of the summer.  I purchased a high pressure mister system about 6 weeks ago and since then it has pushed out two very green fronds and a third is growing now.  I can’t believe how the humidity made it take off.  The mist settles on that side of the yard and I can tell the Palm loves it.  I picture in its natural environment at 3000 feet in the mountains of Madagascar it has dry days with low humidity and then the humidity will flow in from the ocean. No question the mister has helped spur growth.  I have since trimmed most of the dead fronds.  This pic was taken a few minutes ago.  My pool is being resurfaced in case you wonder what’s going on there.   

[GottmitAlex]

@wrigjef Nice going!

How is your coconut doing?

[aztropic]

Pics of my BA's to compare. Shade grown looks fine,sun grown is somewhat torched...

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[GottmitAlex]

@aztropic Do  you know if AZ has a 10a somewhere?

[aztropic]

Maybe Yuma? Definitely a little milder over winter than Phoenix.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[wrigjef]

On 10/10/2020 at 6:49 PM, GottmitAlex said:

@aztropic Do  you know if AZ has a 10a somewhere?

My coconut is just about dead.  The heat completely fried every frond and only the meristem is left and it does not look good at all.   So bad I am not going to waste my time protecting it this winter so a for sure goner!   Sad but I am over it.  I put way too much work into keeping it alive, it’s just not meant to be in Phoenix.   

[GottmitAlex]

7 hours ago, wrigjef said:

My coconut is just about dead.  The heat completely fried every frond and only the meristem is left and it does not look good at all.   So bad I am not going to waste my time protecting it this winter so a for sure goner!   Sad but I am over it.  I put way too much work into keeping it alive, it’s just not meant to be in Phoenix.   

Got it Jeff. Sorry to hear it. Beccariophoenix time!