Chamaedorea radicalis Growth Rate

[PlantDad]

My chamaedorea radicalis is growing quite fast. I get 1 leaf like every 3 weeks to a month. Maybe that is normal but it seems fast. How fast do they normally grow? I would love to hear about other people's experiences with growing chamaedorea radicalis. Also if you have pictures of your own radicalis please post them do I could see them. Thanks

[Laaz]

They can grow quite fast, but fastest in well draining soil.

[PlantDad]

On 3/11/2020 at 8:10 AM, Laaz said:

They can grow quite fast, but fastest in well draining soil.

Ok good to know. Thank you

[Steve Mac]

Mine are very slow, but in a garden outside so not relevant to you I suppose.

When I say slow, everything is relative, but in the garden they have gone to about two feet when the Ch. tepijilote has gone to 12 feet in the same time.

Once they get to a certain bushy size I think that they will slow down (mine in the garden did) unless they are the trunking form.

You probably know that there are different forms, the trunking and the non trunking forms,

And in my opinion there are 'variations in between'.  They take longer to start trunking.

The 'variations in between' are not officially recognized but it has been the experience of a well respected palm grower friend of mine that all of his radicalis eventually went trunking, some took over 15 yrs but then they shot up. 

Sorry this is probably a discussion for a different thread.

[PlantDad]

On 3/20/2020 at 9:12 PM, gtsteve said:

Mine are very slow, but in a garden outside so not relevant to you I suppose.

When I say slow, everything is relative, but in the garden they have gone to about two feet when the Ch. tepijilote has gone to 12 feet in the same time.

Once they get to a certain bushy size I think that they will slow down (mine in the garden did) unless they are the trunking form.

You probably know that there are different forms, the trunking and the non trunking forms,

And in my opinion there are 'variations in between'.  They take longer to start trunking.

The 'variations in between' are not officially recognized but it has been the experience of a well respected palm grower friend of mine that all of his radicalis eventually went trunking, some took over 15 yrs but then they shot up. 

Sorry this is probably a discussion for a different thread.

Thank you. I think mine are the trunking form. They all have above ground stems. Very frost hardy too. I've exposed mine to multiple frosts and they did just fine. 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

Planted in the right soil outside with adequate irrigation they can grow exceptionally fast. 

[PalmLoverForLife]

Does anyone know if these can handle any type of sun or do they need to be in mostly shade and filtered sun ? It hard to find a shade or filtered sun spot in florida. 

[Fusca]

4 hours ago, PalmLoverForLife said:

Does anyone know if these can handle any type of sun or do they need to be in mostly shade and filtered sun ? It hard to find a shade or filtered sun spot in florida. 

Welcome to Palmtalk!  I've heard that they can handle full sun but in deep south Texas I grow them in part day sun.  They're one of only a few Chamaedorea that can handle full sun.  Are you growing them in pots (this is the "Palms In Pots" forum)?  Depending on where you are in Florida I would think that they would look best in at least partial shade.

[PalmLoverForLife]

Thank you for your response. I have it in a pot right now in my lanai and it only gets partial sun in the morning. Someone gave it to me and I don’t know if it’s been in shade with the previous owner. I was worried that if I put it in the ground outside or in a pot outside in the sun that it would burn.

[PalmLoverForLife]

There are three in the pot. 

[Fusca]

19 minutes ago, PalmLoverForLife said:

Thank you for your response. I have it in a pot right now in my lanai and it only gets partial sun in the morning. Someone gave it to me and I don’t know if it’s been in shade with the previous owner. I was worried that if I put it in the ground outside or in a pot outside in the sun that it would burn.

That's a valid concern - I wouldn't advise moving it into full sun if it's been in all day shade.  I think where you have it is fine - it sounds like you have it in the same conditions that I have mine on the east side of my house.  They are really tough palms - I grew them outdoors in San Antonio as well.  One was in nearly all day shade underneath a Butia odorata and I rarely watered it.   Even when we were over 100°F every day for a couple of months!  It didn't seem to mind at all!  And in February 2021 when we dropped down to 9° and 13°F on consecutive nights they survived and recovered!  I doubt that you'll experience that but no need for concern on freezing nights or in high heat.  And your largest one looks like it's already flowering!  All Chamaedorea palms are dioecious so if you have a male plant and a female plant you'll eventually get viable seeds.    If you do decide to plant them out in the garden you can slowly acclimate them to more and more sun pretty easily while they're in the pot.  They're great palms for sure!

[Than]

On 3/3/2020 at 2:22 AM, PlantDad said:

My chamaedorea radicalis is growing quite fast. I get 1 leaf like every 3 weeks to a month. Maybe that is normal but it seems fast. How fast do they normally grow? I would love to hear about other people's experiences with growing chamaedorea radicalis. Also if you have pictures of your own radicalis please post them do I could see them. Thanks

What's the medium? 

[fotodimatti]

I think the parents of mine had trunks.
I really like the shape of these.
How hardy are they at that age? I have up to - 8 degrees Celsius sometimes. So far I dont let them freeze. Some Jubaeas already died with less at this juvenile stage...

[Palmensammler]

Hi,

Good looking plants. How old are they?

Good to see some more Germans here 😃

Eckhard

[Arecaceus]

I have a trunking form in the garden and what I've noticed is that they even grow at low temperatures just like Trachys. Mine is also flowering multiple times a year.

[Arecaceus]

On 1/27/2025 at 11:46 PM, fotodimatti said:

I think the parents of mine had trunks.
I really like the shape of these.
How hardy are they at that age? I have up to - 8 degrees Celsius sometimes. So far I dont let them freeze. Some Jubaeas already died with less at this juvenile stage...

Mine when a bit bigger than yours (first divided leaves) have taken -5°C last year without ANY visual damage. Were the Jubaeas in a pot?

[gyuseppe]

On 3/3/2020 at 1:22 AM, PlantDad said:

My chamaedorea radicalis is growing quite fast. I get 1 leaf like every 3 weeks to a month. Maybe that is normal but it seems fast. How fast do they normally grow? I would love to hear about other people's experiences with growing chamaedorea radicalis. Also if you have pictures of your own radicalis please post them do I could see them. Thanks

good look

[fotodimatti]

On 1/30/2025 at 12:36 AM, Arecaceus said:

Mine when a bit bigger than yours (first divided leaves) have taken -5°C last year without ANY visual damage. Were the Jubaeas in a pot?

Hi,
Thanks for the info.
Yes, my Jubaeas were in similar pots as my Chams are.

[Arecaceus]

2 hours ago, fotodimatti said:

Hi,
Thanks for the info.
Yes, my Jubaeas were in similar pots as my Chams are.

From what I understand Jubaeas are not as cold hardy as they say. At least in wet winter climates. A big one in the ground will take -8°C without damage for a short time.

[gyuseppe]

1 hour ago, Arecaceus said:

From what I understand Jubaeas are not as cold hardy as they say. At least in wet winter climates. A big one in the ground will take -8°C without damage for a short time.

my jubaea

I bought it a little big 20 years ago!

[Arecaceus]

7 hours ago, gyuseppe said:

my jubaea

I bought it a little big 20 years ago!
 

Wow! They are so slow growing. Mine is still quite small...

There are some bigger ones in my area:

[gyuseppe]

If I understand correctly they can be grown in Düsseldorf, I learned something else!

[Arecaceus]

1 hour ago, gyuseppe said:

If I understand correctly they can be grown in Düsseldorf, I learned something else!

Yes, picture is from Leverkusen, adjacent to Cologne.

[Arecaceus]

While this is a Chamaedorea thread there are some nearby:

[Palmensammler]

These are beautiful plants. Crazy what's possible in good old Germany.  Have they ever flowered and set seeds?

My zone 7b doesn't allow to plant chammies outside 

Eckhard 

[Arecaceus]

8 hours ago, Palmensammler said:

These are beautiful plants. Crazy what's possible in good old Germany.  Have they ever flowered and set seeds?

My zone 7b doesn't allow to plant chammies outside 

Eckhard 

Yes they have you can see fruits developping on one picture. Mine does flower constantly but no fruit because it's solitary.

I mean the zones seem to rise constantly lately. 😂 Maybe you soon are able to too. 😅 
Haven't you growing Trachies unprotected outside? I feel like that was you.

[Palmensammler]

Yes  I have a few Trachies planted outside. The two biggest are 3 and 4 meters. All survived-15°C/5°F.

There are three Rhapidophyllum waiting to be planted but I'm not sure about the right spot

Eckhard

[Arecaceus]

5 minutes ago, Palmensammler said:

Yes  I have a few Trachies planted outside. The two biggest are 3 and 4 meters. All survived-15°C/5°F.

There are three Rhapidophyllum waiting to be planted but I'm not sure about the right spot

Eckhard

Without damage? Can you grow Chamaerops?

I had a Rhapidophyllum but I took it out and donated it to our Botanical Garden. I wonder how it looks now. It has alrady been 7-8 years since. I only had it 2 or 3 years and it flowered for me. Wasn't as slow growing as I expected espescially because it got sun only half a day. I think they love heat so I would put it in a hot and sunny spot.

[Palmensammler]

I never tried. Chamaerops seems to be borderline for me and I don't protect my plants. 

The trachies had been planted as small seedlings.  Nowadays they don't have any damages. 

Eckhard