Wish me luck

[Chester B]

Hard to find locally my first Brahea armata. Not exactly the best climate for them but there is one in Seattle and one in Salem, Or  that are surviving. I’m told it’s hard to build up the number of fronds as soon as one is produced another dies. I’m going to try in a hot spot with ample water and palmgain. 

[Meangreen94z]

Brahea Clara “Icy Blue” is supposed to be the better growing blue Brahea for wet/humid climates.

[Chester B]

Good to know. If I could get a larger one for a reasonable price I will. Unfortunately we don’t have the best selections around here and don’t feel like paying exorbitant shipping for something that might survive.  For the $20 this palm cost me I’m willing to roll the dice. 
 

You can pretty much get any type of palm you want around here as long as it’s a Trachycarpus fortuneii. 

[Meangreen94z]

I’m trying them both. There are Armata locally and further away from the coast, but they always look rough. They don’t hold as many fronds as they do in the dry desert. Clara is supposed to, and also grows faster. You might contact North Texas Cold Hardy Palms on here if you decide to try one. I think a 5 gallon size is in the $25-35 range, plus shipping. 

[Chester B]

Thanks for the info I may do that. I’m getting to the point I need to buy my neighbors house and tear it down for palms. 

[RyManUtah]

Good luck Chester! That’s exciting!

Having just planted my first, I’m far from an expert, but desert species tend to be over watered easily, so be cautious, especially over head. 

I water my lawn like this so the armata doesn’t get flooded in the crown 

[Darold Petty]

I'm no fan palm expert but I would imagine that B. edulis would be a much better choice for Portland.  There is a very healthy one in my neighborhood only about 1/2 mile inland from the ocean.

  We have high humidity and low temperatures, (55-65F daily summertime highs), much more similar to Guadalupe Island than hot, sunny Sonora.   

[Chester B]

On 3/8/2020 at 11:46 AM, RyManUtah said:

Having just planted my first, I’m far from an expert, but desert species tend to be over watered easily, so be cautious, especially over head. 

Understood.  Winter rain will be my real issue, but hey I have to try!

23 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

I'm no fan palm expert but I would imagine that B. edulis would be a much better choice for Portland.  There is a very healthy one in my neighborhood only about 1/2 mile inland from the ocean.

  We have high humidity and low temperatures, (55-65F daily summertime highs), much more similar to Guadalupe Island than hot, sunny Sonora.   

Yes, I've read that.   I have seen pictures of ones in Seattle and BC which are cooler and wetter than me.   The issue here is that I can't start with a seedling I need something with some size.  Our palm selection locally is so limited, so shipping on a bigger one might be a little too spendy.  Whenever something like this one pops up you have to take the chance.