Bismarckia nobilis (Post Yours)

[Rick Kelley]

How about a night photo. Looks almost fluorescent.

[palmfriend]

Hi,

here is one of mine....

Planted out two years ago in Sept.2020 -

Same one now - photos taken minutes ago.

I am glad that it is doing so well!

 

Lars

 

[ZPalms]

I really want a bismarkia, I wonder if mound planting would help it survive winter

[Glawyer]

No idea how old this is, it came with the house. I haven't seen much growth over the last two years, probably doesn't get warm enough. We top out in the 70s. Or maybe it needs more fertilizer.

[Glawyer]

I love this one's red highlighting. I'm not sure what it is, apart from the red it looks like a bismarkia.

 

 

[ruskinPalms]

4 hours ago, Glawyer said:

I love this one's red highlighting. I'm not sure what it is, apart from the red it looks like a bismarkia.

 

 

Hey what a beautiful view! I’m guessing you’re in California somewhere. What are your winter lows? Lots of frost? The highlights might be cold damage. Bismarckia loves lots of heat for good growth. They can take some freezes into the mid to upper 20s without too much drama but it can’t do that too often or they will sulk (actually a mid 20s freeze will damage the foliage here in Florida anyway and 3 or 4 times into the mid 20s in a winter would probably kill them here). I think your lack of growth is probably a lack of heat but I will defer to the cali members for a better advice!

[Billeb]

59 minutes ago, ruskinPalms said:

Hey what a beautiful view! I’m guessing you’re in California somewhere. What are your winter lows? Lots of frost? The highlights might be cold damage. Bismarckia loves lots of heat for good growth. They can take some freezes into the mid to upper 20s without too much drama but it can’t do that too often or they will sulk (actually a mid 20s freeze will damage the foliage here in Florida anyway and 3 or 4 times into the mid 20s in a winter would probably kill them here). I think your lack of growth is probably a lack of heat but I will defer to the cali members for a better advice!

Agreed. It could grow at somewhat milder temps but will never thrive. You will have troubles with it looking it’s best when temps top out in the 70’s. My guess is it needs more heat too. The colored tips indicates shock. Should be super blue/grey or even a shade of white. 
 

-dale

[Billy]

Here’s my small 15g Bismarckia when I had recently planted it. It’s only been a few months and it has since thrown out it’s first frond grown here on the property with a new spear pushing behind it. The new frond came out nice and white which is a good sign for the future. I’ll post a photo of how it looks now to see it’s growth plus the added plantings to that area. Cheers!

[Jubaea]

6 years in the ground from a 5 gal.

[Merlyn]

Here's my largest of three Bismarckia, this was planted in August 2018 from a 3 gallon big box store special.  The photo in my profile picture is the same palm back in 2018.  It was in part shade for 2 years with a couple of tall oaks and pines for canopy.  It's now in full sun and taking off.  I just had to chop off 4 fronds that were trying to crush my agaves, which is why it looks a bit sparse.  The tallest frond is now about 15 feet at the tip, so roughly 12 feet of growth in 4 years = 3 feet per year.  For those wondering "can I fit one in my yard" the fans are about 6 feet in diameter and the total span/diameter is about 18 feet.

[The Doctor]

On 8/24/2022 at 12:19 PM, Merlyn said:

Here's my largest of three Bismarckia, this was planted in August 2018 from a 3 gallon big box store special.  The photo in my profile picture is the same palm back in 2018.  It was in part shade for 2 years with a couple of tall oaks and pines for canopy.  It's now in full sun and taking off.  I just had to chop off 4 fronds that were trying to crush my agaves, which is why it looks a bit sparse.  The tallest frond is now about 15 feet at the tip, so roughly 12 feet of growth in 4 years = 3 feet per year.  For those wondering "can I fit one in my yard" the fans are about 6 feet in diameter and the total span/diameter is about 18 feet.

That is beautiful!

[The Doctor]

 

Here is mine, first pic summer of 2021 when I first planted it, second pic is several weeks ago, no supplemental irrigation but plenty of fertilizer.  It's been enjoying the heat this summer, we had multiple days of full sun and temps as high as 97.

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

I will add mine to this thread only because I just planted it yesterday. It had spear pull last year and finally recovering. Been pot bound for too long hoping it will spread its roots and we have a mild winter. I think everyone in 9a or warmer should try to grow atleast one of these 😃

T J 

[BillDaCat8]

Here's my largest Bizzie. Planted July 2018 on the backyard lawn. Was a 15gal from local Whitfill nursery.  Shortly after I planted it, I added a Corten steel ring around the base to keep the grass out.  Thats why I buried it so deep. This also helps with watering as well as allowing for more soil to be added as the palm grows. 

 

October 2019. My phone takes fairly dramatic nighttime pics.

 

April 2020 with Sargentii looking on. 

 

October 2020 with Ms. Edie posing. 

 

Earlier this month with another baby Bizzy that I started from seed a few years ago in the foreground. 

 

Edited August 29, 2022 by BillDaCat8

[Marius]

On 8/15/2022 at 12:06 AM, ruskinPalms said:

Hey what a beautiful view! I’m guessing you’re in California somewhere. What are your winter lows? Lots of frost? The highlights might be cold damage. Bismarckia loves lots of heat for good growth. They can take some freezes into the mid to upper 20s without too much drama but it can’t do that too often or they will sulk (actually a mid 20s freeze will damage the foliage here in Florida anyway and 3 or 4 times into the mid 20s in a winter would probably kill them here). I think your lack of growth is probably a lack of heat but I will defer to the cali members for a better advice!

 

On 8/14/2022 at 7:54 PM, Glawyer said:

I love this one's red highlighting. I'm not sure what it is, apart from the red it looks like a bismarkia.

 

 

This looks like a Latania to me

[SoulofthePlace]

OP: My Bismarckia nobilis: progress after 2,5 years:

[Merlyn]

@SoulofthePlace it looks like it is much happier now!  My smallest one was a 3 or 4 leafer that I got for $15, and it was utterly neglected for over a year with no watering or fertilizer, sitting forgotten in a corner.  I planted it in September 2019 and here it is today a bit over 6 feet tall!

And my front one, bought as a 3 gallon box store palm and planted in July 2018.  It's close to 20' tall overall now, and of course I have to regularly cut off fronds as they attempt to slow-motion-crush nearby plants:

[SoulofthePlace]

Merlyn, yours look perfect and your climate is much hotter. Mine had a lot of wind damage in the older photo and it was wobbling. I added more soil and sand around it (twice) and watered often, plus it did not get wind damage too much last winter. It was growing in shade and now that it has grown a bit "taller" it caught a bit more sun from the west.

[ruskinPalms]

Well. I guess I’ll post my other. Here is the one in my backyard. Crazy fast growth. 3 gallon to this in about 4 years if I recall right. 

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

@BillDaCat8 You have great taste. Bizzie and a Bull terrier 😃

T J 

[Walt]

My oldest bismark palm has 30-1/2 feet of clear trunk.

[Bkue]

[CiprianS]

Guys, does Bismarckia grow well in clay soil? Because as I posted also in another topic, mine are stagnant compared to the ones I see in California, Florida or Arizona. And I feed them well, water them but still…

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

5 hours ago, CiprianS said:

Guys, does Bismarckia grow well in clay soil

I had 4 of them before Palmageddon that were doing great. 2 were in a raised planter behind my pool. The other 2 were in my front yard. The 2 in the backyard didn't survive the freeze due to cheap Xmas lights tripping. The front 2 perished due to new ownership haha 

T J 

[Fusca]

20 hours ago, CiprianS said:

Guys, does Bismarckia grow well in clay soil?

Here's a couple of Bismarckia that I drove by today in Harlingen.  I can't say if they are in clay but I don't imagine it's much different than the clay I have 8 miles from here.

[Bkue]

This is 4yrs

[Bkue]

[TropicalGardenSpain]

Wow! Some fantastic palms here! Bismarckias are what got me into palms and tropical gardening! So up there as one of my favorites! I have quote a few planted now in the garden, this one is not my biggest but the latest photo and has a nice I've blue colour. They do really well here in Alicante, Spain. This has been in the ground almost 3 years now from a small seedling. 
 

[KsLouisiana]

Here's my bismarck that I'm in love with today. Has only grown 1 1/2 leaves so far this year. Hoping it really takes off!

[PindoPalm]

First reply in 4 years just wanted to say that

[Bkue]

Nearly a year later. Hard to see at night. 

[rizla023]

Planted as a jungle music 15 gallon in 2020. Almost 7 feet tall as of January 2024.

Santa Ana, CA

Before:

[FlaPalmLover]

I got this beauty last weekend at Lowe's. When I saw it there I knew I had to get it. It was so nice and well developed already that I knew someone else would if I didn't. I thought it would make a good addition to my yard. It was not easy transplanting it and moving it but I am hoping it will start growing again and do well. I didn't want to pay a landscaping company. I did not add any soil amendments/products and just added the soil that was already there to the existing roots/soil from the pot. If you're wondering why the ground looks all loose, it's because I tried another spot before that one and there was what I think was an irrigation pipe right in the center once I dug deep enough. The same pipe went through where I planted it but was on the edge of the hole I dug, so I just covered it with dirt and dug in the opposite direction. I assume palm roots wouldn't be capable of hurting irrigation piping.

Edited March 16, 2024 by FlaPalmLover

[Marius]

On 8/10/2022 at 7:00 PM, Marius said:

Mine during its second winter. It took half a year to settle and then started growing. Hoping that it will be even faster this coming summer. 

Update: 

[Harry’s Palms]

I sure wish I could have one of these. I went through “gopher ate my palm tree” anger syndrome , so no more. I live on a hill with a large south facing slope  and the only place I have left to put one is on that slope which gets gopher in the spring. My gardener is pretty good at eradicating them but it is a constant battle . They don’t seem to bother most of my palms except Bismarkia , Howea F. , and one large Trachy. Others I’ve had down there seem to be ok. The Bismarkia fell over , the gopher(s) ate every root right to the trunk! I paid $100 for it in a 5 gallon from a local nursery and , being a fellow palm  collector , the manager warned me . He knew I had been fighting gophers . I wrapped the roots in gavenized wire when I dug the hole . It made it a few years and just started to look majestic . It’s a good thing I don’t own a gun! I would have made a fool of myself down on that hill shooting at the mound. Picture Bill Murray in Cadyshack. Harry

Edited March 16, 2024 by Harry’s Palms