How does one tell 5 gallon jubaea from beccariophoenix alfredii?  I have inadvertently commingled some, and while there are noticeable differences when these palms get larger (such as yellow petioles for the beccariophoenix alfredii, and the jubaea fronds and leaflets are stiffer), for smaller plants I'm having difficulty telling them apart.  Does anyone have some easy keys for differentiating them?

 

Marc

Hi Marc,

Welcome to palmtalk!

I grow both species from seed but since I am in the warmer subtropics, 

the conditions for the Jubea might not be the best. However, you will see

the differences in their leaflets structure - it should help to distinguish them

when they get bigger.

 

Potted B. alfredii, probably four years old. Leaves are kind of soft, compared to...

... a still potted seven years old Jubea. (much slower than B. and the leaves are stiffer)

Another example:

B. alfredii, same age (4y) but planted out two or three years ago.

Compared to:

...another six years old Jubea, planted out five years ago. 

Much slower than Jubea but as mentioned, but it is probably

year around just too warm for them. 

I hope it helps.

best regards from Okinawa -

Lars

 

 

 

Also, you will likely find young alfrediis have purple colored petioles:

 

Hi Marc,

Is the number of palms not too high to post a good (and numbered) picture of each here?  I bet the experienced eyes of PalmTalkers would discern them.

Best,

Andrei

Stiff leaf vs a much softer leaf is a dead give away. Also Alfies are rockets vs Jubaea comparatively. So if they were germinated around the same time, the size in seedlings should be noticeable. 

T J