Hey, I am asking for a friend that lives in Girona, Spain. He is very fund of some species i showed him.  He wants to Grow Kentias, Bismarckias and Majesties.  Anyone has experience in the area that could chime in? thanks!

I live in the south of Spain, and can't really speak with authority about what will grow in Cataluña, but.. based on what I've read from people who've written about the area, I would imagine:

Kentia probably ok, unless in a cold microclimate (the closer to the coast, the better) .. 

Bismarckia probably ok

Majesty palm doubtful

Hope that helps, or that someone who knows the area better can chip in. 

J

I agree with Jan Jo, ravanea rivularis will be the less easy.

15 hours ago, Jan Jo said:

I live in the south of Spain, and can't really speak with authority about what will grow in Cataluña, but.. based on what I've read from people who've written about the area, I would imagine:

Kentia probably ok, unless in a cold microclimate (the closer to the coast, the better) .. 

Bismarckia probably ok

Majesty palm doubtful

Hope that helps, or that someone who knows the area better can chip in. 

J

Thanks, I thought Kentia and Majesty was on par hardiness wise. how far are they from each other? 

2 hours ago, gilles06 said:

I agree with Jan Jo, ravanea rivularis will be the less easy.

I understood so. What can you grow in the French Riviera? Any Bismarcks or royals? 

If he lives by the coast, he shouldn´t have any trouble with either of the four. A little farther inland, that would be a different story. Gerona enjoys a mediterranean climate, with warm summers and cool winters. It is a little more rainy than Valencia, and much more than Almería, Málaga, etc.

I have read of people growing them along the french riviera, which is a little cooler.

I live at 43ºN along the north coast of Spain. My climate is atlantic temperate , far less sunny than Gerona´s and this Ravenea rivularis has been growing outdoors happily for 8 years now. It´s got  1 mt tall trunk, and I can´t protect it any longer because it´s already too tall. It does suffer from  wind in winter.

This Bismarckia nobilis has been in the ground for 6 years and I only protect it from the winter rain, of which we suffer a lot. I´ve got two other small ones with no problem either. They are slow because we lack of heat in summer and sunshine is scarce. Only 1800 hours a year.

I also have Howeas (Belmoreana and Forsteriana) and Archontophoenix (all ofthem except Beatrice). I wrote on them in the thread "Madrid a palmy city not long ago.

I hope it is of use for you

8 hours ago, Palmfarmer said:

I understood so. What can you grow in the French Riviera? Any Bismarcks or royals? 

We can grow howea, archontophoenix. I am trying to grow bismarkia but i even didn't try roystonea...

11 hours ago, Palmfarmer said:

Thanks, I thought Kentia and Majesty was on par hardiness wise. how far are they from each other? 

I don't know, really. I've had majesty palms get burned a bit in bad winters in my garden on the coast in the south of Spain, but no problems with Kentias. Also I find Ravenea to be a much touchier palm, much more demanding with water and fertilizer, less wind tolerant, etc.