Parajubaea torallyi

[ahosey01]

Anyone try growing one of these in full melt-your-face level sun?

[James B]

Yes I am. Been in ground since maybe June or July. 15 gallon size. Gets full mid day and afternoon sun. Right now maybe only 4-5 hrs due to the southern position of the sun. In summer it probably gets blasted from 10am to 530pm

[ahosey01]

37 minutes ago, James B said:

Yes I am. Been in ground since maybe June or July. 15 gallon size. Gets full mid day and afternoon sun. Right now maybe only 4-5 hrs due to the southern position of the sun. In summer it probably gets blasted from 10am to 530pm

What are your summer highs and how has it fared in that position?

[TomJ]

Mine takes heat and cold well.

It HATES humidity when it's hot.

[Meangreen94z]

I don’t think they would survive Arizona summer nights, unless you’re drastically cooler than Phoenix. I wasted money on a 15 gallon. It thrived all Winter and Spring in Houston and was dead by late June. Our humidity didn’t help but I’ve been told they need summer nights that drop into the 60’s.

[ahosey01]

2 minutes ago, Meangreen94z said:

I don’t think they would survive Arizona summer nights, unless you’re drastically cooler than Phoenix. I wasted money on a 15 gallon. It thrived all Winter and Spring in Houston and was dead by late June. Our humidity didn’t help but I’ve been told they need summer nights that drop into the 60’s.

I may actually be in the right spot for that.

I'm in Wickenburg at the bottom of the Hassayampa river valley.  Average summer lows here are 15-20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, but with very similar daytime highs.  I had tons of days this summer that topped out at 110 but dipped down to 65-70 at night.  Usually we lose 20-30 degrees as the sun sets and then another 10-20 the rest of the night.  A couple days ago, I had a 25F - 81F swing in a single day.

Edited December 18, 2020 by ahosey01

[James B]

1 hour ago, ahosey01 said:

What are your summer highs and how has it fared in that position?

Last summer was fairly mild never got above 110. Probably 15-20 days over 100. It’s growing very slow for me. Since planting the leaves it’s put out have no petiole and are half the length of the older leaves. Still too early to call. See how it handles next summer after a year to acclimate. But I do not get as hot here as you and we have more humidity. Summer average is probably 25-35% We do have days in summer though where humidity dips here to 10-15%. 

[aztropic]

55 minutes ago, Meangreen94z said:

I don’t think they would survive Arizona summer nights, unless you’re drastically cooler than Phoenix. I wasted money on a 15 gallon. It thrived all Winter and Spring in Houston and was dead by late June. Our humidity didn’t help but I’ve been told they need summer nights that drop into the 60’s.

News flash:They absolutely do survive Arizona summers! Have a couple in the ground over 10 years,both in full blasting sun.They do get burn over the summer,but grow about 4 new fronds over the winter;so still look ok most of the year.

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona

 

 

[Ben in Norcal]

These handle high temps in full sun just fine - lots of days over 110 here this year, and all of mine are out in the open.  We do always cool down to the 60s at night though. 

That said, they don't grow much in the summer.  They are really, really cranking now.

[Brad52]

Mine in Esparto did well in the multiple >100's summer days and it seemed to grow quite nicely with my frequent waterings.

[ahosey01]

2 hours ago, aztropic said:

News flash:They absolutely do survive Arizona summers! Have a couple in the ground over 10 years,both in full blasting sun.They do get burn over the summer,but grow about 4 new fronds over the winter;so still look ok most of the year.

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona

 

 

Where did you find yours?  Are there any nurseries or growers here in AZ that sell them?  Or am I gonna have to go to Cali?

[Jim in Los Altos]

Keep in mind that the trunks get massive and so do their canopies. The photo below is of a still expanding trunk and a Queen palm to its right for comparison. 

 

[Tyrone]

2 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Keep in mind that the trunks get massive and so do their canopies. The photo below is of a still expanding trunk and a Queen palm to its right for comparison. 

 

Jim, I think your Parajubaea will shift your letterbox next door.

What a beautiful palm you’ve got there.

[aztropic]

2 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Where did you find yours?  Are there any nurseries or growers here in AZ that sell them?  Or am I gonna have to go to Cali?

Both of mine were bought in California. Exotic palm growers in Arizona are limited to just a few hobby growers. Make a list of the palms you want,then head west.Several specialty palm nuseries in SOCAL will probably be able to supply whatever you're looking for.

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona

 

[Meangreen94z]

JungleMusic will ship them in 15 gallon size. Not cheap but cheaper than driving there for no other reason.

[Meangreen94z]

7 hours ago, aztropic said:

News flash:They absolutely do survive Arizona summers! Have a couple in the ground over 10 years,both in full blasting sun.They do get burn over the summer,but grow about 4 new fronds over the winter;so still look ok most of the year.

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona

 

It must be the humidity with heat then

[Jim in Los Altos]

1 hour ago, Tyrone said:

Jim, I think your Parajubaea will shift your letterbox next door.

What a beautiful palm you’ve got there.

Luckily the column was built with that in mind. Plenty of space.:)

[ahosey01]

34 minutes ago, Meangreen94z said:

JungleMusic will ship them in 15 gallon size. Not cheap but cheaper than driving there for no other reason.

Literally just walking in Jungle Music is reason to drive there. Lol

[Silas_Sancona]

1 minute ago, ahosey01 said:

Literally just walking in Jungle Music is reason to drive there. Lol

..And being able to pick out your specimen of choice.. of this, and any other palms you buy on the trip there.. and/or to other nurseries along the way..... Only 5 hours away too..

[96720]

I also have one in Phoenix that grows great they are great palms mine came from jungle music 

[ahosey01]

11 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

..And being able to pick out your specimen of choice.. of this, and any other palms you buy on the trip there.. and/or to other nurseries along the way..... Only 5 hours away too..

Ding ding ding ding!!!

I literally just did this driving to Anaheim Hills for Agathis robusta - which came from your suggestion.

[ahosey01]

Any reports on cold hardiness?

[James B]

On 12/19/2020 at 6:00 AM, ahosey01 said:

Any reports on cold hardiness?

Ive read down to 20 degrees. Mine has seen 29-30 multiple times with no frost damage.

Altitude has to have an impact with this palm. Unlike what others in hot inland areas of Cali have posted, mine grows like a weed in summer heat and still grows but slowly in winter. I am at 1600ft elevation.

Edited March 6, 2022 by James B

[greenthumb7]

Good morning to you, I know this is from about a year ago in 2020, being its less than 36 hours from Christmas now (by the way, I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas, and a Most AWESOME NEW YEAR) being I live here in Casa Grande, (our Temps are a few degrees cooler for our nightly lows this time of year,  but marginally above freezing, give or take during the night for the most part) (and our daytime Temps aren't too far off the mark from Phoenix this time of year) please forgive me for both parenthetical areas of messages, but I'm trying to set the possible scenario; I always wanto to grow a Parajubaea torallyi being they're fast growing (so I've read) and I'm pretty adept to plants, palms in general, but this palm has always fascinated me with its very tropical looks but far from the climate of being as such. By the way, the palms posted are superb!!! I've come across these very palms when I was stationed in San Francisco's bay area, and I understand out there (although you'd have to travel there to get what seedling you want being they won't ship them to you) sorry for my rambling again, but being we're far from San Francisco's climate, or South America's Andes weather, will these palms withstand our summer's heat, and still live long enough to thrive in our waters without one day succumbing to our summer before making it into our next winter? I want to know all I can about this palm, and in the hopes of getting one even in Tucson, Phoenix; or even someplace down here in Casa Grande. Any help to where I could find one or two at most, and plant them outside. By the way, my conditions are pretty close to yours as far as all day sun is concerned, with the exception my back yard is in the east, where the sun shines from about 7:00AM to about 11:00-30ishAM and moving about due West until my front yard facing South, West; and North, I start getting sun up front starting out about 11:45'ish/ noon, starting out on the wsw of my yard, then about 1:00PM my NE side of my house has full sun, until about 1:45'ish-2:20ish the whole front yard is well lit until sunset (give or take the time of year of sunlight) the North,  Northeastern side of my house only scant about of direct sun for maybe and hour, if that even, but hardly intense finally fading altogether, but my whole front yard roasts for the duration of the day during the summer until sunset. I'm pretty much scientific before planting outdoors. I appreciate your forbearance with me in regards if this beautiful palm would be able to grow at all in my yard. Further out in my yard, this time of year may see frost on the grass (if any for that matter) but closer to my house is like a heat island effect where you won't see frost at all. Any help where to get even seedlings, or plant itself would be greatly appreciated, and Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year. 

[greenthumb7]

Sorry for the typos 😆 

[aztropic]

Well,to start,they absolutely DO grow here. Mine are in full all day summer sun, so are not always picture perfect due to the extreme temps. Also, much slower growing here, than coastal CA, as they only grow over our winter months and remain dormant from April to November. Usually, they look pretty good in the spring with all the new growth, but fronds do seem to burn bit by bit over the summer,making for a less than stellar specimen by fall. As of today,mine has 2 new fronds in progress of replacing the summer burned crown, and will probably have 6 new fronds total by the time it goes dormant again in spring.

If I had a do over,I would make sure to plant this species on an eastern exposure, to get as much protection from our summer afternoon sun as possible. It might help to keep the fronds from burning up most summers,as they often do. Also,no worries on our minimum low temps - they won't be hurt a bit in the mid 20's... I did grow a small batch of these from seed years ago, but now, you will most likely have to source yours from California.(pic taken today)

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[Palmfarmer]

2 hours ago, aztropic said:

Well,to start,they absolutely DO grow here. Mine are in full all day summer sun, so are not always picture perfect due to the extreme temps. Also, much slower growing here, than coastal CA, as they only grow over our winter months and remain dormant from April to November. Usually, they look pretty good in the spring with all the new growth, but fronds do seem to burn bit by bit over the summer,making for a less than stellar specimen by fall. As of today,mine has 2 new fronds in progress of replacing the summer burned crown, and will probably have 6 new fronds total by the time it goes dormant again in spring.

If I had a do over,I would make sure to plant this species on an eastern exposure, to get as much protection from our summer afternoon sun as possible. It might help to keep the fronds from burning up most summers,as they often do. Also,no worries on our minimum low temps - they won't be hurt a bit in the mid 20's... I did grow a small batch of these from seed years ago, but now, you will most likely have to source yours from California.(pic taken today)

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

Beatiful. How old?

I wonder if mine will be fast in my climate. My nights are chilly all year round and thats supposedly good for Parajubaea. 

[James B]

There are plenty places with cool nights in CA yet the consistent theme is once they start to flower they die here. Major bummer. I had one in my old yard that was belting along and grew year round but slowed down in triple digit summer heat but I couldn’t not take it with me.

I wanted to get another one for my current yard but after seeing so many more experienced and knowledgeable members such as DoomsDave have theirs die suddenly after being happy for years I’m gonna pass.

What needs to happen is a hybrid cross with Cocos Nucifera to see if we can produce a hybrid coconut palm with the best traits from both species. 

[aztropic]

4 hours ago, Palmfarmer said:

Beatiful. How old?

I wonder if mine will be fast in my climate. My nights are chilly all year round and thats supposedly good for Parajubaea. 

I put mine in the ground about 13 years ago. MUCH slower growing than if they had been planted in their preferred climate.🤷‍♂️ If your cool nights help to extend the growing season, yours should hopefully grow quicker than mine have.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona 

[greenthumb7]

Thanks for the info, although San Francisco is close to 1k away from here, I'm hoping that there's someplace here in Arizona I might be able to get a seedling or plant or two. If so, I'm considering getting them. Hopefully there's a international groceries someplace here in Arizona that would maybe have a couple here and there. Any info locally would be most appreciated if possible,  and thanks. Beautiful palm, looks just like a coconut palm.

[Tom in Tucson]

On 12/23/2023 at 12:55 PM, greenthumb7 said:

Good morning to you, I know this is from about a year ago in 2020, being its less than 36 hours from Christmas now (by the way, I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas, and a Most AWESOME NEW YEAR) being I live here in Casa Grande, (our Temps are a few degrees cooler for our nightly lows this time of year,  but marginally above freezing, give or take during the night for the most part) (and our daytime Temps aren't too far off the mark from Phoenix this time of year) please forgive me for both parenthetical areas of messages, but I'm trying to set the possible scenario; I always wanto to grow a Parajubaea torallyi being they're fast growing (so I've read) and I'm pretty adept to plants, palms in general, but this palm has always fascinated me with its very tropical looks but far from the climate of being as such. By the way, the palms posted are superb!!! I've come across these very palms when I was stationed in San Francisco's bay area, and I understand out there (although you'd have to travel there to get what seedling you want being they won't ship them to you) sorry for my rambling again, but being we're far from San Francisco's climate, or South America's Andes weather, will these palms withstand our summer's heat, and still live long enough to thrive in our waters without one day succumbing to our summer before making it into our next winter? I want to know all I can about this palm, and in the hopes of getting one even in Tucson, Phoenix; or even someplace down here in Casa Grande. Any help to where I could find one or two at most, and plant them outside. By the way, my conditions are pretty close to yours as far as all day sun is concerned, with the exception my back yard is in the east, where the sun shines from about 7:00AM to about 11:00-30ishAM and moving about due West until my front yard facing South, West; and North, I start getting sun up front starting out about 11:45'ish/ noon, starting out on the wsw of my yard, then about 1:00PM my NE side of my house has full sun, until about 1:45'ish-2:20ish the whole front yard is well lit until sunset (give or take the time of year of sunlight) the North,  Northeastern side of my house only scant about of direct sun for maybe and hour, if that even, but hardly intense finally fading altogether, but my whole front yard roasts for the duration of the day during the summer until sunset. I'm pretty much scientific before planting outdoors. I appreciate your forbearance with me in regards if this beautiful palm would be able to grow at all in my yard. Further out in my yard, this time of year may see frost on the grass (if any for that matter) but closer to my house is like a heat island effect where you won't see frost at all. Any help where to get even seedlings, or plant itself would be greatly appreciated, and Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year. 

To add to the good advice given by @aztropic, let me refer you to this comment:

 

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