Iriartea deltoidea in South Florida?

[Justin31703]

Iriartea deltoidea is a very interesting looking palm that comes from Central and South America. I’ve never heard of anyone trying to grow it in Florida. Is it actually a possible Palm to grow in SF or is it temperamental like dictyocaryum?

[PalmatierMeg]

No grow in FL. According to Palmpedia:

" It naturally occurs in wet rainforest or seasonally wet forest in low montane locations. In this type of natural environment temperature fluctuations are slight, and this palm prefers a constantly cool or mild climate with little temperature difference between day & night, and Summer & Winter."

It is a mountain palm that will melt in FL's harsh sweltering climate.

[Teegurr]

23 minutes ago, PalmatierMeg said:

No grow in FL. According to Palmpedia:

" It naturally occurs in wet rainforest or seasonally wet forest in low montane locations. In this type of natural environment temperature fluctuations are slight, and this palm prefers a constantly cool or mild climate with little temperature difference between day & night, and Summer & Winter."

It is a mountain palm that will melt in FL's harsh sweltering climate.

I wouldn't be so quick to throw Iriartea deltoidea out the window for SFL. Look at this range map, also found on Palmpedia. Part of its range is in the Amazon Basin, and it gets quite warm there.

 

[Palmarum]

5 hours ago, Justin31703 said:

Iriartea deltoidea is a very interesting looking palm that comes from Central and South America. I’ve never heard of anyone trying to grow it in Florida. Is it actually a possible Palm to grow in SF or is it temperamental like dictyocaryum?

My best attempts in S. Florida with I. deltoidea all involve container-grown specimens, none in the ground. They get nice and full in a pot then just sit there and slow down. I have seen two specimens planted in the ground while in a modified pool enclosure (a bubble). At the time, they measured maybe 8 ft. (2.4m) in height with nice leaves, over-sized leaflets and an array of stilt roots between them. The two specimens were being grown in ideally manufactured conditions.

Specimens need constant moisture and humidity, but not extreme hot or cold. The roots need exceptional drainage. The key growth factor centers around the newly forming stilt roots. The downward-growing aerial roots need regular moisture to prevent them from drying out. Even a short dry spell would be detrimental as the tips dry and shrivel up and thus, the roots do not reach the ground. The palm then can't grow upwards without the support, then stalls; as restarting a stilt root can be tough on a small plant. The species is designed to be a rocket; to grow as fast as possible, in wet, uneven terrain covered in leaf litter, and reach tall heights before flowering and fruiting.

Most any palm obtainable is easier to grow in S. Florida than Dictyocaryum lamarckianum... Collectors will always try though...

Ryan

[Kaname-kun]

I concur completely with Ryan's comment. I've had two largish specimens grown in pots for several years die within weeks of putting in the ground. My remaining potted specimens are doing fine, and will stay potted. If you're after the stilt roots, both Verschaffteltia splendida and Areca vestiaria grow well in South Florida and have nice stilt roots. They also flourish in the sweltering summer temps that can kill Iriartea. Same goes for Socratea, at least for me--too darn hot, even in shade.