Ravenea xerophila possible two growth points?

[Coasta]

Hello all!! Just curious to see if it is normal for ravenea xerophila to try and put out two leaves at once? The last emerging leaf snapped off.  What are the chances it is splitting and turning into a double headed xerophila? 

Edited October 30, 2021 by Coasta

[aztropic]

Going to say zero chance of it splitting into 2 trunks. Never say never,but this species is not known to be a multiple trunking palm.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

[aztropic]

This is one of those species that does MUCH better planted in the ground due to it's huge,water storing root system. Pot culture just suffocates them...

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

[Coasta]

@aztropic okay, that makes sense. Have you ever seen your xerophila put out two leaves at once? Back in July the plant suffered some trauma. 

Yours looks great! I thought about planting one of mine but then I will have to worry about digging it out and I'm not ready for that commitment just yet. 

[aztropic]

9 hours ago, Coasta said:

@aztropic Have you ever seen your xerophila put out two leaves at once?

No. Mine grows 1 new frond at a time. It comes up as an 8 ft tall spike before ever opening. You can see the newest frond just starting to open far left in my picture.

 

aztropic

Mesa, Arizona

[PalmatierMeg]

This is my R. xerophila in 2020 planted near my original Sabal miamiensis. I planted it as a 1g in 2009. No sign of trunking in my lifetime. I totally agree they need to be in the ground and make terrible pot plants. And if you plant it know you can't change your mind in the future

Ravenea xerophila, Cape Coral, FL, 2020

[Matt in OC]

I have a very small one in the ground several years. The main growth point died (a kid probably stepped on it or something) but it did shoot out a new growth point underground and to the side. It's looking healthy, but still small. I wonder if something similar will happen to yours.

[Coasta]

@aztropic  @PalmatierMeg thank you both! I am tempted to plant one in the ground. Can they handled an amended clay soil or does it need to be a very gritty mix with no clay? Also is the best time to plant, spring or can it be planted in winter?

@Matt in OC wow!! Do you have a photo you can share? I would love to see.

 

[aztropic]

I usually don't worry about amending my soil when I plant in the ground. Roots will be growing into native soil soon enough... Toss in a handful of osmocote in the planting hole,and call it a day. Fill the hole with water,let it drain down,then put your tree in the hole. Fill the hole,and water in the new planting. Probably better to wait for spring to plant, just in case we get a deep freeze.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[Matt in OC]

@Coasta Pointing to the old growing point in the second picture.

[Tracy]

On 11/2/2021 at 7:24 AM, PalmatierMeg said:

And if you plant it know you can't change your mind in the future

I know Josh Allen successfully transplanted at least one large specimen, but with a lot of work.  I wasn't so lucky, mine got dug very unceremoniously by skunks digging in the adjacent soil for grubs.  It was small and even with careful efforts on my part to replant it, it went into a downward spiral and died.  Matt seems very lucky for his to have sprouted a new growth (above).  The only bummer for Matt is that this new growth point is probably a ways behind what the original plant would have been without the disturbance.  

Bottom line, your advice to Coasta of getting his into the ground is sound advice for long term success with this species.

[Matt in OC]

34 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I know Josh Allen successfully transplanted at least one large specimen, but with a lot of work.  I wasn't so lucky, mine got dug very unceremoniously by skunks digging in the adjacent soil for grubs.  It was small and even with careful efforts on my part to replant it, it went into a downward spiral and died.  Matt seems very lucky for his to have sprouted a new growth (above).  The only bummer for Matt is that this new growth point is probably a ways behind what the original plant would have been without the disturbance.  

Bottom line, your advice to Coasta of getting his into the ground is sound advice for long term success with this species.

It's been in the ground probably a good five years total. I'd say right now it's almost as big as it was when I planted it. Good news is I'm not in a hurry where it's planted. I've found it nice to be able to plant slow pokes near other things and not fret about how slow they are in the meantime. 

[Coasta]

Very cool! I plan to plant one and forget about it! 

Also an update.. I discovered three leaves emerging from the crown at the same time. Two of them are deformed and the other is normal.  Also thank you @aztropic @Tracy I will be planting one in ground next spring. 

Edited November 26, 2021 by Coasta
Forgot

[coops 3214]

I've got 1 that has split into 2 plants now I will get some pictures tomorrow 

[coops 3214]

On 4/25/2025 at 9:16 PM, coops 3214 said:

I've got 1 that has split into 2 plants now I will get some pictures here it is was a single plant for a couple of years then it split and now been like this for a couple of years