Impossible palms in Florida

[Eric in Orlando]

On 11/1/2021 at 11:05 AM, hbernstein said:

Is there an Oraniopsis at Leu?

There are 2 at Leu. One was planted in 2001 and is still only 2ft tall. It was growing well but the 3 hurricanes in 2004 buried it in debris. Most of the foliage was lost but it grew back slowwwwwwly. Then the hurricanes in 2016 and 2017 opened the canopy  and exposed it to sun. So it has been stunted for awhile. Even with good irrigation and fertilizing it yellowed and grew even slower. It has gotten shadier again and is greening up. The other specimen is planted in a deep shade location near where a spring trickles out of a hillside. It is always wet and has black mucky soil. This one is thriving and loves the location. Here is a pic from Aug. of this specimen;

 

[Eric in Orlando]

21 hours ago, Kailua_Krish said:

I think the Parajubaea need slightly cooler nights. Ive noticed mine in Ocala only really grows in late fall and spring when it cools down in North Central FL. Almost no growth during the summer months when the nights are warm.

I would try this one again if I can find a specimen.

 

 

[Eric in Orlando]

15 hours ago, Justin31703 said:

Was the Jubaea in Winter Park confirmed to be pure or is it a cross with butia? 

I don't know. I still call it a Jubaea, if its a hybrid its the closest  mature Jubaea looking palm you will find in Florida.

[hbernstein]

2 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

There are 2 at Leu. One was planted in 2001 and is still only 2ft tall. It was growing well but the 3 hurricanes in 2004 buried it in debris. Most of the foliage was lost but it grew back slowwwwwwly. Then the hurricanes in 2016 and 2017 opened the canopy  and exposed it to sun. So it has been stunted for awhile. Even with good irrigation and fertilizing it yellowed and grew even slower. It has gotten shadier again and is greening up. The other specimen is planted in a deep shade location near where a spring trickles out of a hillside. It is always wet and has black mucky soil. This one is thriving and loves the location. Here is a pic from Aug. of this specimen;

 

Wow, that's got to be a slow-growing champ! I wonder if it will speed up a bit once it gets a bit larger.

[Eric in Orlando]

21 hours ago, hbernstein said:

Wow, that's got to be a slow-growing champ! I wonder if it will speed up a bit once it gets a bit larger.

The one in the pic is growing at a faster rate than the other ever has. It likes the heavy, wet soil.

 

 

 

[Jimbean]

I believe there is some Howea species growing at UCF.  They are growing under a pavilion.  If I can remember I'll take some pictures.

[Justin31703]

Isn’t Bentinckia condapanna a bit tricky in South Fl? Any mature ones? 

[Palmarum]

2 minutes ago, Justin31703 said:

Isn’t Bentinckia condapanna a bit tricky in South Fl? Any mature ones? 

Yes, quite tricky in the ground for sure. I have heard of the attempts with few successes.

After they become established, they do very well in containers. They seem to enjoy being pot-bound with high drainage. Picture a large plant (3 to 4ft. tall) in a relatively small container. I do not know why they like that habitat, but they mostly go for it. I have not seen or heard of any specimens of size that would or could be mature. I am not sure how large they have to be to become mature. Best bet would be a specimen in a Keys collection or a specialized bubble.

Ryan

[Kailua_Krish]

8 minutes ago, Palmarum said:

Yes, quite tricky in the ground for sure. I have heard of the attempts with few successes.

After they become established, they do very well in containers. They seem to enjoy being pot-bound with high drainage. Picture a large plant (3 to 4ft. tall) in a relatively small container. I do not know why they like that habitat, but they mostly go for it. I have not seen or heard of any specimens of size that would or could be mature. I am not sure how large they have to be to become mature. Best bet would be a specimen in a Keys collection or a specialized bubble.

Ryan

Interestingly I’ve had trouble with these in my coastal Hawaii garden but when I lived in the mountains these were easy. Soil here is a coral based sand while in the mountains it was decomposed volcanic clay. I just attributed it to them not liking the soil here

[Palmarum]

1 minute ago, Kailua_Krish said:

Interestingly I’ve had trouble with these in my coastal Hawaii garden but when I lived in the mountains these were easy. Soil here is a coral based sand while in the mountains it was decomposed volcanic clay. I just attributed it to them not liking the soil here

The best specimens I have ever seen were grown in higher elevations in Hawaii. Truly phenomenal eye candy with that range of intense color. It must be the drainage they enjoy and the volcanic rock doesn't hurt. The best specimens here were huge plants in small pots of mostly roots, like seriously root-bound with minimal soil.

I am sure they are also not fond of our hot summer nights where it never cools down. They can get through it as long as specimens do not dry out, which is a strong requirement when you have such a root-bound plant.

Ryan

[bubba]

Noticed these palms on the right. Trachies?

[bubba]

Across the street upside is a Coconut here in the frozen tundra…

[bubba]

Can someone confirm or deny that these are Trachies?

[Justin31703]

54 minutes ago, bubba said:

Can someone confirm or deny that these are Trachies?

Those are Chamaerops 

[bubba]

Thank you. I am challenged! Apologies to all!

[BeyondTheGarden]

I just got back from Orlando, there aren't many Chamaerops down there.  And the ones I've seen down there are much more narrow and upright than ours up here in the PNW.  

 

[mnorell]

On 11/7/2021 at 5:03 PM, Jesse PNW said:

I just got back from Orlando, there aren't many Chamaerops down there.  And the ones I've seen down there are much more narrow and upright than ours up here in the PNW.  

 

I can tell you that Chamaerops grows beautifully in the Florida Keys. Have seen beautiful specimens around Key West, and neighbors of mine have one on Big Pine Key, it went through Irma, including all that 160+mph wind, intense, sustained saltwater inundation, etc. and looks great to this day. It also looks great in New Orleans, Las Vegas, Palm Springs, San Diego and San Francisco. It is one of the most adaptable palms!