Chrysophyllum imperiale

[Josue Diaz]

This was the first year I left my chrysophyllum imperiale outside in winter. It was previously inside an unheated greenhouse. Now it's out in the open on my driveway. It's 3 years old, no damage in 33F with light frost. Fresno, CA

The dry parts on old leaves are from not properly acclimating it in summer, not from frost. 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2022 by Josue Diaz

[Darold Petty]

Very cool leaf !  

[Peter]

I've had mine for a couple of years in Woodland Hills and it's never been affected by cold-lots of nights in mid 30's, plus a few closer to 30 I'm sure.

[Josue Diaz]

On 1/10/2022 at 2:40 PM, Darold Petty said:

Very cool leaf !  

This might eventually need to go to a garden in the Bay - I've donated plants to the two local garden in Fresno but I don't trust them to care for something like this... I donated Ceiba hybrids, Castanospermum australe & Schotia brachypetala to the Clovis Botanical Garden. I haven't seen them planted yet, and doubt they are still alive. The Chaffee Zoo hasn't replied to my emails. 

[Peter]

It can be frustrating donating valuable plants then having them neglected or not even planted.  Some gardens are better than others-best to try to  develop a personal relationship with someone there.   I donated one of my Chrysophyllum imperiale to the Huntington Botanic Garden through a friend who works there-look forward to seeing it grow up there and hopefully thrive so others can enjoy it over time.

[sbpalms]

Wow! Where did you obtain this species?

[Josue Diaz]

On 1/13/2022 at 8:05 AM, Peter said:

It can be frustrating donating valuable plants then having them neglected or not even planted.  Some gardens are better than others-best to try to  develop a personal relationship with someone there.   I donated one of my Chrysophyllum imperiale to the Huntington Botanic Garden through a friend who works there-look forward to seeing it grow up there and hopefully thrive so others can enjoy it over time.

I was just in touch with the HBG and will bring this one down to them next month! They did mention they have one planted in the ground, so I'm assuming this one is yours. 

15 hours ago, sbpalms said:

Wow! Where did you obtain this species?

I got it from XOTX in Hollywood when they were about to close down. It was a tiny seedling - the owner picked it out and basically gave me it on the way out the door. 

[Silas_Sancona]

20 minutes ago, Josue Diaz said:

I got it from XOTX in Hollywood when they were about to close down. It was a tiny seedling - the owner picked it out and basically gave me it on the way out the door. 

They closed?  bummer.. He had all sorts of cool stuff.

[Peter]

XOTX reopened on Robertston so he's still in business. 

[Josue Diaz]

On 1/24/2022 at 11:17 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

They closed?  bummer.. He had all sorts of cool stuff.

 

On 1/25/2022 at 7:45 AM, Peter said:

XOTX reopened on Robertston so he's still in business. 

Yes, reopened, but I've been to his new spot and it feels different. It's catering to the indoor, urban plant collectors - the philodendron, variegated this and that crew. The back of the shop still has unlabeled stuff you can browse through. I imagine he let go of a ton of stuff in the move

[Than]

How is this tree doing José? I wish I could find it in Europe.. Stunner!

[Josue Diaz]

On 2/21/2025 at 12:34 AM, Than said:

How is this tree doing José? I wish I could find it in Europe.. Stunner!

I donated it to the Huntington Botanic Garden in San Marcos! (Los Angeles area). I haven't asked about it or seen it yet. 

[Than]

5 hours ago, Josue Diaz said:

I donated it to the Huntington Botanic Garden in San Marcos! (Los Angeles area). I haven't asked about it or seen it yet. 

Because you had no space for it or for other reasons?

[Josue Diaz]

23 hours ago, Than said:

Because you had no space for it or for other reasons?

Primarily yes, limited space in my yard. 

[Than]

45 minutes ago, Josue Diaz said:

Primarily yes, limited space in my yard. 

Ι just paid a little fortune for a seed, and apparently germination rates are low. But I just couldn't resist it; one of the most beautiful trees I've seen! 

[Josue Diaz]

My tree is in really good hands at the HBG, and maybe one day when it seeds, it will become more readily available in California. 

[Alex33]

@Josue Diaz Have one I also got from Xotx, somewhat smaller than yours in the pics--did you ever have any probs with new, tiny emergent leaves falling off when only a few mm in size?  It dropped a leaf that was maybe an inch when in a southern window, I tried putting it under grow lights a few months back and it's been dropping them when super tiny, so just moved it back to a big southern window. Was it a super slow grower for you?

[Peter]

They are certainly hardy enough to stay outdoors in Los Angeles, so maybe try moving it outside?

[Josue Diaz]

On 7/6/2025 at 12:44 PM, Alex33 said:

@Josue Diaz Have one I also got from Xotx, somewhat smaller than yours in the pics--did you ever have any probs with new, tiny emergent leaves falling off when only a few mm in size?  It dropped a leaf that was maybe an inch when in a southern window, I tried putting it under grow lights a few months back and it's been dropping them when super tiny, so just moved it back to a big southern window. Was it a super slow grower for you?

Sorry, just seeing this. But no i didn't have any issues like that. I feel like it was fairly fast for me. I kept it outdoors in Fresno so maybe yours would also prefer to be outdoors. 

[happypalms]

Beautiful plant, there is one in Sydney royal botanical gardens and it’s the oldest one in Australia and largest. It’s one impressive tree. 

[happypalms]

On 12/19/2025 at 8:09 PM, happypalms said:

Beautiful plant, there is one in Sydney royal botanical gardens and it’s the oldest one in Australia and largest. It’s one impressive tree. 

Picked up another one to plant in the garden!