Transplant success rate for various palms

[James B]

I will be potentially moving into a new property on a larger lot.

I have some palms that I will be digging up and bringing with me. 

But I wanted to get some input on the success rate of transplanting the following:

Archontophoenix Maxima: several smaller palms up to the largest having about 3 feet of trunk

Chambeyronia Hookeri, Macrocarpa, and Oliviformis between 3 feet to 10 feet tall.

Clinostigma Savoryanum: 10 feet tall.

Dypsis Pembana: largest being about 10 feet tall.

Dypsis Prestoniana: 2.5 feet tall.

There are so many others I’d like to take with me but are either too large(Roystonea, Archontophoenix) or too root sensitive(Bismarckia).

I have seen some old posts where members transplanted fairly large Archontophoenix successfully. But wanted to get some opinions.

Thanks!

[The Gerg]

James,

Sorry, I do not have any transplanting experience with the palms you list so I am really not any help, but congrats on your potential move to a larger property. Larger property = larger garden.  Hope it works out for you and you get to successfully transplant your palms. Starting over with fresh ideas and experience sounds like a good deal. Same city? Or are you packing up for Hawaii? :-)

[James B]

8 hours ago, The Gerg said:

James,

Sorry, I do not have any transplanting experience with the palms you list so I am really not any help, but congrats on your potential move to a larger property. Larger property = larger garden.  Hope it works out for you and you get to successfully transplant your palms. Starting over with fresh ideas and experience sounds like a good deal. Same city? Or are you packing up for Hawaii? :-)

Yeah I’ll be in the same area just a bit higher elevation. 

[James B]

But yes bigger palm means more palms lol!

[DoomsDave]

Lucky you @James B!

How big is your new parcel of land?

 

[Merlyn]

I have moved several smaller 2-6' tall C. Macrocarpa and D. Pembana with no problems, just by getting a 7g pot-sized rootball and dumping it in the ground at the new location.  I haven't tried the others on your list.

[James B]

1 hour ago, DoomsDave said:

Lucky you @James B!

How big is your new parcel of land?

 

Thanks! Still house hunting. But the lots I am looking at are a half acre which is much more space than my current yard. 
Sad as it will be to say bye to my larger palms I cannot move, having the space for more large palms like Roystonea and Bismarckia will make up for it.

[James B]

Hey Dave, you’ve been at it much longer than me.

Whats the largest Archontophoenix you’ve successfully transplanted?

[DoomsDave]

2 hours ago, James B said:

Hey Dave, you’ve been at it much longer than me.

Whats the largest Archontophoenix you’ve successfully transplanted?

I can give you a big Megillah on palms I've moved in my time. There have been a few. That said, I'm not the last word, and I'll admit if I don't know.

One big thing is you're still hunting, which is good, which means you can prep ahead of the big move. What I'd do is try to dig things up and pot or box them, then let them reestablish, then replant when you move, or in the warm season thereafter, if it's in the fall or winter. They seem to do much better that way.

 

[DoomsDave]

And, I stand ready to provide others to fill in any gaps . . . . 

[James B]

20 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

I can give you a big Megillah on palms I've moved in my time. There have been a few. That said, I'm not the last word, and I'll admit if I don't know.

One big thing is you're still hunting, which is good, which means you can prep ahead of the big move. What I'd do is try to dig things up and pot or box them, then let them reestablish, then replant when you move, or in the warm season thereafter, if it's in the fall or winter. They seem to do much better that way.

 

Thanks for the advice Dave. That was one thing I’ve been pondering if it’s better to dig up and pot now vs doing it last minute.

[DoomsDave]

22 minutes ago, James B said:

Thanks for the advice Dave. That was one thing I’ve been pondering if it’s better to dig up and pot now vs doing it last minute.

Do it ahead of time, for sure. The reason is that you will need to shelter and protect the plants in a way you won't be able to in the ground. If you lose some, you do, and they can be replaced.

Start by digging about a foot deep with a shovel around the planned rootball. 

When's the planned move? Approximately?

[DoomsDave]

Here’s an Archontophoenix myolensis I dug and moved a while back. It had a good bit of trunk on it, and I didn’t want to do a permanent edit (like Don Corleone might have said).

Note that the trunk narrows abruptly to memorialize the move. There's about 6 feet of trunk with 12 feet in height overall. 

Worth the trouble, for sure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[James B]

40 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

Do it ahead of time, for sure. The reason is that you will need to shelter and protect the plants in a way you won't be able to in the ground. If you lose some, you do, and they can be replaced.

Start by digging about a foot deep with a shovel around the planned rootball. 

When's the planned move? Approximately?

Going to put my house on the market as early as next week. Could sell fast could take a bit but I’d expect it sells within 2 months. So I could be moving in as early as a few weeks up to a couple months so between August and October I’d guess is a reasonable range.

[DoomsDave]

Hmm.

If the new place is in your present neck of the woods, you should be able to grow most of the things I can, assuming similar soils.

Oh, yeah, you'll have some fun ahead of you!

Dypsis pembana moves pretty easily. I've not had much luck with the Chambeyronias, especially olivifornis. I killed a nice big one a while back moving it, but someone here might offer better advice. Macrocarpa and hookeri, supposedly, move easier with an "anti desiccant" like "Cloud Cover" sprayed on the leaves.

Dypsis prestoniana, and/or Clinostigma, dunno. Calling Dr. @BS Man about Palms or @MattyB among others who might know more. I suspect you'll need a giant rootball, and a robust spinal column to haul it with.

Maybe provide a comprehensive list of your children? Some, like Cocothrinax, might be easier than you think.

[DoomsDave]

Thinking about it a bit more, @James B if your new place is higher upslope you’ll benefit from more cold air drainage subject to local topography.

[James B]

7 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

Thinking about it a bit more, @James B if your new place is higher upslope you’ll benefit from more cold air drainage subject to local topography.

That would be great. My concern is going from 1600 to 2000 or possible 2200 ft elevation could make it more difficult to grow the more tropical stuff I have going in my garden. 
 

If that is the case, I’d be stoked.

[DoomsDave]

12 minutes ago, James B said:

That would be great. My concern is going from 1600 to 2000 or possible 2200 ft elevation could make it more difficult to grow the more tropical stuff I have going in my garden. 
 

If that is the case, I’d be stoked.

That is high. Some research, if you're inclined to do it might help decide, though I suspect higher elevations will also yield greater appreciation over time. That Clinostigma is a serious tropical for sure.

[James B]

The palms I’m most worried about are Clinostigma, Carpoxylon, Bentinckia, and Cocos. 

Of those 4 Clinostigma has done incredible putting out 4 leaves a year. But it’s always been under canopy of large Archontophoenix.

Chambeyronia I’m not worried about nor Archontophoenix or Roystonea as these palms have done so well for me here.  

[DoomsDave]

5 minutes ago, James B said:

The palms I’m most worried about are Clinostigma, Carpoxylon, Bentinckia, and Cocos. 

Of those 4 Clinostigma has done incredible putting out 4 leaves a year. But it’s always been under canopy of large Archontophoenix.

Chambeyronia I’m not worried about nor Archontophoenix or Roystonea as these palms have done so well for me here.  

Okay, you're doing better than me: I've killed all of them, except the Clinostigma.  Either you have a better climate, or you're a better gardener, or both.  

[James B]

11 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

Okay, you're doing better than me: I've killed all of them, except the Clinostigma.  Either you have a better climate, or you're a better gardener, or both.  

Lol I doubt I’m the better gardener. 

I only have theories based on what I’ve experienced in my yard vs what other members have shared.

What I have found is the heat zone map for plants is more important out here than the usda climate zone map as a I can give plenty of supplemental water to account for the lack of humidity provided canopy.

Ive found all my tropical stuff grows faster on 90 degree days than they do on 85 degree days. Faster still on 95 degree days and even faster on 100 degree days.

I think having more 90 plus days here can create the potential for the tropical stuff in the 10a-10b range to grow faster here than closer to the coast.

If my next yard follows the same climate zone lows I’ve learned in this yard I will plant the more tropical stuff on the west side of the back yard where the night time lows stay about 2-4 degrees warmer and the morning sun hits early and heats things up by mid morning. 
 

This approach has worked so far for me here. 
As a result a Carpoxlon Macrospermum has still managed to stay alive in ground for 18 months. Still a baby but still alive and kicking lol.

[DoomsDave]

3 minutes ago, James B said:

Lol I doubt I’m the better gardener. 

I only have theories based on what I’ve experienced in my yard vs what other members have shared.

What I have found is the heat zone map for plants is more important out here than the usda climate zone map as a I can give plenty of supplemental water to account for the lack of humidity provided canopy.

Ive found all my tropical stuff grows faster on 90 degree days than they do on 85 degree days. Faster still on 95 degree days and even faster on 100 degree days.

I think having more 90 plus days here can create the potential for the tropical stuff in the 10a-10b range to grow faster here than closer to the coast.

If my next yard follows the same climate zone lows I’ve learned in this yard I will plant the more tropical stuff on the west side of the back yard where the night time lows stay about 2-4 degrees warmer and the morning sun hits early and heats things up by mid morning. 
 

This approach has worked so far for me here. 
As a result a Carpoxlon Macrospermum has still managed to stay alive in ground for 18 months. Still a baby but still alive and kicking lol.

If I have some tropicals I can't do anything with, I might pass them on to you, as well as people by the beach.

[James B]

3 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

If I have some tropicals I can't do anything with, I might pass them on to you, as well as people by the beach.

Once I know a more concrete date for a move I’ll be hitting you up to buy some stuff from you. 
 

I’ve also reached out to some of my favorite nursery owners to get a feel for things as far as inventory goes. 

[BS Man about Palms]

It sounds like you are well suited to the move by researching temps, humidity and exposures. It now comes down to luck.

The only thing I would add is the "3 inch rule"... you can find more if you search. But I have found a transplanted palm (even big ones) can have enough stored energy to push 2" or more of spear growth... then slowly die.  But if they manage to push 3" of growth post transplant, you are very often good to go.

 

Good luck!

[James B]

1 hour ago, BS Man about Palms said:

It sounds like you are well suited to the move by researching temps, humidity and exposures. It now comes down to luck.

The only thing I would add is the "3 inch rule"... you can find more if you search. But I have found a transplanted palm (even big ones) can have enough stored energy to push 2" or more of spear growth... then slowly die.  But if they manage to push 3" of growth post transplant, you are very often good to go.

 

Good luck!

Thanks for the input Bill!

I unsuccessfully dug up and killed one of my Archontophoenix last week. So rather than continuing the destruction I’m going to stick to only attempting the few very small palms I have that will fit into a 3 or 5 gallon pot. 
Been in touch with two of my favorite nursery owners about their inventory and I think I’ll start buying new palms now to have ready to take with me. 

[DoomsDave]

1 hour ago, James B said:

Thanks for the input Bill!

I unsuccessfully dug up and killed one of my Archontophoenix last week. So rather than continuing the destruction I’m going to stick to only attempting the few very small palms I have that will fit into a 3 or 5 gallon pot. 
Been in touch with two of my favorite nursery owners about their inventory and I think I’ll start buying new palms now to have ready to take with me. 

Don't lose heart! As BS Man would also note, transplanting is a bit of an art in itself, especially if you don't have a huge crew and a crane.