PHOENIX THEOPHRASTI. Info + Photo

[Peachs]

What can you tell me about it? I just bought a potted one. I am in zone 8B.
 

Is the growth faster than Canariensis?
 

[Fusca]

  On 8/1/2022 at 11:36 AM, Peachs said:

What can you tell me about it? I just bought a potted one. I am in zone 8B.
 

Is the growth faster than Canariensis?

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For me in Texas canariensis was much faster.  Take great care trimming theos - plenty of opportunities to get poked/stabbed.

[TheMadScientist]

The first photo is when I purchased mine in a 5 gallon from a PT member in 2011.  The 2nd photo is 10 years of being in the ground later in 2021.  Palmpedia states 18 deg. F for the 2 you are comparing, I have only been perhaps 30 deg. F but my highs have been 115 deg. F and it's never shown any sunburn.

[ShadyDan]

I planted a 2 gallon sized theo in the ground this spring here in 8b PNW. It hadn’t  really moved at all up until a few weeks ago, probably a combination of the dreadful cool/long spring we had and some transplant shock. It’s starting to to throw out some new fronds now. From what I saw in the pot, canariensis is faster.
 

Definitely curious to see if this takes our wet winters better that canariensis does. I put it in a raised mound amended with a bunch of gravel to give it a good shot. I’m also in a fairly warm / dry microclimate compared to other parts of the PNW so fingers crossed. 

[Peachs]

  On 8/1/2022 at 2:58 PM, Fusca said:

For me in Texas canariensis was much faster.  Take great care trimming theos - plenty of opportunities to get poked/stabbed.

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  On 8/1/2022 at 3:00 PM, TheMadScientist said:

The first photo is when I purchased mine in a 5 gallon from a PT member in 2011.  The 2nd photo is 10 years of being in the ground later in 2021.  Palmpedia states 18 deg. F for the 2 you are comparing, I have only been perhaps 30 deg. F but my highs have been 115 deg. F and it's never shown any sunburn.

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  On 8/1/2022 at 3:46 PM, ShadyDan said:

I planted a 2 gallon sized theo in the ground this spring here in 8b PNW. It hadn’t  really moved at all up until a few weeks ago, probably a combination of the dreadful cool/long spring we had and some transplant shock. It’s starting to to throw out some new fronds now. From what I saw in the pot, canariensis is faster.
 

Definitely curious to see if this takes our wet winters better that canariensis does. I put it in a raised mound amended with a bunch of gravel to give it a good shot. I’m also in a fairly warm / dry microclimate compared to other parts of the PNW so fingers crossed. 

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In my area of cold, long and dry winter, I had a canariensis that never got to look good, due to the great damage it suffered from the cold (it never died), I hope that with this species it will stay in better condition all year round even if it grows slower. I suppose that by keeping it clean frequently the risk of cutting or pricking will be low!

The photo is from the nursery, I hope to receive it with a decent trunk.

[Phoenikakias]

  On 8/1/2022 at 11:36 AM, Peachs said:

 

Is the growth faster than Canariensis?
 

No way! Theo is a sp that can stay for ever as  a dwarf, trunkless specimen, if not provided with plenty of water during summer. Also internodal space is shorter than of canariensis.

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[Peachs]

  On 8/1/2022 at 7:54 PM, Phoenikakias said:

 

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Thanks, at least I hope it is more resistant to cold than the rest of Phoenix.

[UK_Palms]

It should do alright for you there. Here is a seed grown Theothrastri on the outskirts of London that is thriving. I think it is about 20 years old now. The owner removes the suckers as they do have a habit of suckering profusely. The CIDP’s over here grow far quicker and bigger than Cretan Date Palms though. 

 

[Peachs]

  On 8/2/2022 at 11:28 AM, UK_Palms said:

It should do alright for you there. Here is a seed grown Theothrastri on the outskirts of London that is thriving. I think it is about 20 years old now. The owner removes the suckers as they do have a habit of suckering profusely. The CIDP’s over here grow far quicker and bigger than Cretan Date Palms though. 

 

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Are the differences in cold resistance important? It looks spectacular!
 

By the way, in UK there is also Rhynchophorus ferrugineus plague? In Spain they kill hundreds of Phoenix (especially canariensis) due to this insect, and to avoid it the palms need to be treated for life.

[UK_Palms]

@Peachs I don’t think there are big differences, although Theorphrasti may be slightly hardier in cold/dry conditions. I have both planted outdoors here and have never protected them. I am not in London either with no UHI and quite far inland away from coast. It helps that I am quite dry though. So far this year I have only had 4 inches of rain here. 

RPW isn’t established in the UK but it is probably here now in London gardens or along the south coast. Winters in central London don’t really drop below freezing and it is getting hotter & hotter. 2 weeks ago it was 40C here. It will probably be 40C again in 10 days time too looking at forecast models. RPW will spread to southern England eventually. It is inevitable to be honest. 

Edited August 2, 2022 by UK_Palms

[Peachs]

  On 8/2/2022 at 3:02 PM, UK_Palms said:

@Peachs I don’t think there are big differences, although Theorphrasti may be slightly hardier in cold/dry conditions. I have both planted outdoors here and have never protected them. I am not in London either with no UHI and quite far inland away from coast. It helps that I am quite dry though. So far this year I have only had 4 inches of rain here. 

RPW isn’t established in the UK but it is probably here now in London gardens or along the south coast. Winters in central London don’t really drop below freezing and it is getting hotter & hotter. 2 weeks ago it was 40C here. It will probably be 40C again in 10 days time too looking at forecast models. RPW will spread to southern England eventually. It is inevitable to be honest. 

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I have read that there are studies that RPW attacks less frequently the Theorphrasti species than the Canariensis. I collect palms and now I am considering selling it before I plant it and it becomes a focus for RPW and attacks the rest of the palms. It is expensive and laborious to fumigate the whole life several times a year.

[Phoenikakias]

  On 8/2/2022 at 3:41 PM, Peachs said:

I have read that there are studies that RPW attacks less frequently the Theorphrasti species than the Canariensis. I collect palms and now I am considering selling it before I plant it and it becomes a focus for RPW and attacks the rest of the palms. It is expensive and laborious to fumigate the whole life several times a year.

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All said are true.

[Foxpalms]

Grows faster than my CIDP but that's in shade/filtered sunlight facing north whilst my phoenix theophrasti is in the south facing back garden which gets slightly warmer and gets full sun all day. Has grown 4 fronds in the past 3 months starting the 5th. I find it also needs more water in summer than the CIDP to look good. Not sure about hardiness neither ever get damaged here in winter. Probably will be fine since it's a zone 8 palm.