Mad Fox Popcorn

[Dypsisdean]

 I always thought the way the seed formed on one of my most favorite palms was interesting. It sure saves time when needing to clean. Reminds me of popcorn. Commonly known as the Madagascar Foxtail, and affectionately as the Mad Fox, I believe it is still a Dypsis after the latest name change - so Dypsis marojejyi for the palm purists here. Here's some pics of the seeds, some volunteers from a previous batch, and the palms themselves. 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Nice palm, What's the species?

[Dypsisdean]

10 minutes ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

Nice palm, What's the species?

I will edit the above. I think it may still be Dypsis marojejyi - but someone can correct me if the latest name change included this species.

[Tyrone]

Wow. I wish I had one of those pushing up volunteers everywhere. Awesome. 

[Cindy Adair]

Gorgeous! Congratulations!

I can’t wait to see it next month at the IPS Biennial.

Certainly on my wish list to try growing.

[Tracy]

15 hours ago, Dypsisdean said:

some volunteers from a previous batch

You need to drop some of those little ones off in Leucadia next time you visit Dorian!  Beautiful palm Dean and yes, very interesting how the flesh coming off the seeds is reminiscent of popcorn.  Any idea how long it took the previous seeds to germinate into the seedlings in the photo?

[Matt in SD]

My interpretation of the new classification was that D marojejyi was still Dypsis (I think it's the biggest Dypsis now).  But I thought there was some talk about the Mad Fox actually being Dypsis coursii.  Was that ever settled?

Matt

[Dypsisdean]

1 hour ago, Tracy said:

You need to drop some of those little ones off in Leucadia next time you visit Dorian!  Beautiful palm Dean and yes, very interesting how the flesh coming off the seeds is reminiscent of popcorn.  Any idea how long it took the previous seeds to germinate into the seedlings in the photo?

Hey Tracy - I believe it was in the 2 month range for germination. I guess a few SoCal people are having a little luck with these -  well worth the try. I know Dorian has failed with at least one. But I believe they would have a chance in a mostly sun coastal location - perhaps somewhat protected in the hottest part of the day. Not an easy micro-climate to find.

[Dypsisdean]

1 hour ago, Matt in SD said:

My interpretation of the new classification was that D marojejyi was still Dypsis (I think it's the biggest Dypsis now).  But I thought there was some talk about the Mad Fox actually being Dypsis coursii.  Was that ever settled?

Matt

Thanks for the info. To the best of my knowledge, it was settled as being D. marojejyi by botantists much smarter than I. But my limited understanding and observations still hold a glimmer of a doubt.

[Tracy]

3 hours ago, Dypsisdean said:

I know Dorian has failed with at least one. But I believe they would have a chance in a mostly sun coastal location - perhaps somewhat protected in the hottest part of the day. Not an easy micro-climate to find.

I kept one alive for about a year.  It transitioned from the Carlsbad garden to here in Leucadia and died the first winter.  Sadly, I don't even recall if I put it in the ground here or if it was still in a pot.  I would try again if I had the space but will appreciate it seeing it in Dorian's garden if he tries again and has success.  I almost always linger a while when walking by to see the latest progress of both the older established palms and his newer plantings.

4 hours ago, Matt in SD said:

My interpretation of the new classification was that D marojejyi was still Dypsis (I think it's the biggest Dypsis now).  But I thought there was some talk about the Mad Fox actually being Dypsis coursii. 

Matt, depending on how I read  your question and understand it, my answer would be different.  Most likely ignorance on my part in not understanding your statement.  So in the paper Bill Baker just shared with us on the new categorizations of the group of plants that were in the Dypsis genus, on page 8, he lists both Dypsis marojejyi and Dypsis coursii.  So if the question is whether D marojejyi was lumped in with D coursii, the answer is no.  Your understanding that they remain in Dypsis is corroborated in that table.   If your question about whether the plants sold as "Mad Fox" is actually Dypsis marojejyei or Dypsis coursii, I don't recall what happened with that discussion and only vaguely remember reading about it.  It appears that Dean understood the question better and responded above.

[Palm Tree Jim]

Maybe a little salt and butter to help germinate these!

I tried with 3 plants and all died within a year. Tough grow but I do recall some successes in Southern California.

[Dypsisdean]

5 minutes ago, Tracy said:

If your question about whether the plants sold as "Mad Fox" is actually Dypsis marojejyei or Dypsis coursii, I don't recall what happened with that discussion and only vaguely remember reading about it.

I believe that was his question. And all the Mad Foxes I have seen have been the same palm as the ones in my garden (one from a very old in situ collection) and in Jeff Marcus' garden where probably most all the Mad Fox in cultivation have come from. I don't know if anyone has claimed to be growing a D. coursii for sure. Maybe someone in Australia has something different. Supposedly they look very similar, and the

[Matt in OC]

8 years in the ground in SoCal. Light shade, rich soil, ample water.

[quaman58]

15 minutes ago, Matt in OC said:

8 years in the ground in SoCal. Light shade, rich soil, ample water.

Boy, that's a beauty Matt..

[realarch]

Loooking stellar Dean, I remember this palm by your drive. Interesting seeding habit as well. Mine has been flowering for years now and still hasn’t provided viable seed, so the examples in your photos are new to me. Did yours take awhile to produce viable seed?

Not that I need anymore seed to germinate as the quantities from all the palms in the garden can be overwhelming. It’s a habit I can’t seem to break. 

Give Angela a hug for me. 

Tim

[realarch]

Oh, and Matt…….just WOW!

Tim

[Tracy]

2 hours ago, Matt in OC said:

8 years in the ground in SoCal. Light shade, rich soil, ample water.

Yup... I have to repeat what has been said... Steller, Wow, Outstanding.

A question for you too though.  How deep is the planter from the house to the walkway side of the bricks?  I am just curious if I could stuff one in somewhere eventually.

[Matt in OC]

Only about 3 feet, @Tracy. It would probably like a bit more space to spread out. 😅

[TomJ]

Can grow away from the coast.

7 tears in the ground

[Dypsisdean]

On 9/9/2022 at 7:41 AM, realarch said:

Loooking stellar Dean, I remember this palm by your drive. Interesting seeding habit as well. Mine has been flowering for years now and still hasn’t provided viable seed, so the examples in your photos are new to me. Did yours take awhile to produce viable seed?

Not that I need anymore seed to germinate as the quantities from all the palms in the garden can be overwhelming. It’s a habit I can’t seem to break. 

Give Angela a hug for me. 

Tim

Tim - it turns out the male and female flowers seldom overlap - instead doing their thing at different times. The more inflos you get, the better chance they will overlap. I have two side by side flowering now and that has helped a lot. But still, for some reason, they don't fully ripen, crack open, and fall.

[Dypsisdean]

@Matt in OC@TomJ Very good job guys. For sure a borderline palm for SoCal, but if I was still gardening there, I wouldn't give up until I had one growing.

[TropicalGardenSpain]

I dream of having these in my garden one day 🤪😉 @Dypsisdean 

[Lyn96]

On 9/9/2022 at 8:44 AM, Matt in OC said:

8 years in the ground in SoCal. Light shade, rich soil, ample water.

 

Ooh!!! Nice palm, but it really looks like you have a beautiful mature tree fern there as well!

[Darold Petty]

This palm can be a heart-breaker.  I grew one from a two leaf seedling to a very fat 5-gallon in my greenhouse.  I carefully acclimated it to outdoor conditions,  planting it on my birthday, and drinking a $100 bottle of French wine to celebrate.  It died within two months  !   

[Billeb]

6 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

This palm can be a heart-breaker.  I grew one from a two leaf seedling to a very fat 5-gallon in my greenhouse.  I carefully acclimated it to outdoor conditions,  planting it on my birthday, and drinking a $100 bottle of French wine to celebrate.  It died within two months  !   

Every plant has a story. Unfortunate as they may be. Condolences Darold

-dale 

[Matt in OC]

@Lyn96Actually, that's the tip of a Jacaranda branch. 😆

[John hovancsek]

I didn’t think I was going to like this palm but it is the one I photograph all the time so it really holds a special place in my heart. I have herd it is hard to germinate the seed

[Tyrone]

9 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

This palm can be a heart-breaker.  I grew one from a two leaf seedling to a very fat 5-gallon in my greenhouse.  I carefully acclimated it to outdoor conditions,  planting it on my birthday, and drinking a $100 bottle of French wine to celebrate.  It died within two months  !   

Some palms just exist to break our heart. I hope the wine was good though. 

[Darold Petty]

2005 vintage, most delicious !

[Lyn96]

8 hours ago, Matt in OC said:

@Lyn96Actually, that's the tip of a Jacaranda branch. 😆

Really? Very pretty.

[iDesign]

Thought I’d bring back this thread with a photo of my baby “Mad Fox”… kindly sold to me a while ago by @Matt in OC. I realize it’s a long shot, but it sure looked healthy when I was checking on my seedling collection…



Took it out for a photo shoot to celebrate it making it through the winter…



Wish me luck!

[Hilo Jason]

1 hour ago, iDesign said:

Thought I’d bring back this thread with a photo of my baby “Mad Fox”… kindly sold to me a while ago by @Matt in OC. I realize it’s a long shot, but it sure looked healthy when I was checking on my seedling collection…



Took it out for a photo shoot to celebrate it making it through the winter…



Wish me luck!

Looks nice and happy!  I have killed these in California and here in Hawaii.  And hard to find them now so I’ve given up for the time being. 

[Mandrew968]

Is this still a dypsis? 

[TomJ]

Several growers with much nicer gardens than mine have told me theirs suddenly died after setting seed. Matt's plant has given me hope. Mine has now pushed its first leaf spathe. 

[iDesign]

6 hours ago, TomJ said:

Several growers with much nicer gardens than mine have told me theirs suddenly died after setting seed. Matt's plant has given me hope. Mine has now pushed its first leaf spathe. 

Yay! So glad to hear of another Southern CA survivor!!!

Can I ask the typical "How old is yours?" question?

[TomJ]

16 hours ago, iDesign said:

Yay! So glad to hear of another Southern CA survivor!!!

Can I ask the typical "How old is yours?" question?

10 years in the ground from a 5gl.

[Billeb]

On 4/5/2025 at 6:44 PM, iDesign said:

Stacey, 

Heres my Mad Fox I also got from Matt in March 2023 as a 2 leafer. It’s grown pretty good as far as I’m concerned. Doesn’t seem to have issues with Winter. This will be planted out in a few weeks when I have time. 
 

-dale

[colin Peters]

On 4/5/2025 at 5:40 PM, Hilo Jason said:

Looks nice and happy!  I have killed these in California and here in Hawaii.  And hard to find them now so I’ve given up for the time being. 

I had no luck either in Honolulu. both plants from Jeff Marcus and seed from rps.   Sad

[Matt in OC]

Looking good, everyone! Put 'em in the ground. Rich soil, moisture and shade.  

[JD in the OC]

It's always been my understanding that they don't grow here in South FL due to our high heat. Anyone attest to that?

JD