Allagoptera caudescens-

[WaianaeCrider]

Talk about SLOW.  This one gallon palm has been in the ground for TWO years.  It sure doesn't look a lot bigger.  Three pictures the first as shipped, the second in the ground a year and the third today

 

 

[tim_brissy_13]

I think I’ve got you beat. Here’s mine in 2015 and 2021. Yep, it’s the same palm. It’s still alive today, maybe even smaller. 

[hbernstein]

Not the fastest growing species, but at least in South Florida, it isn't that slow! It does like lots of sunlight.

[Merlyn]

Mine grew like a weed in full sun here in the Orlando area...er...like a slow weed.  But it grew!  It was putting out about 1 frond per month and steadily growing, but then got 75% burn at 27-28F with frost one winter, and then 90% defoliated at 24.4F with frost canopy the next winter.  I had unknowingly planted it in the coldest spot in my yard, the SE corner is 3-4F colder than the front yard.  So I let it recover this spring and then moved it to the front yard underneath a Butia triple.  Here's what it looked like after 27-28F with frost, along with two seedlings that were in different spots.  The frost seems to be the big defoliator here, since the seedling on the left had canopy and the one on the right had no canopy.

[Tracy]

On 9/7/2022 at 11:21 PM, WaianaeCrider said:

Talk about SLOW.  This one gallon palm has been in the ground for TWO years.

Not a speedy species here either, but it does grow.

March 2016 while still in a pot and two current photos September 2022

[WaianaeCrider]

A little research has reveled it's a SLOW growing palm.  LOL

[TomJ]

I thought maybe it hated my clay.

Maybe they are just slow.

Planted from FB 1 gallonn 2020

[richnorm]

On 9/9/2022 at 12:00 AM, tim_brissy_13 said:

I think I’ve got you beat. Here’s mine in 2015 and 2021. Yep, it’s the same palm. It’s still alive today, maybe even smaller. 

100% my experience Tim but mine is actually doing quite well after a very mild winter! I must have planted it 10 or more years ago and it's finally recovered to about the same size!

[Cindy Adair]

Not really fast for me either but probably because the vines keep attacking it.

I enjoy the way the silver shows as each new leaf unfolds.

 

[Tracy]

51 minutes ago, Cindy Adair said:

I enjoy the way the silver shows as each new leaf unfolds.

Yup, that is the attraction along with the striping on the emerging spear before it gets to the stage you just showed in your photo.  I can hardly complain that they remain at eye level for a long time, as there are plenty of others that don't.

[The Palm Nut]

You can expect something of this size in 15 to 20 years. After the flood it has certainly increased growth. I have a high density of plants/palms, so water is always in high demand. If it doesn't come for the sky, they go without or a least the established ones. At least these last couple of years good rainfall has blessed me and it looks like the remainder of the year and possibly into the next, good rainfall is expected.

I hope to someday see a decent trunk on this palm? I will most likely be pushing 80 by then!

[Tracy]

On 9/9/2022 at 10:57 AM, Tracy said:

Not a speedy species here either, but it does grow.

March 2016 while still in a pot and two current photos September 2022

Seeing some progress but still not speedy progress in the last 3 years.  Patience is rewarded though.

[happypalms]

Oh there slow alright this one is 25 years old. I even have two in pots that are as big as the one you have there and they are 25 years old, all the same age as the one in the ground. They are slow! 

[happypalms]

On 9/8/2022 at 10:00 PM, tim_brissy_13 said:

I think I’ve got you beat. Here’s mine in 2015 and 2021. Yep, it’s the same palm. It’s still alive today, maybe even smaller. 

Tim that’s cruelty to palms! 

[tim_brissy_13]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

Tim that’s cruelty to palms! 

Happy to report that this little guy has had a good last few years. Has grown more since the last photo here than in the 20 years previous. 
 

I think in the past I’ve tried to search for more heat to get it moving along. But in a dry temperate climate A caudescens seems to hate hot sun and low humidity when we get our 40 degree days. I think the key has been that now it gets some canopy. To anyone else in temperature and Mediterranean climates I’d say they are possible but be patient and keep them moist and in filtered light. 

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Happy to report that this little guy has had a good last few years. Has grown more since the last photo here than in the 20 years previous. 
 

I think in the past I’ve tried to search for more heat to get it moving along. But in a dry temperate climate A caudescens seems to hate hot sun and low humidity when we get our 40 degree days. I think the key has been that now it gets some canopy. To anyone else in temperature and Mediterranean climates I’d say they are possible but be patient and keep them moist and in filtered light. 

That’s a bit better now, hot sun they dislike , I have a few around my garden and the best ones are in shade. A couple of others  are in some sun but shaded at different times of the day. And they love water! 

[PalmBossTampa]

Yeah, I’m gonna keep mine all in containers to avoid those first few frosts while small. 

I’ve got 2 caudescens and 2 var. pectinata in 1gal pots.  How many years until I can tell any difference between the two? 

[richnorm]

Mine is definitely getting bigger and happier as the canopy closes in even after a rough winter.  Not exactly a show stopper but sometimes you have to wait a long time!