East London palm expedition - Oct 2022

[UK_Palms]

I started out in Walworth, south central London before heading eastward. It may be Halloween on Monday, but it was still a warm, balmy and sunny day reaching 24C / 75F in the capital at 51N. It felt more like late June than late October. Perfect conditions for palm exploration. I was in a t-shirt and shorts.

On my way to East London I stopped at Burgess Park and visited the small, but nice, Chumleigh Garden. They have an interesting Butia feature as well as CIDP, Trachycarpus and some other exotics.

Bermondsey hood CIDP’s

This Greenwich Robusta isn’t far off becoming a ‘skyduster’ given that it will stack on another 20-25 foot of growth over the next decade or so. It has also flowered earlier this year as well. Unfortunately it has been a bit over-trimmed compared to last year.

Another Robusta looking one in a back yard. Taller than the house again.

Abbey Road CIDP’s

You can see one Washie here but there is an even bigger one tucked behind it almost out of sight.

Retro skirts on these Robusta’s!

Lovely backyard Robusta or hybrid against the skyline.

Might as well appreciate the smaller ones too. The others I have posted looked like this only about 10 years ago. Washies are rockets in London. 

I didn’t see that many Yucca Elephantipes in east London but they are certainly about.

Walking down side roads there is no shortage of impressive CIDP in front gardens. There is probably 200+ like this in London nowadays. They grow so quickly that they don’t have time to lose their trunk boots.

Chamaerops Humilis

 

I went all the way out to the Isle of Dogs only to find that they had cut down the 30+ foot Washingtonia Filifera, which was just gutting. All that was left was an ugly stump. The Yucca Elephantipes that was growing next to it was also removed.

It was equally gutting to see that the big Abbey Road Robusta had also been cut down too. As had a huge Filifera that was located in a back yard that I visited. The homeowner told me that he had it cut down back in July because it had grown bigger than his house!

So that’s 3 big east London Washies that were on my hit-list, which had met the chainsaw. Also a pretty big CIDP cut down in Woolwich as well. It was at least a 25 footer. Even worse, the owner has cut it down and put artificial grass/turf in its place too! Just why!? 😡

I actually didn’t manage to see anywhere near as much as I had planned on east London. I didn’t even get out to Hackney to see the big CIDP’s along the river and by the town hall. I also wasn’t able to see the big Bougainvillea in Dagenham due to me setting out late, plus train delays and the sun setting earlier now. That part of London is also pretty dangerous for gangs after dark.

 

Edited October 30, 2022 by UK_Palms

[Samuel]

Amazing London/southern England is quite quickly turning into a palm tree hotspot but I don’t get why people chop them down ?do they not expect them to grow lol?:D

[Frond-friend42]

I never would have guessed that London could host these beauties. Wow. Merry old England.

[Foxpalms]

5 hours ago, Frond-friend42 said:

I never would have guessed that London could host these beauties. Wow. Merry old England.

There are more impresive palms in London but most of them are growing in back gardens where they can't be seen from street view such as Queen palms.