Dictyosperma album “Conjugatum”

[Sabal Steve]

I’ve been growing these for a few years, here in San Diego, and they have done great.  I’d like to plant them in the spring.

Does anyone have experience with these (preferably in a similar Mediterranean climate)?  
 

I’ve heard that they can take a good amount of sun; mine have been in filtered light for a few years, now.

Experiences?  Show us yours!

[Sabal Steve]

[Merlyn]

I tried growing the Album/Rubrum type.  They did great until last January's freeze.  5 out of 7 died after 2 nights of 26-28F with frost.  The two that survived had some 70' tall oak canopy, and were in the warmest part of the yard that saw 27-28F for about 4 hours.  I've read that Conjugatum is the hardiest of the group, so I really want to try that one here.  If you are in 10a/b you probably won't need to worry too much about the cold.  I recorded no damage to these in several frosts at 32+ degrees.

As far as sunlight goes, I had them all in spots with some PM shade.  They grew just fine there, and reasonably quickly.  I'm not sure if they'd be happier with more or less sun, but keep in mind that's in swampy Orlando.

[sonoranfans]

I have a 4 conjugatum (renamed to furfurcea) and a couple rubrum in pots.  Here is the first one to get planted next spring I think.  Here is one of my conjugatum/furfurcea:  

[kylecawazafla]

I believe MattyB's former next door neighbor was a palm enthusiast and I think recall seeing a pretty healthy D. album var conjugatum from afar in his neighborhood in the Spring Valley section of San Diego! I believe they appreciate a little bit of summer warmth! I've seen one by the beach in Oceanside that looked good, but not as good as the ones more inland! Here are some pics of regular Dictyosperma at the San Diego Zoo.... then a conjugatum in Kim's yard in Hawaii! 

[Merlyn]

I noted that Floribunda has D. Furfuracea on their June price list.  Any idea on relative hardiness between them and the Album/Rubrum types?  I've seen some comments but no "official" freeze damage data reports.  This might be because the different types were lumped together before...

[Looking Glass]

31 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

I noted that Floribunda has D. Furfuracea on their June price list.  Any idea on relative hardiness between them and the Album/Rubrum types?  I've seen some comments but no "official" freeze damage data reports.  This might be because the different types were lumped together before...

These are last spring’s the 4 inchers, potted up to 1 gallon.  They are steady, sturdy little growers in Florida’s heat.  No clue about the cold though.  


 

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by Looking Glass

[sonoranfans]

possibly a little leaf hardier than satakentia:  see the last two posts for pics from carribean palms.   The freeze damage section does not have reports on conjugatum/Furfuracea, just rubrum.  Post your freeze experiences here to help others in the future.  https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/topic/4631-dictyosperma-album/#comment-962518

 

[sonoranfans]

here is the report from carribean palms last two posts show cold event results:

 

[Merlyn]

11 minutes ago, sonoranfans said:

here is the report from carribean palms last two posts show cold event results:

That's encouraging results for Conjugatum.  Mine were slightly larger than the bottom photo at Caribbean Palms, but I had 5/7 dead after 27-28F with frost.  I think it's worth a shot in the front yard with some canopy.