Howea forsteriana vs rhopalostylis sapida watering needs in cool coastal mediterranean climate

[Rivera]

Hi, I've read the palm talk forums for a couple years, but this is my first forum post.

I live very close to the beach in the Outer Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco. I'm currently growing one young Great Barrier Is. nikau in the moist shady section of what is overall a moderately dry garden. It will be a little while, but at some point I will most likely be replacing some plants in an adjacent area (slightly sunnier) and I'm considering adding a couple other nikaus or a few howeas. I currently have no howeas outdoors, but the cluster in a pot in our atrium may eventually find its way out there. 

For anyone else growing these plants in similar conditions, I'm wondering if I can get a comparison regarding their watering needs. I'll be hand watering this area of the garden either way, but if the nikau is that much thirstier, I may favor howeas. I do supply some organic fertilization to compensate for the somewhat poor (albeit very well-drained) sandy soil. 

I also have a couple of patio drains leading to a dry-well near the existing nikau, and I'm hoping with age that the nikau may reach down and access some of that moisture. Wishful thinking?

My garden is young overall, and notes comparing the garden performance and growing culture of these two palms in a cool coastal climate are also welcome. 

Thanks

Chris

[Darold Petty]

Chris,   Welcome to Palmtalk !   

I live near the west end of Stern Grove.  I have removed three 40 year old Rhopalostylis palms and have kept  3 additional ones.  I also have ground planted eleven Howeas.  You should visit my garden.   Shoot me a PM (private message)  for details.    Left click my avatar to start the message.

With such sandy soil as ours you cannot overwater either genus, and both will favor more water than less.

[Rivera]

PM sent, thanks Darold!

[Billeb]

@Rivera, please take up the offer of @Darold Pettyand visit his garden! This is high up on the wish list for most of us on this forum and likely will never get the chance.  We will live thru you vicariously. 
 

-dale

[Darold Petty]

Dale, thanks for the kind words !

I am retired now, and few people visit me anymore.  my garden is 40 years old.  It is immodest to mention,   but I have removed larger palms than most have grown ! 

Any one with a sincere interest in palms is welcome !  

[Billeb]

30 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Dale, thanks for the kind words !

I am retired now, and few people visit me anymore.  my garden is 40 years old.  It is immodest to mention,   but I have removed larger palms than most have grown ! 

Any one with a sincere interest in palms is welcome !  

Darold, My brother lives in the East Bay and I always plan on reaching out when I’m up that way to bug you but something always comes up. Hopefully we can make the trip over the bridge soon.  @Rivera , welcome to PT and best of luck with your palm ventures. Happy planting. 
 

-dale 

[Rivera]

Thanks Dale, I plan to. There are some notable specimens scattered around, but on the whole mature palms are not so common in the neighborhood. Even most of the commonly planted palms have not yet achieved height. So a well-established garden is a special thing. 

-chris

[Jim in Los Altos]

Chris,

Im in the warmer South Bay Area and with less sandy soil than you likely have but all my Rhopalostylis and Howea are well watered during the warm seasons and obviously get tons of water this time of year when we’re not in drought. Both species like lots of water. Here are a few of mine…

[Darold Petty]

Jim is too modest, he has the best palm garden of any that I have visited in NorCal  !   

[Jim in Los Altos]

1 hour ago, Darold Petty said:

Jim is too modest, he has the best palm garden of any that I have visited in NorCal  !   

Darold, Thank you for the gracious compliment. I’ll never forget my visit to your spectacular tropics of SF garden. It was pure pleasure. 

[Rivera]

Thanks for sharing these photos Jim. Gorgeous garden, and really beautiful light. I'll bet it sounds lovely in the spring.

I grew up on the peninsula, and I now live close enough to Ocean Beach that the spring "seabreeze" is a 25 knot wind with 40 knot gusts. More or less frost free though.