Syagrus botryophora in SoCal

[quaman58]

Hey all, I remember reading Robert Lee Riffles book “encyclopedia of palms” about this species, which he described as “one of the world’s most beautiful palms.” Seeing pictures of them in the tropics, I would tend to agree with him. But wow, I’ve struggled with it. It was purchased probably 10 years ago as a seedling and has grown vertically just fine. But it just looks awful. I thought that it was perhaps cold, which would make some sense, as I get pretty cold every winter. But it doesn’t improve with the onset of warm weather, so I have no answers. Other palms around it look just fine. It’s about 25 feet tall, give or take. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!!

[quaman58]

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Could be a deficiency. It's a Syagrus. Syagrus Romanzoffiana for example, tend to put that color when they are missing nutrients.

[quaman58]

It may well be, but if it is, then it lacks something that surrounding palms don’t. Interestingly, I also have trouble getting S. psuedococco and picrophylla to look any good. My last remaining Queen is not far away and looks nice and green, as does a S. kellyana

 

[WaianaeCrider]

Totally different conditions here on O`ahu, west side.  Bought a 1 gallon palm back in June of 2020.  Today it's taller than me.  Gotta trim back the junk growing around it so it's fronds have room to spread.

[kylecawazafla]

I've never grown them before, but here are photos I have taken of them around Southern California! 

[Phoenikakias]

I feel sure it some kind of deficiency or rather a deficiency of multiple nutrients. What is the pH of soil?

[LJG]

Bret, many Syagrus get deficiencies here. This is for sure an example. Guessing clayish soil leading to bad iron uptake. I use EDDHA Iron Chelates for my stubborn iron-loving palms. It will take a while to grow out of this, but the stuff works great. Also, the more tropical Syagrus get abused by the cold here easier when under nutritional deficiencies. So the plant looks even worse. 

[quaman58]

Thanks Len. So you're sayin' there's a chance! Great info; I'll track some of this stuff down...

[quaman58]

13 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

I feel sure it some kind of deficiency or rather a deficiency of multiple nutrients. What is the pH of soil?

I need to check. Funny, when most things are growing well, I just assume everything's fine. But different palms, different needs..

[LJG]

Amara on left and Botryophora on right. 

[Phoenikakias]

10 hours ago, quaman58 said:

I need to check. Funny, when most things are growing well, I just assume everything's fine. But different palms, different needs..

For extensive and variable palm collections it is sadly a principle.

[bubba]

Completely off topic and I apologize. This Sb is growing well at the Ann Norton Sculpture Garden on the Intracoastal in WPB. Surprisingly, it has obviously weathered more than a few hurricanes successfully:

[Phoenikakias]

On 1/30/2023 at 3:31 AM, quaman58 said:

I need to check. Funny, when most things are growing well, I just assume everything's fine. But different palms, different needs..

Check here a tropical Syagrus of mine. All brown and desiccated tips are damage by winter cold, but nonetheless leaves look well nurished. It grows in a raised hole filled in only with pumice. In natural soil even Syagrus romanzoffiana suffers from deficiencies and consequently also from fungal attack. Only through soil amendment (sulfur pellets and drenching with humic acids) , an annual application of iron chelate of the described composition and several applications of fungicide for soil fungi I made Arecastrum starting looking better.