Chambeyronia Macrocarpa vs Hookeri sun tolerance?

[James B]

Been actively planting since April. Have several 5 and 1 gallon various Chambeyronias in the bull pen.

I want to plant a 5 gal of both Macrocarpa and Hookeri this week. Is there enough data in hotter climates to support one having more sun tolerance over the other?

Due to my new garden being in the beginning stages they will not have the canopy I’d prefer so they will get 4-5 hours of sun daily until the canopy palms (various Archontophoenix) grow up. This may take 3-4 years but once complete they will be under canopy.

I had 7 total in my old garden and the ones under canopy had prettier colors and seemed happier. But I did have each in sun for a few hours as well. Some burning occurred but over time they slowly acclimated.

[Hurricanepalms]

I can’t speak for sun tolerance difference between the two, but I have two large macrocarpa growing in all day full sun in Southern central Florida. My sister planted a five gallon in full sun Western exposure (most brutal for us). It definitely had varying degrees of burning for the first two years. It is now producing leaves that are adapted to its location. I do agree with you that they look better with protection from peak sun intensity (especially when they are younger).

[Billeb]

James, this is a forever question it seems. My personal thoughts on the matter are it’s completely dependent on how the palms were grown in their infancy and up to the current planting time in question. Attempting to zone push is a whole different topic. I have a 1G Hookeri I got from @DoomsDave that I immediately planted in all day sun….hasn’t batted an eye.  Got a larger Macro from a greenhouse and tried to put it in not even 1/2 day sun….it burned drastically. I also have a 1G macro I got from @Matt in OC and it’s in many hours of sun…looks great. 
 

The biggest issue with Chambeyronias is they take years (literally) to acclimate and only push 3 fronds a year if you are lucky. Which means you’re looking at an ugly plant for quite awhile. If you are ok with that….the plant will recover. If you are not, my recommendation is pull a plant that is confirmed sun grown or start very small (ie: 1G). 
 

-dale 

[James B]

I learned well from my previous garden that I only get 2.5 leaves a year here. Which means giving them protection from Santa Anna’s is critical otherwise they spend all year reviving from the wind. 
 

To solve some of the afternoon sun I plan on planting a triple 15 gal A.Cunninghamiana to the western exposure to help control it since they are easy to find and grow fast.

[DoomsDave]

 

5 hours ago, Billeb said:

James, this is a forever question it seems. My personal thoughts on the matter are it’s completely dependent on how the palms were grown in their infancy and up to the current planting time in question. Attempting to zone push is a whole different topic. I have a 1G Hookeri I got from @DoomsDave that I immediately planted in all day sun….hasn’t batted an eye.  Got a larger Macro from a greenhouse and tried to put it in not even 1/2 day sun….it burned drastically. I also have a 1G macro I got from @Matt in OC and it’s in many hours of sun…looks great. 
 

The biggest issue with Chambeyronias is they take years (literally) to acclimate and only push 3 fronds a year if you are lucky. Which means you’re looking at an ugly plant for quite awhile. If you are ok with that….the plant will recover. If you are not, my recommendation is pull a plant that is confirmed sun grown or start very small (ie: 1G). 
 

-dale 

 

3 hours ago, James B said:

I learned well from my previous garden that I only get 2.5 leaves a year here. Which means giving them protection from Santa Anna’s is critical otherwise they spend all year reviving from the wind. 
 

To solve some of the afternoon sun I plan on planting a triple 15 gal A.Cunninghamiana to the western exposure to help control it since they are easy to find and grow fast.

Thanks to you both for sharing your experiences!
 

Once they form a trunk, Chambeys speed up a lot, though they’re not rocketing racehorses like Archontophoenix.

[James B]

I have them in position where the most sun they get right now looks like 11-1pm mostly filtered otherwise.

[sonoranfans]

I have found that 7gal size hookeri dont burn in sun as easily as my same sized marcocarpa.  The hookeri leaf is optically more dense in the reds(anthocyanins) so they look best in sun to get the most intense color.  Macrocarpa look pale in sun to my eye but in shade or low light they glow more color than hookeri in low light.  So my hookeris are going in the positions that have a bit more sun. to bring out their color, 

[DoomsDave]

21 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

I have found that 7gal size hookeri dont burn in sun as easily as my same sized marcocarpa.  The hookeri leaf is optically more dense in the reds(anthocyanins) so they look best in sun to get the most intense color.  Macrocarpa look pale in sun to my eye but in shade or low light they glow more color than hookeri in low light.  So my hookeris are going in the positions that have a bit more sun. to bring out their color, 

COMPROMISE! PLANT PLENTY OF BOTH!

[Looking Glass]

Hookerii did better for me here, but neither could handle full Florida sun as little guys (1-3g).  It’s taken about 2 years of acclimation, but now I notice some direct sun tolerance.  At about 6 feet tall, these three get hit with overhead sun in the summer and do ok.   They still get a lot of protection when the sun is angled.  These are some of my most sun-sensitive palms.