Most northern washingtonia

[NWpalms@206]

I have noticed this palm several times from the water on our boat at the south end of Vashon island WA… always thought it was a big trachy from a distance. Finally got a little closer and realized it is a massive Washingtonia palm with the deck built around it. Along with a couple smaller ones to left.  I was shocked when I realized! Has to be the largest this far north. Worth a share! 

[Trustandi]

Great find @NWpalms@206. Is that a cluster of mature cordyline as well?

I guess you could  add washingtonia to your jungle. 

[Chester B]

Mature Cordylines are a zone 9 indicator. That has to be the northern most unprotected Washy in North America. I know there were a couple of sizeable ones in BC but they got pretty good protection and eventually outgrew it and died. 

[JacoPalmsCo]

On 9/6/2023 at 12:25 PM, NWpalms@206 said:

I have noticed this palm several times from the water on our boat at the south end of Vashon island WA… always thought it was a big trachy from a distance. Finally got a little closer and realized it is a massive Washingtonia palm with the deck built around it. Along with a couple smaller ones to left.  I was shocked when I realized! Has to be the largest this far north. Worth a share! 

That’s awesome! I know there’s Trachys around Victoria and Vancouver. 

[Zach K]

That must be one heck of a microclimate! The best Oregon can do to support a washy is along the coast, so that is impressive!

[Zach K]

Google maps link?

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 9/9/2023 at 7:20 PM, JacoPalmsCo said:

That’s awesome! I know there’s Trachys around Victoria and Vancouver. 

I know the man that spearheaded that project with the City of Vancouver.

[JacoPalmsCo]

Just now, Las Palmas Norte said:

I know the man that spearheaded that project with the City of Vancouver.

That’s cool, I’ve read about him.  ThePalms were planted 40 or so years ago

[Las Palmas Norte]

13 minutes ago, JacoPalmsCo said:

That’s cool, I’ve read about him.  ThePalms were planted 40 or so years ago

I joined the PNWPEPS in the late 90's and the plan was in the works then, so about 35 years ago. That ultimately inspired residents to plant palms too. 

[JacoPalmsCo]

Just now, Las Palmas Norte said:

I joined the PNWPEPS in the late 90's and the plan was in the works then, so about 35 years ago. That ultimately inspired residents to plant palms too. 

Yeah, well they’re very cool. What’s the extreme cold temp up there?

[Las Palmas Norte]

1 minute ago, JacoPalmsCo said:

Yeah, well they’re very cool. What’s the extreme cold temp up there?

Without the info in front of me it's likely around 0°F / -18°C (all time low) which would likely never have happened during the past 35 years or even in that location. Seaside locations temperatures are moderated and rare extremes are ephemeral.  It would be a stretch to even see average winters lows drop to 15°F / -9C, again of short duration. Typically it rains most of the winter with a few cold spells tossed in. A solid zone 8b.

[JacoPalmsCo]

Just now, Las Palmas Norte said:

Without the info in front of me it's likely around 0°F / -18°C (all time low) which would likely never have happened during the past 35 years or even in that location. Seaside locations temperatures are moderated and rare extremes are ephemeral.  It would be a stretch to even see average winters lows drop to 15°F / -9C, again of short duration. Typically it rains most of the winter with a few cold spells tossed in. A solid zone 8b.

For Canada, I’d say thats pretty dang good

[JacoPalmsCo]

Just now, JacoPalmsCo said:

For Canada, I’d say thats pretty dang good

And I know theres a beach called port Dover that imports full size queen palms during the summer.

[Las Palmas Norte]

2 hours ago, JacoPalmsCo said:

For Canada, I’d say thats pretty dang good

There's some regions that are Zone 9a and grow (or should grow) some great stuff. Here's a quick video from the west coast of our island in Tofino.

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/PRNAJTWbXE4?si=nFnJNyP6C8MYM-q8

[RFun]

Not surprising to see them that far North.  The only thing is to make sure you keep them in soil that doesn't get waterlogged and drains well.  We have those here in Coastal Georgia.  Just need to have that nice draining soil to help further them along better.

Edited September 13, 2023 by RFun

[Las Palmas Norte]

18 hours ago, RFun said:

Not surprising to see them that far North. ...

It is if you understand the regional climate. Countless enthusiasts have tried to establish one in their gardens.

[RFun]

On 9/14/2023 at 11:37 AM, Las Palmas Norte said:

It is if you understand the regional climate. Countless enthusiasts have tried to establish one in their gardens.

Oh I know this.  The problem is likely that the soil wasn't modified with a nice sandy, well draining mix.  Also, a sheltered spot out of the rain would be helpful as well the palm being put on an elevated area where water doesn't pool.  Not easy there, but it can be done.

[Las Palmas Norte]

1 hour ago, RFun said:

Oh I know this.  The problem is likely that the soil wasn't modified with a nice sandy, well draining mix.  Also, a sheltered spot out of the rain would be helpful as well the palm being put on an elevated area where water doesn't pool.  Not easy there, but it can be done.

Once the autumn settles in here, even record temps are not impressive. Washingtonia resents long periods of cool humidity punctuated with cold snaps. As you've pointed out, I have seen some pretty decent sized Washingtonia & they've had the luxury of the owners erecting an overhead canopy and even that may not be enough with a rare event.

[tarnado]

On 9/11/2023 at 8:58 AM, Zach K said:

Google maps link?

 

On 9/12/2023 at 11:18 AM, Las Palmas Norte said:

t of me it's likely around 0°F / -18°C (all time low) which would likely never have happened during the past 35 years or even in that location. Seaside locations temperatures are moderated and rare extremes are ephemeral.  It would

 

On 9/6/2023 at 11:26 PM, Chester B said:

northern most unprotected Washy in North America.

 

On 9/6/2023 at 11:25 AM, NWpalms@206 said:

the water on our boat at the south end of Vashon island WA

Wow, @NWpalms@206, nice photo! Google street view offers a glimpse from the road into the back side of the property, which features another three or four chonkster palms (Washingonia?). 

[tarnado]

I couldn't help myself; I had to look up the soil profile for this location on Vashon Island. The result showed less clay than I normally think of as common on these glacial features, a steep gravelly sandy loam. The soil type is probably very helpful for managing wet winter drainage. Still, the USDA reports that it is likely to be 18 to 37 inches to a water table, and that permeability of the "most densic layer" is "very low." The soil survey also states that it is "20 to 40 inches" to this clay pan. The moisture subclass of these soils is 'aquic,' which means that there is a substantial portion of the year when the soil is saturated and depleted of oxygen.

[jwitt]

33 minutes ago, tarnado said:

I couldn't help myself; I had to look up the soil profile for this location on Vashon Island. The result showed less clay than I normally think of as common on these glacial features, a steep gravelly sandy loam. The soil type is probably very helpful for managing wet winter drainage. Still, the USDA reports that it is likely to be 18 to 37 inches to a water table, and that permeability of the "most densic layer" is "very low." The soil survey also states that it is "20 to 40 inches" to this clay pan. The moisture subclass of these soils is 'aquic,' which means that there is a substantial portion of the year when the soil is saturated and depleted of oxygen.

Filifera naturally grow in swamps with year round wet, saturated soils.  They are alkaline tho.

[tarnado]

Okay - @PNWPalmSeeker I mean @NWpalms@206 and @Las Palmas Norte and @jwitt

 

I sent *a letter* to the residential address where these palms are located on Vashon Island. A couple of weeks later, I got a phone call from the palm-grower hisself! So - some interesting and *naturally* sad news about these Washies.

a) So, the palm-planter is a fan of palm trees from their time spent in Mexico and Costa Rica. When he saw some Mexican fan palms for sale at the Home Depot or Lowe's about 20 years ago, he bought a dozen of them. They were about 2 to 2.5 feet high (less than 1 meter) and he planted them along the lower part of the property.

b) sometime about 2 years ago - so, about 6 months after you took the photo, @NWpalms@206, the palm-planter and owner reports that all these palms seemed to come down with some kind of disease or infection. I will say that we had a pretty significant cold snap before this disease outbreak, so those things could be related. The cold itself, though, did not seem to damage the palms (down to 14 F). 

c) the palm-planter is pretty bummed out about the whole affair but seemed to be hopeful that Washies will be for sale again at cheap prices at the area Home Depot or Lowe's this spring, or following spring... he still seems excited about palms. So! Maybe you'll bump into him down at the area big box hardware store some time 😜 

[Las Palmas Norte]

It's a shame they'll be replaced, but at least they will be replaced, or interest exists for that. Some nice investigative work @tarnado