Jubaeopsis caffra…Let’s See ‘Em!

[edbrown_III]

Good to hear from ye Darold!---I  went out this evening and saw this 

[TomJ]

Mine

[JubaeaMan138]

Love the green to orange . 

[JubaeaMan138]

[Scott W]

Looks like @edbrown_III  Jubaeopsis is holding some seed...

[tim_brissy_13]

The one at the Melbourne (Aus) Botanic Gardens starting to look pretty nice. My 2 are a few years behind. 

[Josue Diaz]

Jubaeopsis in my yard is still going strong. It's a bit wobbly, so I've propped it with a few rocks at the base

[Tom in Tucson]

9 hours ago, Josue Diaz said:

Jubaeopsis in my yard is still going strong. It's a bit wobbly, so I've propped it with a few rocks at the base

I think (based on my experience of growing both) that the root systems of this species have a lot in common with Beccariophoenix. They both grow roots that initially go straight down, possibly because they are native to areas which are full of rock crevices with seasonal rainfall patterns. They tend to topple over in sandy, or other loose soil types which are contrary to what they evolved in.

Hi 73°, Lo 36°

[JubaeaMan138]

So lots of rain coming this week again. Been cleaning the yard this week in prep. Decided to cut some of the ice plant that had swallowed this guy up in previous pictures I posted it looks great even got some of the old fronds trimmed off that were dead entangled in the ice plant . Drip line hasn’t worked for it for a couple years I usually hit it with the hose during summer evenings . 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Lookin’ good, Chris! 

Edited January 30, 2024 by Jim in Los Altos

[JubaeaMan138]

2 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Lookin’ good, Chris! 

Thanks Jim!!! I fear I planted it and a jubaea to close ? 

[Jim in Los Altos]

3 hours ago, JubaeaMan138 said:

Thanks Jim!!! I fear I planted it and a jubaea to close ? 

You’re asking the wrong guy about planting too “close.” My definition of too close is trunks touching each other and even that doesn’t faze me with many palms. 

[Josue Diaz]

On 1/30/2024 at 5:12 PM, JubaeaMan138 said:

Thanks Jim!!! I fear I planted it and a jubaea to close ? 

Looks good Chris. I think that'll be fine haha

[Josue Diaz]

On 12/14/2023 at 10:01 PM, Tom in Tucson said:

I think (based on my experience of growing both) that the root systems of this species have a lot in common with Beccariophoenix. They both grow roots that initially go straight down, possibly because they are native to areas which are full of rock crevices with seasonal rainfall patterns. They tend to topple over in sandy, or other loose soil types which are contrary to what they evolved in.

Hi 73°, Lo 36°

That's an interesting take. Might be some good merit to it. Mine is still wobbly, I just mound and prop up with rocks for the time being. 

[bruce Steele]

Not much to look at yet but it draws my attention anyway. From the Sullivan estate tree, Ventura. I had another one start and fail so I hope this one goes better.

 

[tim_brissy_13]

On 2/3/2024 at 5:16 AM, Josue Diaz said:

That's an interesting take. Might be some good merit to it. Mine is still wobbly, I just mound and prop up with rocks for the time being. 

I’d say it’s spot on. I lost a Jubaeopsis because it was so wobbly it just damaged the roots beyond repair. My Beccariophoenix alfredii would suffer the same fate if not for some tight staking. I’ve heard other Cocoid species are similar. Syagrus romanzoffiana tends not to be a problem here, but in New Zealand it is known to topple, I guess because it is always so moist there roots don’t have to reach for ground water. 

[Phoenikakias]

8 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

I’d say it’s spot on. I lost a Jubaeopsis because it was so wobbly it just damaged the roots beyond repair. My Beccariophoenix alfredii would suffer the same fate if not for some tight staking. I’ve heard other Cocoid species are similar. Syagrus romanzoffiana tends not to be a problem here, but in New Zealand it is known to topple, I guess because it is always so moist there roots don’t have to reach for ground water. 

Never ever had such a problem with Jubaeopsis, whether grown in light medium/soil or a heavier latter one. I am surpsised. On the other hand I share similar experience with Beccariophoenix.

[bruce Steele]

Getting a Jubaeopsis further along toward becoming a palm tree. I had three seeds that germinated and one damped off. Kept in coir perlite very that seemed very dry to touch. Kept air humidity high and kept the 12” http pots on 85F degree bottom heat. Seeds from the Sullivan Jubaeopsis in Ventura. 

[bruce Steele]

The Jubaeopsis are fickle seeds to germinate, they need some humidity to initiate germination but hate humidity once they start. It takes a couple months from germination till a leaf shows. Tyrones sprouting instructions were valuable information , stressing a dry rooting medium. I am wondering now when to increase soil moisture? The seeds have a liquid center, coconut water, so I assume they get through the first couple months of sprouting on water and energy stores in the seed itself .  
 Nothing is going to rush a Jubaeopsis into a growth spurt but I assume I need to get more water and nutrients to it soon.  I usually gauge soil moisture by sticking my finger into the rooting medium . Do other growers use electronic moisture sensors?  

[bruce Steele]

Still headed up. I might be hogging the thread. Excuse me because the Jubaeopsis has taken a lot of patience. 

[WaianaeCrider]

CRB now munching away.  Sprayed infection.  Hope it saves them.

[Hillizard]

My Jubaeopsis caffra today. With the warmer weather its growth is speeding up and the plant is becoming more upright. Almost as big as Josue's now! I guess because it's shaded, the orange/yellow color of the petioles is subdued.

[bruce Steele]

A second Jubaeopsis has come up.

 

[ASHCVS]

The pioneering Los Angeles nurseryman, and fourth president of the IPS, David Barry was tasked with selecting the foliage for the legendary Beverly Hilton hotel. He had received about 1000 Jubaeopsis caffra seeds (by boat, no airmail then) in the early 1950s. However, he was only able to germinate three! These were planted at the Beverly Hilton around 1955  

These legendary palms, now 70 years old, are believed to be the oldest examples outside of South Africa. Two clumps remain, one with three stems the other with two. The leaves are over 20 feet long. The trees have produced fruit for several decades. They appear remarkably healthy despite continuous ongoing construction on the property  

Photograph taken today in Beverly Hills:

[ahosey01]

Anybody know where I could find a 1-5G of these?  Nobody that I usually call has any anymore.

[bruce Steele]

Progress report. Six Jubaeopsis started, one pushing a second leaf. Seeds seem to do better without bottom heat. 

[bruce Steele]

Jubaeopsis and Jubaea , The Jubaeopsis are more yellow, the Cocoides are lush green . 
 

[Patrick]

Here's mine. I got it in about 2007 from Jungle Music as a 5 gallon...

[LowDesertBoil]

These seem like good low desert palms. Does anyone have a lead on where to pick them up? Thanks.

[bruce Steele]

All five still chugging along.  I germinate by placing a fresh seed on the surface of 50/50 coir perlite . I get the mix damp and then cover with a clear plastic cling wrap secured with a rubber band. These seeds are sensitive to moisture and too much will kill them. 

[bruce Steele]

These Jubaeopsis are the same ones shown upthread germinated April 15 ,2024.

The mother tree is the kinda famous Jubaeopsis on the old Sullivan Apartments property in Ventura. There was a nice bunch of seeds that the landscapers removed last year and this year the rats are getting everything. This tree has been the source for other growers upthread. I stayed at the Catamaran in San Diego and I only found one seed. If there are other fruiting trees it would be nice to check in on them because we should make some effort to get more of them into the hands of other gardeners. 
 It has taken me awhile to get some positive results. If the seed is kept too wet they get some bacterial problem and the juice in the seed oozes out.  I call it a fizzle. 
 I am a seventy mile drive away but I will make a run down to Ventura to see what has survived the rats, if anything. 
 Ahosey has claim to one of these but for now I am hanging on to the rest of them.  
At least one will go to Santa Barbara and a friend there who can ground it and keep it alive till it gains some size. My climate is risky for this palm. I may out plant one close to a sandstone wall and try to cover it through freezes but there are plenty of better places where Jubaeopsis might thrive closer to the coast. 
 

[happypalms]

I love the passion growers have for this palm, it’s totally unheard of in my area. It seems cold climate growers seem to go to great lengths to get such palms.

[gyuseppe]

On 1/29/2025 at 12:21 AM, Patrick said:

Here's mine. I got it in about 2007 from Jungle Music as a 5 gallon...

Hello My friend Patrick,You can't find anything here, you have to grow everything from seed, sooner or later I'll buy the seeds of this species

[Tyrone]

On 8/29/2025 at 6:51 PM, happypalms said:

I love the passion growers have for this palm, it’s totally unheard of in my area. It seems cold climate growers seem to go to great lengths to get such palms.

I’ve got a few growing here. But yes, you are right these are very rare in cultivation in Australia. I don’t know anyone else growing them in WA. 

[happypalms]

4 minutes ago, Tyrone said:

I’ve got a few growing here. But yes, you are right these are very rare in cultivation in Australia. I don’t know anyone else growing them in WA. 

I had never heard of them, let alone find one at all.

[Jonathan Haycock]

9 hours ago, happypalms said:

I had never heard of them, let alone find one at all.

RPS has seed available now Richard. Also Colin might be able to sort you out as I know he has access to a mature one. Brisbane City BG has a huge one that’s flowered for many years, but it seldom produces fruit, and the seed is not often (if at all) viable for some reason.

They are notoriously tricky to germinate, but I had reasonable success by letting them dry for a few weeks (to shrink the seed away from the endocarp), then carefully scoring (junior hacksaw along the planes of weakness) and cracking the endocarp with a vice. 

I wouldn’t grow them in all day full sun either, or let them dry out. One of mine bolted (flowered) and died as a juvenile because it was left in full sun. Since I’ve placed them in morning sun/afternoon shade under regular irrigation they look fantastic and are not that slow, contrary to popular belief.

[WaianaeCrider]

On 5/30/2024 at 10:21 AM, WaianaeCrider said:

CRB now munching away.  Sprayed infection.  Hope it saves them.

Using Talstar Professional spray (Bifenthrin) in the infected areas I have been able to save these beauties.  Doing pro=active spraying every few months to be sure.

[Tyrone]

3 hours ago, Jonathan Haycock said:

RPS has seed available now Richard. Also Colin might be able to sort you out as I know he has access to a mature one. Brisbane City BG has a huge one that’s flowered for many years, but it seldom produces fruit, and the seed is not often (if at all) viable for some reason.

They are notoriously tricky to germinate, but I had reasonable success by letting them dry for a few weeks (to shrink the seed away from the endocarp), then carefully scoring (junior hacksaw along the planes of weakness) and cracking the endocarp with a vice. 

I wouldn’t grow them in all day full sun either, or let them dry out. One of mine bolted (flowered) and died as a juvenile because it was left in full sun. Since I’ve placed them in morning sun/afternoon shade under regular irrigation they look fantastic and are not that slow, contrary to popular belief.

Interesting that you mention not putting them in full sun. All my full sun ones bolted to flowering and will probably die now, but one I have in shade of some bananas and a triple I planted in the shade of Strelitzia nicolai (as they do in habitat) are doing very well with indifferent care. So you may have highlighted something I didn’t notice. I put my premature flowering ones down to too damp soil until one in a dry area did it. The one with the bananas doing well is in moist soil too. Very interesting. 

[Tyrone]

My good ones

[bruce Steele]

The Sullivan tree is planted fairly close to a two story apartment building with southern exposure blocked. As a young tree it was in shade a good part of the day but now it has grown and with some height it is  more into the sun. Thanks for the shade tip I  guess I should pull the potted ones back a bit into less southern exposure.