What are the most exotic, solid 9b palms?

[BayAndroid]

1 hour ago, Patrick said:

What are your needs currently? Do you need upper stuff? Lower stuff? Middle stuff? Where are you at with your garden? And how's your wind? Like, im same zone as you but Kentias are out because of my wind. Of course... I have one Im trying.... Beccario died for me, wasn't warm enough in its location. But if you wanted lower stuff you should look for Linospadix monostachya and some others. That's hecka short though so,maybe you're not there yet...

I think I need some canopy to at least attempt some protection for some of my more tender specimens. I ended up purchasing. I am struggling a bit to decide how to manage my space, because I have a Beccariophoenix Alfredii planted on one side of the front planter and a Decipiens on the other. These will some day take up a ton of space. 

Would a standard queen palm be the best choice for creating a canopy? 

Some of my small tender palms, all still in pots include: Chrysalidocarpus Ambositrae and Baronii. Chambeyronia Macrocarpa & Hookeri, Archontophoenix Purpurea and Rhopalostylis sapida 'Chatham Island'. These palms I concluded would have worked better, before I realized the reported temperatures on the weather report for my city didn't represent my personal microclimate. Now I'm basically shifting gears, trying to get some stuff that is more in line with my realistic temperatures. 

Ideally I could establish some protection and then put these tender palms in after that is established (probably the only chance for success). If canopy would not be protective enough, I'd probably plant these specimens at the office property I manage (6 - 10 degree improvement). 

[DoomsDave]

On 10/29/2023 at 11:16 PM, BayAndroid said:

Wow those spines are insane! 

They bring you right hell  back from insanity Lordy miss Clordy

[DoomsDave]

Beccariophoenix alfredii!

If you have the room.

[BayAndroid]

10 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

Beccariophoenix alfredii!

If you have the room.

Yep, I have one and if it survives it's first winter, I'll be pretty excited. I'm hoping I left enough room for it... 

Edited November 3, 2023 by BayAndroid
Photos added

[DoomsDave]

17 minutes ago, BayAndroid said:

Yep, I have one and if it survives it's first winter, I'll be pretty excited. I'm hoping I left enough room for it... 

Just barely!

Well worthy of the space. Come visit and I’ll show you monsters! Beautiful monsters!

PS is your house an “Eichler”?

[JohnAndSancho]

Queens grow stupid fast. Mine was in a pot on my apartment patio and it never turned into canopy, but in 2 years in Texas heat with regular (..."regular," it wasn't entirely enough) watering it went from an 18" seedling to an 8 foot tall monster that got repotted twice in the same summer, to me probably snapping it in half when I had to bring it inside during a snowstorm. There's no way I could have kept it another year in that environment. 

[BayAndroid]

1 hour ago, DoomsDave said:

Just barely!

Well worthy of the space. Come visit and I’ll show you monsters! Beautiful monsters!

PS is your house an “Eichler”?

I would have totally been down for an Eichler, because they seem like a good protected location for cool plants, but no, it's not. 

[FlaPalmLover]

Exotic is a matter of personal taste in my opinion but I think phoenix sylvestris is a very beautiful palm. It survives well even in 9a, though. Also, I think king palms are 9b safe in many places and they look pretty nice when they get big.

Edited November 3, 2023 by FlaPalmLover

[BayAndroid]

Just now, FlaPalmLover said:

Exotic is a matter of personal taste in my opinion but I think phoenix sylvestris is a very beautiful palm. It survives well even in 9a, though. Also, I think king palms were 9b safe in many places and they look pretty nice when they get big.

I have some king palms, they do fairly well, but do take damage and can look rather ugly by the end of winter. 

 

By the way, this is my Chrysalidocarpus Decipiens. I put the sun shade to keep it from burning. 

[Patrick]

12 hours ago, BayAndroid said:

I think I need some canopy to at least attempt some protection for some of my more tender specimens. I ended up purchasing. I am struggling a bit to decide how to manage my space, because I have a Beccariophoenix Alfredii planted on one side of the front planter and a Decipiens on the other. These will some day take up a ton of space. 

Would a standard queen palm be the best choice for creating a canopy? 

Some of my small tender palms, all still in pots include: Chrysalidocarpus Ambositrae and Baronii. Chambeyronia Macrocarpa & Hookeri, Archontophoenix Purpurea and Rhopalostylis sapida 'Chatham Island'. These palms I concluded would have worked better, before I realized the reported temperatures on the weather report for my city didn't represent my personal microclimate. Now I'm basically shifting gears, trying to get some stuff that is more in line with my realistic temperatures. 

Ideally I could establish some protection and then put these tender palms in after that is established (probably the only chance for success). If canopy would not be protective enough, I'd probably plant these specimens at the office property I manage (6 - 10 degree improvement). 

If you want some canopy fast, look into Livistona decora. Not quite as common as a queen or washy, but very fast to establish canopy.  Not too big a crown, either. I think you could probably find some 15 gallons or larger around if you look...

 

Just a thought. And I don't think they're as bad of pigs for resources that a queen is. Mine went down into the low 20's in '07 as freshly planted 15 Gallons. They didn't miss a beat.

 

At least search out some mules instead if you do go the queen route and want pinnate...

Edited November 3, 2023 by Patrick

[awkonradi]

Jubaea x Attalea

[DAVEinMB]

22 hours ago, FlaPalmLover said:

phoenix sylvestris is a very beautiful palm. It survives well even in 9a,

8b baby

[DoomsDave]

23 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

Queens grow stupid fast. Mine was in a pot on my apartment patio and it never turned into canopy, but in 2 years in Texas heat with regular (..."regular," it wasn't entirely enough) watering it went from an 18" seedling to an 8 foot tall monster that got repotted twice in the same summer, to me probably snapping it in half when I had to bring it inside during a snowstorm. There's no way I could have kept it another year in that environment. 

WHOA!

[JohnAndSancho]

36 minutes ago, DoomsDave said:

WHOA!

Yeah, it was a beast. It loved the 100° full sun. Once it went pinnate it didn't stop growing. 

There's an Etsy seller selling 10 seedlings for $40. Mebbe I jump on that in spring. I've got enough room at this house to bring them in for a few days at a time. 

[FlaPalmLover]

23 hours ago, DAVEinMB said:

8b baby

Very nice. That's the perfect size, too. I wish the prettier palms could just max out at right about that height when planted by a residence! 

[Tom in Tucson]

Bump.

Back in '23 I asked @pogobob if the images of a huge JxQ were Gary Levine's. Does anyone know?

Are there any more recent shots?

Hi 99°, Lo 76°

[PhoenixFXG]

Why is no one talking about Copernicia Fallaensis ??? Or the other Sp.

[sonoranfans]

23 hours ago, PhoenixFXG said:

Why is no one talking about Copernicia Fallaensis ??? Or the other Sp.

these are good to 25-26F, so yes its a 9B palm.  But they want a humid subtropical  9B and take a long time to get to even 15' tall.  Mine is ~24 years old and about 25' tall in 10a florida with a 10 month grow season.  They are also one of the more expensive palms due to slow growth in a pot.  7 gallon size is about $175, 15 gallon over $300.  If your temps are not short duration or it dips below 25F, it could easily expire.  Best in a warn 9B or better.  The length of cold snaps is a big issue not accounted for in the USDA zone ratings.  They also want full sun so canopy has a negative effect on them growthwise.  I had a 15 gallon in shady area and it got bud rot.  I saved it by treating it and putting it in 8 hrs direct sun.  Slow growing palms seem to be eschewed by many growers and this one is slow till it trunks, then its a medium grower.

[Tracy]

On 11/2/2023 at 9:16 PM, FlaPalmLover said:

Exotic is a matter of personal taste in my opinion but I think phoenix sylvestris is a very beautiful palm.

I would say that "exotic" goes beyond personal taste, and implies something that is also not commonly seen in gardens where one lives.  Most palms would be exotic going by the strictest definition of the word for those who live in places where palms are not native.  That said, here in Calfornia, a palm from Australia (Archonotophoenix cunninghamiana) or South America (Phoenix romanzoffiana) would hardly be considered exotic here given their abundant planting.  

That said, the question appears to be asking what species in Bay Android's specific geographic area would be considered exotic or "novel".  My response would be to look around neighborhoods nearby for palms and cross of the species that one commonly sees.  The best answers will come from people in the Bay Area who know what is uncommon up there, yet will survive in the specific climate zone.  My guess is that the selection of the Chrysalidocarpus decipiens will be a pretty novel selection once it is established and gets some size to show off its distinctive form and trunk... patience is the key.  Excellent selection!  I don't know how it will do in the cooler climate, but Chysalidocarpus ambositrae is another beautiful normally solitairy palm here in California, which will be much faster and not quite as large that I would suggest trying.  I believe that Darold has tried these in his significantly more foggy climate in the Sunset, which I don't think they liked.

[Rubberboots]

3 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I would say that "exotic" goes beyond personal taste, and implies something that is also not commonly seen in gardens where one lives.  Most palms would be exotic going by the strictest definition of the word for those who live in places where palms are not native.  That said, here in Calfornia, a palm from Australia (Archonotophoenix cunninghamiana) or South America (Phoenix romanzoffiana) would hardly be considered exotic here given their abundant planting.  

That said, the question appears to be asking what species in Bay Android's specific geographic area would be considered exotic or "novel".  My response would be to look around neighborhoods nearby for palms and cross of the species that one commonly sees.  The best answers will come from people in the Bay Area who know what is uncommon up there, yet will survive in the specific climate zone.  My guess is that the selection of the Chrysalidocarpus decipiens will be a pretty novel selection once it is established and gets some size to show off its distinctive form and trunk... patience is the key.  Excellent selection!  I don't know how it will do in the cooler climate, but Chysalidocarpus ambositrae is another beautiful normally solitairy palm here in California, which will be much faster and not quite as large that I would suggest trying.  I believe that Darold has tried these in his significantly more foggy climate in the Sunset, which I don't think they liked.

@Tracy i need one...its hot and cold here in central california...name the other palms in the photo please.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Sabal yapa. It's much more cold hardy than mauritiiformis. My small ones have never taken any damage from the cold and there's a juvenile in my city that survived -5⁰C in 2021. Most reports of Sabal yapa being very "cold sensitive" are actually Sabal mauritiiformis.

[Tracy]

7 hours ago, Rubberboots said:

@Tracy i need one...its hot and cold here in central california...name the other palms in the photo please.

Off to the left is a clumping Arenga engleri.  The other plants are small cycads,; specifically, Encephalartos trispinosis, Encephalartos horridus, and a Steytlerville form of Encephalartos horridus. 

[Rubberboots]

@Tracyhow far are you from jungle music 🤔

[daxin]

This is the trunking Chrysalidocarpus ambositrae in Darold’s front yard as seen last Monday (6/16)

[Rivera]

15 hours ago, Tracy said:

I would say that "exotic" goes beyond personal taste, and implies something that is also not commonly seen in gardens where one lives.  Most palms would be exotic going by the strictest definition of the word for those who live in places where palms are not native.  That said, here in Calfornia, a palm from Australia (Archonotophoenix cunninghamiana) or South America (Phoenix romanzoffiana) would hardly be considered exotic here given their abundant planting.  

That said, the question appears to be asking what species in Bay Android's specific geographic area would be considered exotic or "novel".  My response would be to look around neighborhoods nearby for palms and cross of the species that one commonly sees.  The best answers will come from people in the Bay Area who know what is uncommon up there, yet will survive in the specific climate zone.  My guess is that the selection of the Chrysalidocarpus decipiens will be a pretty novel selection once it is established and gets some size to show off its distinctive form and trunk... patience is the key.  Excellent selection!  I don't know how it will do in the cooler climate, but Chysalidocarpus ambositrae is another beautiful normally solitairy palm here in California, which will be much faster and not quite as large that I would suggest trying.  I believe that Darold has tried these in his significantly more foggy climate in the Sunset, which I don't think they liked.

Such an excellent looking ambositrae, Tracy.

Darold has at least two of these. The bulk of the anecdotal evidence on PT suggests they prefer a warm sunny position.

Mine is in a sunny spot with lots of reflected heat; we'll see how it turns out. 

[SeanK]

On 6/23/2025 at 11:22 AM, PhoenixFXG said:

Why is no one talking about Copernicia Fallaensis ??? Or the other Sp.

Perhaps C.alba would do OK.

[Fusca]

3 hours ago, SeanK said:

Perhaps C.alba would do OK.

Copernicia alba and prunifera are definitely solid in 9b and for the most part are solid in 9a as far as cold hardiness.  Both species survived 14°F in Gainesville, FL.  I had an alba survive 9°F in San Antonio from 2021 with zero damage protected with lights and a sheet.

 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

59 minutes ago, Fusca said:

Copernicia alba and prunifera are definitely solid in 9b and for the most part are solid in 9a as far as cold hardiness.

I agree i’ve seen quite a few in 9b. Honestly very nice palms i’m not sure why more people haven’t planted them. Maybe because they’re expensive, that’s why I don’t have one either 😂. 

Also @idontknowhatnametuse S. yapa looks strikingly similar to Livistona decora, very nice.

[FlaPalmLover]

On 6/24/2025 at 6:14 PM, Tracy said:

I would say that "exotic" goes beyond personal taste, and implies something that is also not commonly seen in gardens where one lives.  Most palms would be exotic going by the strictest definition of the word for those who live in places where palms are not native.  That said, here in Calfornia, a palm from Australia (Archonotophoenix cunninghamiana) or South America (Phoenix romanzoffiana) would hardly be considered exotic here given their abundant planting.  

That said, the question appears to be asking what species in Bay Android's specific geographic area would be considered exotic or "novel".  My response would be to look around neighborhoods nearby for palms and cross of the species that one commonly sees.  The best answers will come from people in the Bay Area who know what is uncommon up there, yet will survive in the specific climate zone.  My guess is that the selection of the Chrysalidocarpus decipiens will be a pretty novel selection once it is established and gets some size to show off its distinctive form and trunk... patience is the key.  Excellent selection!  I don't know how it will do in the cooler climate, but Chysalidocarpus ambositrae is another beautiful normally solitairy palm here in California, which will be much faster and not quite as large that I would suggest trying.  I believe that Darold has tried these in his significantly more foggy climate in the Sunset, which I don't think they liked.

If you were going to define what an "exotic palm" is with respect to a given geographic region, sure, I wouldn't disagree. I don't know that "exotic palms" are really inherently worth planting, given how even in the picture you provided, that mostly just looks like more green foliage amongst other green foliage. Sure, it has a white crownshaft, and I guess it's probably a decent bottle palm substitute for that climate, but just having something unique to have something unique won't necessarily make someone's garden look great. To each their own. I would rather plant a silver bismarck in that garden than just add more green foliage.