Why didn't I plant more lemur palms?

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

If you love lemur palms leave a comment. A few years ago I decided to line my driveway with Lemurophoenix halleuxii palms. They were $45/1g at the time which was a lot back then but by today's standards that was a great deal. Now that I am beginning to see the fruits of my labor I regret not planting even more of them. What a spectacular palm. They were slow because the soil by the driveway is horrid, but they've finally found what they need and they're really speeding up. Location Lemuria, hem I mean Hawaii, Mauna Kea, same elevation as habitat in Madagascar but way colder than Madagascar. They're sailing right through our rather dry El Nino that is making the lawn look like a Dallas garden. Anyway I am just trying to gloat so please forgive me.

[Hilo Jason]

Looks great!  I have 2 next to my driveway here in Hilo that have gotten big. I was able to get 2 more and grow them up in pots for the Pepeekeo garden but I’m a bit nervous that they will not like the full sun and wind there. They seem a bit sensitive to full sun when young. 

[Tracy]

5 hours ago, Hilo Jason said:

Looks great!  I have 2 next to my driveway here in Hilo that have gotten big. I was able to get 2 more and grow them up in pots for the Pepeekeo garden but I’m a bit nervous that they will not like the full sun and wind there. They seem a bit sensitive to full sun when young. 

Jason, use one of your old California planting tricks and plant something disposable adjacent to them that you can later rip out after the Lemurophoenix halleuxii get established.  I wish they would grow here.  I tried almost a decade ago but it was toasted before the first cool wet winter was even over.

[Jim in Los Altos]

4 hours ago, Tracy said:

Jason, use one of your old California planting tricks and plant something disposable adjacent to them that you can later rip out after the Lemurophoenix halleuxii get established.  I wish they would grow here.  I tried almost a decade ago but it was toasted before the first cool wet winter was even over.

Mine lasted three years and I was really hopeful since it was growing fast in the ground, then it abruptly crinkled up one summer day for no apparent reason. 

[flplantguy]

They are marginally succeeding at leu gardens so far, so maybe a Florida holy Grail plant for here. I would love nothing more than to see that crown shaft and new leaf every day.

[mike in kurtistown]

I planted my three in separate full sun positions here in cloudy, rainy east Hawaii Island. No evidence of too much sun exposure.

[Hilo Jason]

7 hours ago, mike in kurtistown said:

I planted my three in separate full sun positions here in cloudy, rainy east Hawaii Island. No evidence of too much sun exposure.

That’s encouraging to hear although your elevation probably helps. They will be planted at some point this year so it will be interesting to see how they do. 

[KrisKupsch]

...because rats ate my 3 and living in Australia the seed arrives either no good or you just cant buy one, thats why i havent planted more !

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

On 2/8/2024 at 10:15 PM, Hilo Jason said:

Looks great!  I have 2 next to my driveway here in Hilo that have gotten big. I was able to get 2 more and grow them up in pots for the Pepeekeo garden but I’m a bit nervous that they will not like the full sun and wind there. They seem a bit sensitive to full sun when young. 

I just put up with the burned leaves, they're growing out of it. One way is surround the seedlings with crotalaria, that worked well for me, free fertilizer.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

On 2/9/2024 at 8:23 AM, Jim in Los Altos said:

Mine lasted three years and I was really hopeful since it was growing fast in the ground, then it abruptly crinkled up one summer day for no apparent reason. 

It was surely lack of water. They are thirsty, Your garden is really densely planted so there's lots of competition for water.

[Jim in Los Altos]

4 hours ago, Mauna Kea Cloudforest said:

It was surely lack of water. They are thirsty, Your garden is really densely planted so there's lots of competition for water.

No, not really. If there was one palm in my yard that NEVER was neglected, it was my Lemur. Soil was ALWAYS moist. Actually, none of my garden is ever allowed to dry out. I have only a few palms out of the 300+ in the garden that are considered drought tolerant so everything is on regular irrigation and I extra hand water lot of the garden during hotter weather. My loam soils drain well but also retain water well due to clay beneath. .