Texas Palms

[NBTX11]

I went and looked at the Mather St Robusta in New Braunfels. They look very healthy and are 2021 survivors. I remember seeing those years ago. 

[PA-TX2024]

1 hour ago, NBTX11 said:

I went and looked at the Mather St Robusta in New Braunfels. They look very healthy and are 2021 survivors. I remember seeing those years ago. 

Are you talking about these? If so, then I would love for these trees to make seeds some time. Two of them appear to be currently making some or made some months ago. Last time I checked, there were no seeds on the ground., volunteers at least. Also there's healthy Phoenix palms here too (CIDP I think).

[NBTX11]

Yes, those. It would be a good idea to get a bunch of seeds off these in the fall when they drop seeds to the ground. May be a good source for hardy Robusta around here. They definitely all survived the 2021 freeze which was the worst in 30-40 years around here. I might have to scoop up some of the seedlings   Also, yes, those are CIDP. CIDP are hardy here, although defoliate in the coldest winters. 
 

Around November, go scoop up some seeds from these trees off the ground. Some may have fallen by then. 

[Robert Cade Ross]

Recovery is coming along nicely in Alvin  #19° 

[PA-TX2024]

1 hour ago, Cade said:

Recovery is coming along nicely in Alvin  #19° 

Seeing tall Robustas feel so rare to find nowadays outside of the Corpus Christi area and RGV.

[NBTX11]

45 minutes ago, PA-TX2024 said:

Seeing tall Robustas feel so rare to find nowadays outside of the Corpus Christi area and RGV.

There are plenty in central San Antonio and scattered around SA. I know of some serious skydusters still left in SA. I should get a few photos sometime. 

[PA-TX2024]

22 minutes ago, NBTX11 said:

There are plenty in central San Antonio and scattered around SA. I know of some serious skydusters still left in SA. I should get a few photos sometime. 

What was the lowest temperature after 2021 had those Robustas on Mather St endured? They were without a doubt unprotected.

[NBTX11]

1 hour ago, PA-TX2024 said:

What was the lowest temperature after 2021 had those Robustas on Mather St endured? They were without a doubt unprotected.

Around 9F. The lowest seen since the 1980’s

Palms like these and bigger were everywhere prior to the freeze. 

[PA-TX2024]

1 hour ago, NBTX11 said:

Around 9F. The lowest seen since the 1980’s

Palms like these and bigger were everywhere prior to the freeze. 

I mean after the freeze. December 2022 to our recent winter. I do recall 9F being the lowest in 2021.

[ahosey01]

Anybody in this thread ever been to Palm Buddha in San Antonio?

[Ben G.]

10 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Anybody in this thread ever been to Palm Buddha in San Antonio?

I went there recently for a look around.  They have a lot of neat stuff. If you look back in this thread, you will find my posts and pics on May 10th.

[ahosey01]

1 hour ago, Ben G. said:

I went there recently for a look around.  They have a lot of neat stuff. If you look back in this thread, you will find my posts and pics on May 10th.

Oh... maybe if I just opened my ****** eyes. lol 😆

[Ben G.]

1 hour ago, ahosey01 said:

Oh... maybe if I just opened my ****** eyes. lol 😆

No problem. I didn't inquire much about prices, and nothing was marked with a price. The only thing I asked them specifically about was Sabal mexicana. They told me mexicanas are $250 per trunk foot.

[Robert Cade Ross]

On 5/21/2024 at 2:30 PM, PA-TX2024 said:

Seeing tall Robustas feel so rare to find nowadays outside of the Corpus Christi area and RGV.

There’s a monster tall one in Kemah I’ll have to get a picture today easily 85’ 

[Meangreen94z]

Pearland Memorial Day weekend. Looking good after 19°F in January.Florida ebay claimed Butia x Jubaea and Copernicia albaalba trunkLivistona nitidaRavenea rivularisCopernicia alba #2 slower growing in more shade QueenBeccarriophoenix alfredii Hyphaene petersianaLivistona decora/decepiens on right. 4 years from a NTCHP 7 gallon PuyaMedemia argun behind Puya

[Ben G.]

6 hours ago, Meangreen94z said:

I like the look of your Butia, whether it's a hybrid or not.

[PA-TX2024]

A Robusta leaning hybrid and its fallen brother.

[MarcusH]

On 5/21/2024 at 3:41 PM, PA-TX2024 said:

What was the lowest temperature after 2021 had those Robustas on Mather St endured? They were without a doubt unprotected.

I'm not sure how cold it was in your area but here on the NE side of SA 78239 we had lows of 16F in December 2022 and 19F ( wet cold with freezing rain) in January 2024.  Your area might have experienced similar temperatures. 

[PA-TX2024]

@NBTX11 You really have some nice Washingtonias coming along here.

[Meangreen94z]

A few small additions over the past year to test out.Acrocomia totaiSabal uresanaPhoenix theophrastii ‘golkoy’Mule palmKentiopsis oliviformisArchontophoenix tuckeriArchontophoenix maximaLivistona australis

[Chester B]

What size do you all think is the minimum for planting a mule out?  Mine are all strap leaf but growing quickly, but I was thinking starting once they are producing pinnate fronds.  Mine are a little behind what @Meangreen94z has posted.

[Meangreen94z]

13 minutes ago, Chester B said:

What size do you all think is the minimum for planting a mule out?  Mine are all strap leaf but growing quickly, but I was thinking starting once they are producing pinnate fronds.  Mine are a little behind what @Meangreen94z has posted.

Pinnate is probably the safe bet. This one is planted in a walkway between two homes. It gets some shade and good protection during the winter.

[thyerr01]

@Meangreen94z Where did you get your Acrocomia seeds? The ones I collected last year were all duds. This is a species I really want to try in Houston.

The garden is looking great. 

[Meangreen94z]

9 minutes ago, thyerr01 said:

@Meangreen94z Where did you get your Acrocomia seeds? The ones I collected last year were all duds. This is a species I really want to try in Houston.

The garden is looking great. 

Thanks.

The rule with Acrocomia is never give up. I have heard of them taking 7 years to germinate. I tried the baggie method on a heat mat with no success for 6 months. So I poured all the seeds in a 5 gallon container with soil. The key to triggering I found is variation . I would soak the soil, then let it dry out,  before soaking again. I had them in the garage during the winter and I would move them next to the heater for 3-4 days and then away in a cool area for 3-4 days, then back. One by one they germinated. 

[thyerr01]

Upon cracking the seed shell there was nothing by dust in mine. I just need to track down some viable seed for next time.

[Chester B]

A few native minors in Sheldon Lake State Park. 

[NBTX11]

On 5/26/2024 at 10:51 PM, PA-TX2024 said:

@NBTX11 You really have some nice Washingtonias coming along here.

Yes. There were a lot more, but people keep pulling them up!

[PA-TX2024]

17 hours ago, NBTX11 said:

Yes. There were a lot more, but people keep pulling them up!

Sadly. Though I am surprised your Washingtonias at the HEB right by I-35 are still there. I've even seen garden workers put new mulch at the garden area recently and they even put the mulch around the Washingtonias too. As if they welcome those there.

[MarcusH]

Nice Pindos at the Tower of the Americas 

[Ben G.]

On the one month mark from when I moved into our new home here in Texas, I planted my first palm. Though this little Washingtonia may be the first, it will certainly not be the last.

 

[Graydon]

On 5/21/2024 at 9:41 PM, ahosey01 said:

Anybody in this thread ever been to Palm Buddha in San Antonio?

Make sure you call before you go.   Google says it is open on Saturday, but it was not. 

[Ben G.]

I just wanted to post a planting of San Antonio washingtonia that has fared well over the years. I first saw these back in 2014, and I only saw one dead trunk among the bunch.

 

[MarcusH]

On 6/5/2024 at 12:42 PM, Ben G. said:

I just wanted to post a planting of San Antonio washingtonia that has fared well over the years. I first saw these back in 2014, and I only saw one dead trunk among the bunch.

 

Nice group of Washies.  Where are those Washies located ? 

 

 

[NBTX11]

Those are hybrids so it’s not surprising all survived. 

[Ben G.]

18 minutes ago, MarcusH said:

Nice group of Washies.  Where are those Washies located ? 

 

 

They are planted in a courtyard at the Fisher House just west of Brooke Army Medical Center. Here is a shot from a distance and a screenshot from Google maps:

 

 

 

 

[NBTX11]

Nice tall Washingtonia Hybrid in New Braunfels. I’ve always liked this palm. 

[PA-TX2024]

On 6/8/2024 at 6:01 PM, NBTX11 said:

Nice tall Washingtonia Hybrid in New Braunfels. I’ve always liked this palm. 

Looks like it's nearly entirely Robusta.

[NBTX11]

5 hours ago, PA-TX2024 said:

Looks like it's nearly entirely Robusta.

It leans Robusta for sure but the trunk is not quite as thin as a pure Robusta. 

[Ben G.]

I have noticed a handful of of local businesses using Sabal minor in their commercial landscaping. I like what they have done here:

 

[PA-TX2024]

On 6/8/2024 at 6:01 PM, NBTX11 said:

Nice tall Washingtonia Hybrid in New Braunfels. I’ve always liked this palm. 

I would be content with this Robustifera's offspring being all over SA, New Braunfels, San Marcos, Austin if we are officially done with pure Robustas. This one has hardy enough genes to survive occasional single digits and low teens apparently. Plus they seem to grow fast and tall like a normal Robusta too.