Brahea edulis-Cold Hardy?

[SM458]

Is Brahea edulis cold hardy? My area is 8A. My area grows Washingtonia palms, Canary Palm, Date Palm, Mediterranean Fan Palm just fine. I’ve seen only one armata grown here. I think people here are not attracted to the desert look of Amarta though. 

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/7/2024 at 8:53 PM, SM458 said:

Is Brahea edulis cold hardy? My area is 8A. My area grows Washingtonia palms, Canary Palm, Date Palm, Mediterranean Fan Palm just fine. I’ve seen only one armata grown here. I think people here are not attracted to the desert look of Amarta though. 

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From the looks of it,  you might be just inside 9A ..at least according to the latest update of the plant zone map, and if located on the west or south side of Palmdale..  so, you could definitely try one. Planted all over S. Cal so  a handful of seed  to try should be easy to come by.  Hardiness is reported to be around 20F so unless you're in a really cold pocket, imagine you should  be within the " possible " zone. 



Bigger test is how it handles desert heat.  Here at least, only know of one, and it's located in a botanical garden's collection ( Boyce Thompson ) about 45 min east of where i'm located.  A little cooler up there, and get more rain during the summer ( ..and occasionally dusted w/ snow some winters ) so, it has some apparent hardiness.

As for Brahea armata, because they tend to be quite slow when getting started, that may be the reason you may not be seeing them planted much where you're located, rather than an aversion to " desert " palms..  A thought at least..  Reasonably common here although some specimens do look better than others.

Sabal uresana is another great ...and very hardy / drought tolerant palm  that tends to be a bit faster than B. armata.  Unfortunately, is currently a hard to find option.

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/7/2024 at 10:03 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

From the looks of it,  you might be just inside 9A ..at least according to the latest update of the plant zone map, and if located on the west or south side of Palmdale..  so, you could definitely try one. Planted all over S. Cal so  a handful of seed  to try should be easy to come by.  Hardiness is reported to be around 20F so unless you're in a really cold pocket, imagine you should  be within the " possible " zone. 



Bigger test is how it handles desert heat.  Here at least, only know of one, and it's located in a botanical garden's collection ( Boyce Thompson ) about 45 min east of where i'm located.  A little cooler up there, and get more rain during the summer ( ..and occasionally dusted w/ snow some winters ) so, it has some apparent hardiness.

As for Brahea armata, because they tend to be quite slow when getting started, that may be the reason you may not be seeing them planted much where you're located, rather than an aversion to " desert " palms..  A thought at least..  Reasonably common here although some specimens do look better than others.

Sabal uresana is another great ...and very hardy / drought tolerant palm  that tends to be a bit faster than B. armata.  Unfortunately, is currently a hard to find option.

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You might look through threads / posts created by   @Jubaea_James760 who lives down the road from you in the Hesperia area for some ideas on some of the more unique palm options he's tried / is succeeding with which you could pursue, if interested,  inc. B. edulis.

[Dwarf Fan]

Brahea edulis can even go a bit below 20F by notes say 18F.

[SM458]

I’m actually in Rosamond, CA 😅

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/8/2024 at 12:12 AM, SM458 said:

I’m actually in Rosamond, CA 😅

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   Might fix the location in your profile since it says Palmdale.

[Harry’s Palms]

I would give it a try . Mine is at the bottom of my hill and quite large . I don’t get that cold here , never seen frost near my palm. Winter low of 38f and summer high upper eighties , nineties occasionally. In the fall we get high pressure heat waves that can get 100f+. The Armata is very slow growing and may handle heat better due to the “desert” coloring, but not sure. My Armata is over 20 years old and just getting started! The Edulis is behind the Butia and the Armata is to the right , all are about the same age! Harry

[Chester B]

  On 4/7/2024 at 10:03 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

As for Brahea armata, because they tend to be quite slow when getting started, that may be the reason you may not be seeing them planted much where you're located, rather than an aversion to " desert " palms..  A thought at least..  Reasonably common here although some specimens do look better than others.

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Very slow growing and probably not worth growing for nurseries when there are much faster palms to get to size to sell.

  On 4/7/2024 at 8:53 PM, SM458 said:

I think people here are not attracted to the desert look of Amarta though. 

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I'll have to disagree on this one.  I think if you took a poll the vast majority of people would prefer an armata over and edulis.  There aren't very many blue/silver palms and they are always a focal point in a garden.  99% of people wouldn't be able to tell B edulis from a Washingtonia or any other green fan palm, which there are a ton of. 

Try and find an armata for sale, there are so few and they command high prices.  Most average people would rather spend $20 on a Washingtonia.   California is probably the easiest place to buy them, but the other palm growing areas they are scarce.

[jwitt]

Armata is beautiful if given time. Very cold hardy too when established.

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/8/2024 at 2:01 PM, Chester B said:

Very slow growing and probably not worth growing for nurseries when there are much faster palms to get to size to sell.

I'll have to disagree on this one.  I think if you took a poll the vast majority of people would prefer an armata over and edulis.  There aren't very many blue/silver palms and they are always a focal point in a garden.  99% of people wouldn't be able to tell B edulis from a Washingtonia or any other green fan palm, which there are a ton of. 

Try and find an armata for sale, there are so few and they command high prices.  Most average people would rather spend $20 on a Washingtonia.   California is probably the easiest place to buy them, but the other palm growing areas they are scarce.

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May be too slow for nurseries to spend time growing in some areas, but reasonably common in nurseries here. Price - wise? have seen exceptionally grown 15Gals for under 250$.. Have seen the same sized specimens in San Diego for under $150.  If someone can spend 1-2K for the latest Phone,  $250 for a pair of pants ...or shoes,  don't want to hear them grumble about the price of a palm  ..or any other plant..



Honestly think it would be split down the middle...  Both are spectacular. Bigger challenge is how visible each is to the public, over a wide area..  Both are grown all over S. Cal. B. edulis more so in N. Cal.

Here, B. edulis is a toss up ..as far as how well / not so well it can handle the heat.  If it can handle it, if sited right, i'm pretty sure it would sell well here. MUCH nicer " green " palm option than Mex Fans.

All that said,  agree 100%,  Blue / Silver colored palm options are more uncommon ..and very unique / attention getting in a Sea of green options.



Can apply the same thought to ....a number of things, depending on where someone is located. 

 My answer to " why can't i find it here, but is easy / easier  to find there " statement is   ..if you really want something, you'll hit the road ...if you have to... to acquire it. 

Did this a few times to get plants i wanted to trial, but couldn't find ..or order through a local nursery  when living back in San Jose. Love road trips anyway so a 10 hour trip to Phoenix / Tucson 2x a year,  ..or several day trips ( if on a tight schedule ) to and from S. Cal is a breeze. 

Once some things get cleared up, pursuing a passport is top priority so i can travel south of the border..

All in all, if someone is willing to put in the work, almost any plant can be tracked down, even if you have to start from seed,  and be patient while it grows. 
 

[Chester B]

  On 4/8/2024 at 5:24 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

seen exceptionally grown 15Gals for under 250$.

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Send some my way.  I've had to resort to starting from seed.

And for the record I do have a small edulis, and a moorei.  I like them, but the blue Braheas are so much better.

Edited April 8, 2024 by Chester B

[SM458]

  On 4/8/2024 at 2:01 PM, Chester B said:

Very slow growing and probably not worth growing for nurseries when there are much faster palms to get to size to sell.

I'll have to disagree on this one.  I think if you took a poll the vast majority of people would prefer an armata over and edulis.  There aren't very many blue/silver palms and they are always a focal point in a garden.  99% of people wouldn't be able to tell B edulis from a Washingtonia or any other green fan palm, which there are a ton of. 

Try and find an armata for sale, there are so few and they command high prices.  Most average people would rather spend $20 on a Washingtonia.   California is probably the easiest place to buy them, but the other palm growing areas they are scarce.

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I’m just making assumptions on local people. I met people local to me ask me all the times of why am I so fascinated with palm trees.  Personally I find armata beautiful with its blue green sheen of colors. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I do get more compliments on the Armata than the Edulis even though they are both very healthy and the Edulis is much taller. Harry

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/8/2024 at 7:27 PM, SM458 said:

I’m just making assumptions on local people. I met people local to me ask me all the times of why am I so fascinated with palm trees.  Personally I find armata beautiful with its blue green sheen of colors. 

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Of all the blue toned, fan type palm options out there, B. armata is #2 for me. 

This is a specimen of one of the bluest i've seen -both here in AZ, and where i've seen specimens in CA to date..  Sticks out like a bright neon thumb in the garden it is growing in.

Note too how it is grown.. In a sort of Gulch, surrounded by rocks that would take off a head if one were thrown atcha' ( ...If you could even pick them up, lol ) 

...where a majority of the water it gets is from runoff when it rains..  No pile of silly mulchy mulch surrounding it. Doubt the folks at the garden fertilize any of their palms ..the palms only getting " fertilizer " from whatever debris is blown / washed down into / through the rocks   ..and yet, it is perfect. 

Exactly how i'd grow mine ...or pretty much any arid adapted palm. Natural, not babied.

Brahea armata " Screamin Blue "  ***My own nic-name for this particular specimen***    Tohono Chul Park, Casas Adobes side of town, Tucson.  10 / 08 / 2K22.

[SM458]

Can other Brahea sp. can thrive in my area? 

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/11/2024 at 5:28 AM, SM458 said:

Can other Brahea sp. can thrive in my area? 

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It's a little over a decade old, so more recent observations may vary but, would look over this detailed article on the Genus put together by Geoff Stein ( Palm Bob ) 

https://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/3253
 

[Harry’s Palms]

  On 4/8/2024 at 9:46 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Of all the blue toned, fan type palm options out there, B. armata is #2 for me. 

This is a specimen of one of the bluest i've seen -both here in AZ, and where i've seen specimens in CA to date..  Sticks out like a bright neon thumb in the garden it is growing in.

Note too how it is grown.. In a sort of Gulch, surrounded by rocks that would take off a head if one were thrown atcha' ( ...If you could even pick them up, lol ) 

...where a majority of the water it gets is from runoff when it rains..  No pile of silly mulchy mulch surrounding it. Doubt the folks at the garden fertilize any of their palms ..the palms only getting " fertilizer " from whatever debris is blown / washed down into / through the rocks   ..and yet, it is perfect. 

Exactly how i'd grow mine ...or pretty much any arid adapted palm. Natural, not babied.

Brahea armata " Screamin Blue "  ***My own nic-name for this particular specimen***    Tohono Chul Park, Casas Adobes side of town, Tucson.  10 / 08 / 2K22.

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I’ll bet it looks great under a full moon night! The silvery blue palms are some of my favorites and that is one fine example. Harry

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/14/2024 at 12:30 AM, Harry’s Palms said:

I’ll bet it looks great under a full moon night! The silvery blue palms are some of my favorites and that is one fine example. Harry

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Agree 100%.  Would love to see that particular specimen under moonlight, ..particularly just after one of our summer storms.. 

Where this one sits in the garden, it also catches the first rays of sunlight peeking over the Catalina Mountains at sunrise at certain times during the year as well.


Agree too that while green leaved palms are great,  silver colored palms are extra special / lend a very unique look t a landscape.

[SM458]

Who or where I can source some Brahea edulis? ☺️

[Harry’s Palms]

If you have any palm nurseries near you , they should carry them . The Edulis are faster than the Armata , so a 3 gallon size would work. We have Moon nurseries in our area and they have many landscape palms in many sizes. I have never bought from them but their inventory is impressive. Harry

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/14/2024 at 1:32 AM, SM458 said:

Who or where I can source some Brahea edulis? ☺️

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If you don't mind starting from seed ( ..fairly easy ) there should be plenty of specimens to collect from scattered around S. Cal. That or someone out there could collect some from / send to you.

Starting off w/ something bigger?, might take a little more effort to track down, but have little doubt there are at least a few backyard growers who probably have a few to sell.  Wouldn't be surprised to hear of edulis specimens turning up at -at least- some of the big box stores around S. Cal either.

 

[SM458]

  On 4/14/2024 at 3:32 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

If you don't mind starting from seed ( ..fairly easy ) there should be plenty of specimens to collect from scattered around S. Cal. That or someone out there could collect some from / send to you.

Starting off w/ something bigger?, might take a little more effort to track down, but have little doubt there are at least a few backyard growers who probably have a few to sell.  Wouldn't be surprised to hear of edulis specimens turning up at -at least- some of the big box stores around S. Cal either.

 

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I would have to drive down to LA. Most local nursery are big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. There are few local small business nurseries. They all carry the same palms. Washingtonias, Date Palms, Pygmy Palms, Canary Island Palm, Mediterranean Fan Palm, Pindo Palm, Windmill Palm and Majesty Palms. 

[Silas_Sancona]

  On 4/14/2024 at 7:29 PM, SM458 said:

I would have to drive down to LA. Most local nursery are big box stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. There are few local small business nurseries. They all carry the same palms. Washingtonias, Date Palms, Pygmy Palms, Canary Island Palm, Mediterranean Fan Palm, Pindo Palm, Windmill Palm and Majesty Palms. 

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Interesting to hear your local nurseries are selling Pygmys..  You see any in yards there?

Sometimes, half the fun in finding locally hard / harder to acquire plants is a road trip to obtain them.. Santa Barbara and  L.A. were a day trip from San Jose.. Trips here and down to Tucson, when i'd lived in San Jose were a quick, weekend getaway.

Many great memories ..aside from acquiring the plants sought.

[SM458]

  On 4/14/2024 at 9:37 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Interesting to hear your local nurseries are selling Pygmys..  You see any in yards there?

Sometimes, half the fun in finding locally hard / harder to acquire plants is a road trip to obtain them.. Santa Barbara and  L.A. were a day trip from San Jose.. Trips here and down to Tucson, when i'd lived in San Jose were a quick, weekend getaway.

Many great memories ..aside from acquiring the plants sought.

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I don’t think Pygmy date Palm do good here. Especially in my town. I planted one in the front yard year ago. But the cold winter killed it! 
They also sell Queen Palms. But that too cold for the entire Antelope Valley region. They seem to do better in stronger hold Mediterranean climate.  My climate is too hot and dry and too cold of the spectrum. 

[Jubaea_James760]

Brahea edulis should do okay for your area.  Also, you could try Brahea dulcis & decumbens if you can get your hands on them. They do really well here.  I have an aculeata, armata,  decumbens, dulcis (blue), edulis, moorei , & super silver planted in my yard unprotected. Aculeata does the worse. 

I would think Rosamond was closer to 8b? Your not very far from Lancaster. I know Mojave is 8a. 

 

[SM458]

  On 4/26/2024 at 10:13 PM, Jubaea_James760 said:

Brahea edulis should do okay for your area.  Also, you could try Brahea dulcis & decumbens if you can get your hands on them. They do really well here.  I have an aculeata, armata,  decumbens, dulcis (blue), edulis, moorei , & super silver planted in my yard unprotected. Aculeata does the worse. 

I would think Rosamond was closer to 8b? Your not very far from Lancaster. I know Mojave is 8a. 

 

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Rosamond is both 12 miles from Mojave and Lancaster.

[ZPalms]

I'm thinking of mound planting armata, I'll have to grow from seed though haha

[Arecaceus]

I also think they should do fine. Their native island is bone dry and they basically live off of fog condensation. I'm pretty sure they can take a good amount of heat as well. Other species that comes to mind is Sabal uresana (blue form). It's very cold hardy and it loves heat and looks amazing!

[Chester B]

Sadly for whatever reason the all the Oregon Inn N Outs are without palms.  Not sure why they decided to do that.  So could they do it with Trachys - YES.  Are they going to - Probably not.

[SM458]

I actually found some amarta for sale in my local mom and pop garden center. Unfortunately they can’t fit in my car. And expensive for the pot size. 😅