Needle Palm Full Sun?

[ahosey01]

Can Rhapidophyllum be grown in full sun?

I know nothing about this species.

[Allen]

The biggest ones here are grown in full sun.  I recommend full sun North of Atlanta.  You might be a candidate for afternoon shade though in TX.   In the wild it is more of a understory shade palm in the deep south.  But if watered well will do better with more sun.  

https://youtu.be/bBQMuu1KQ8s?t=436

Needle Palm Info

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-6uiiSD1-s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1c5D6K4dClo

[ahosey01]

2 minutes ago, Allen said:

The biggest ones here are grown in full sun.  You might be a candidate for afternoon shade.

https://youtu.be/bBQMuu1KQ8s?t=436

 

 

Hmm... maybe I will try.

I have a spot with thick soil that floods where I could use a short, clustering palm.  I like growing the north American native stuff when I have the chance.

[KPoff]

1 hour ago, ahosey01 said:

Hmm... maybe I will try.

I have a spot with thick soil that floods where I could use a short, clustering palm.  I like growing the north American native stuff when I have the chance.

I have 2 that I planted in full sun in west Texas. They get 8 hours per day or so. I can tell from their appearance that they are adjusting to those conditions but they are ok so far. They get watered almost daily.

[DTS]

Mine didn't mind a full week of full sun while in the mid 90's

[Chester B]

Mine are in full sun.  One died from a fungal infection but the other 4 are doing well.  When I mean full sun I mean 12+ hours/day Texas sun.  I'd prefer to grow them in shade as I think they look better, but no choice.

[ahosey01]

15 minutes ago, Chester B said:

Mine are in full sun.  One died from a fungal infection but the other 4 are doing well.  When I mean full sun I mean 12+ hours/day Texas sun.  I'd prefer to grow them in shade as I think they look better, but no choice.

Where'd you get yours?

[Chester B]

4 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

Where'd you get yours?

Mail order natives out of Florida. 

[PalmatierMeg]

This species failed my 3 strikes rule. Here in SWFL I don't recommend planting one in full sun - too brutal. This is almost an understory palm. I believe needles require colder winters than they get here. They are native to NFL but struggle the further south they are planted.

[ahosey01]

3 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

This species failed my 3 strikes rule. Here in SWFL I don't recommend planting one in full sun - too brutal. This is almost an understory palm. I believe needles require colder winters than they get here. They are native to NFL but struggle the further south they are planted.

Could be a heat thing.  Could be a soil thing.  Could be a heat-and-soil thing.  I have never been to Cape Coral but I suspect you and I could not possibly have more different soil.  I assume yours is very sandy - mine is a heavy, mucky, wet black clay that constantly smells like a bog when you dig it and is so pliable and form-holding you could make terra cotta out of it.

Not that that means it'll work here in sun - just that I could envision a palm that could take sun in the soil at my house struggling in the sun in the soil at yours, and vice-versa.

[Xenon]

Well there's a photo of it online growing fine at Nong Nooch (east-central Thailand, zone 13) so it seems to handle some tropical climates 

[SeanK]

7 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Can Rhapidophyllum be grown in full sun?

I know nothing about this species.

I have four large ones. None is in 8 hours of sun. One is next to the north wall of the house. The others get about 5 hours of sun prior to 3PM.

[SailorBold]

I have 2..  had 4... 2 died due to the sun.. one struggles..and looks crappy.. the best one is in shade and is beautiful..

They were all on drippers.. and it was a slow decline..

[Jonathan Haycock]

I seem to remember this species can look a bit anemic in full sun. The best examples (dark green foliage) I've seen are in partial shade, protected from afternoon sun. 

[Austinpalm]

I planted a Rhapidophyllum on the north side of a live oak in Austin in 2005.  Was doing great up until I sold the house in 2020.  I was told by the new owner that it survived the Vortex without issue.  When I moved out, the tallest frond was over my head.  That was on black clay overlaying limestone.  It was watered about once a week in the summer and little during the winter while I lived there.  They are great palms. I planted one here on the island in late 2022.  Have not gone to check on it in a while but I seem to recall it did not look too happy the last time I saw it.  Am guessing it would prefer clay and detests the salt we have.  I planted it in shade as well.

[Hillizard]

Needle Palm here in Sacramento definitely looks best growing with only morning sun (eastern exposure for a few hours).  Any part of the fronds that are in direct noon/afternoon sun get scalded. Right now it's in full bloom. 🙂 In the foreground are various potted terrestrial, cold-hardy orchids. 

[Dwarf Fan]

I had two, one died while I was still in a pot due to being in too much harsh direct sun. The remaining one seems to be very happy now in ground with partial sun. 

They grow very slowly but the new leaves are definitely adjusting to the Texas sun.

I got mine from Wekiva.

[Dwarf Fan]

Edit: It was actually Brighter Blooms NOT Wekiva.

[ryjohn]

They sulk for a few years here in full sun in droughty hot Northeast Louisiana, but eventually take off and look well even in poor soil.  They do look best with afternoon shade.