montreux visit 20./21.12. 2024 - phönix canariensis and washingtonia filifera and other exotics in usda zone 8b happy christmas and new year 2025

[Mazat]

Hello everyone

we were this friday and saturday in montreux and visited the Christmas market and of course😃 the exotic plants that can be found in this wonderful place.

we found a phoenix canariensis in good condition, as well as a washingtonia robusta. we asked a gardener of the city if the phoenix is protected. he said no, at least not last winter and this winter as he reported. with the washintonia (with leaf damage) he was no longer quite sure it was the filifera.

what do you think?

we also photographed other exotic species. the weather was partly sunny with a cold wind and around 5° celsius.
once again, the whole atmosphere was breathtaking.

best wishes and happy christmas and holidays to all and then a happy new year 2025

tom

 

[Merlyn]

@Mazat great photos, thanks for sharing!  I'm not sure which one you mean to be the Phoenix Canariensis, I didn't see one in the pictures?  The first two photos are missing the giant thorns that Canariensis has near the base of the fronds.  My first guess was a Parajubaea, but it might also be a Mule, aka Butia x Syagrus.  

[Mazat]

14 minutes ago, Merlyn said:

@Mazat great photos, thanks for sharing!  I'm not sure which one you mean to be the Phoenix Canariensis, I didn't see one in the pictures?  The first two photos are missing the giant thorns that Canariensis has near the base of the fronds.  My first guess was a Parajubaea, but it might also be a Mule, aka Butia x Syagrus.  

Merlyn, you're right. i got something mixed up. the gardener told me that they had tried phoenix canariensis a few years ago, but 2 died due to frost damage, they were younger specimens. a third phoenix was still alive, but he didn't know where it was. do you think the washingtonia is the filifera variety?

[Merlyn]

1 hour ago, Mazat said:

Merlyn, you're right. i got something mixed up. the gardener told me that they had tried phoenix canariensis a few years ago, but 2 died due to frost damage, they were younger specimens. a third phoenix was still alive, but he didn't know where it was. do you think the washingtonia is the filifera variety?

I'm not sure on the Washingtonia, I have only seen Robusta around here in Florida.  Filifera don't survive our oppressive humidity.