Foxtails in SoCal

[quaman58]

Hey all,

Foxtails (Wodyetia) are a fairly common grow in SoCal, but generally look nothing like the ones in the tropics. The ones I’ve seen in places like Hawaii are just big, fantastic looking palms reaching proportions of Roystonea. Around here they’re generally much lankier and not as lush looking. About 10 years ago, we were renting out the home that my wife grew up in. As part of some quick and dirty landscaping, I picked one of these palms up spruce the backyard up a bit. The soil, if you can call it that, was as hard as a rock and in the end, all I was able to do was to chisel out a hole, barely large enough for the 5 gallon plant. But there was drip irrigation to it, so the house was rented out for the next few years, and I forgot all about it. In between renters, I discovered that it did not merely survived, but done pretty dang well despite its tough surroundings. Here it is today, feel free to add your experiences and pictures!

 

[Harry’s Palms]

This is one that has eluded me. I had two pretty good sized ones that I planted when I moved to my new house over 25 years ago . One died within a year or so , the other did very well for about 7-8 years . Then it started pushing out smaller fronds . I tried everything to get it well and after a couple of years of trying , I cut it down. Two blocks away , a friend of mine has a huge one that is now producing viable seed. Last year I planted a few small ones that I got cheap that are doing well but still small. I have talked to fellow palm collectors and the general consensus is is that they are hit or miss. My friend that has a beauty , planted two , one died after a few years , the other looks great with very lush fronds. I see them out by the coast in Ventura and they look great but many have had the same experience as me . Harry

[Butch]

From 5 years ago... The last tree was cut down by SCE as it was getting into the power lines....

Butch