The annual pacsoa show is on this weekend and the buy of the week is this Itaya amicorum. What a gorgeous looking palm never heard of it but I have now. Hopefully it will take the cold you just never know until you try.

They are a bit like a licuala but the leaves get massive.  They survive in the Fairchild Botanic Garden, which is in the middle bit of Florida where it can get cool in winter. One of the palm nurseries in Brisbane had a batch of them about 20 years ago (when I was still in primary school) At the time I was told they are a good house plant but for some reason I never bought one. The nursery your palm came from is sort of halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, so it should take any cold your place throws at it.

Peachy

6 minutes ago, peachy said:

They are a bit like a licuala but the leaves get massive.  They survive in the Fairchild Botanic Garden, which is in the middle bit of Florida where it can get cool in winter. One of the palm nurseries in Brisbane had a batch of them about 20 years ago (when I was still in primary school) At the time I was told they are a good house plant but for some reason I never bought one. The nursery your palm came from is sort of halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, so it should take any cold your place throws at it.

Peachy

It certainly is a lot of palm, a lot of bang for my buck as they say. So if you were in primary school 20 years ago that would make you around 22 years young currently now. And Barry Humphrey would be a young possum, like the sands through the hourglass these are the days of our lives.🌴

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

It certainly is a lot of palm, a lot of bang for my buck as they say. So if you were in primary school 20 years ago that would make you around 22 years young currently now. And Barry Humphrey would be a young possum, like the sands through the hourglass these are the days of our lives.🌴

Days of my life are more like Valium through a straw.

That is an awesome palm for the price Richard. Itaya has always been one of my favourite tropical palms I wish I could grow. A friend of mine has a nice one growing down here in a heated glasshouse. I think you’re a chance in your location but maybe keep it protected until it establishes. 
 

Here’s one at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Photo taken 9 years ago. 
 

What a cool palm for that sub tropical garden . I’ve never heard of it either . By the sound of it , hardening off for a while may be key to success. Harry

2 hours ago, peachy said:

They survive in the Fairchild Botanic Garden, which is in the middle bit of Florida where it can get cool in winter.

FYI - Fairchild is in Miami, pretty much the warmest area in SouthEast FL.  It rarely approaches 40F (5C) on the worst cold fronts, though it has hit freezing I think twice in the 1980s.  For example, this year's minimum was 47F (8C) and it only dropped below 50F twice all winter.

But back to the Itaya, I know MB Palms grows them here in the Orlando area.  He usually has them for sale at the Leu Gardens plant sale, coming up next weekend.  I thought about buying one last year, but I wasn't sure if it would handle my typical upper-20s frosts here on the NW side of Orlando.  Kinzyjr's spreadsheet has only three reports on it:

• 60-80% leaf damage at 2C / 35.6F with maybe too much sun
• Dead at 28.5F / -2C with some protection
• 20% leaf damage at 29F / -2C under Bismarck canopy with a blanket dropped over it

I might try one somewhere, once I have a little bit of reliable canopy for protection.

Great score on a wonderful palm. Had a few of them and referred to the species as the 'Licuala of the new world'. Never had any issues growing them here in S. Florida and they handled any cold we had. 

Ryan

8 hours ago, Merlyn said:

FYI - Fairchild is in Miami, pretty much the warmest area in SouthEast FL.  It rarely approaches 40F (5C) on the worst cold fronts, though it has hit freezing I think twice in the 1980s.  For example, this year's minimum was 47F (8C) and it only dropped below 50F twice all winter.

But back to the Itaya, I know MB Palms grows them here in the Orlando area.  He usually has them for sale at the Leu Gardens plant sale, coming up next weekend.  I thought about buying one last year, but I wasn't sure if it would handle my typical upper-20s frosts here on the NW side of Orlando.  Kinzyjr's spreadsheet has only three reports on it:

• 60-80% leaf damage at 2C / 35.6F with maybe too much sun
• Dead at 28.5F / -2C with some protection
• 20% leaf damage at 29F / -2C under Bismarck canopy with a blanket dropped over it

I might try one somewhere, once I have a little bit of reliable canopy for protection.

I always thought it was in Coral Gables for some reason.

old dumb bum

Peachy

 

1 hour ago, peachy said:

I always thought it was in Coral Gables for some reason.

old dumb bum

Peachy

 

Coral Gables is a bit SW of Miami, but still z10b or z11a.

11 hours ago, peachy said:

Days of my life are more like Valium through a straw.

So you’re a bold and a beautiful lady I take it. Got your eye on Ridge have you. 
Richard 

11 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

That is an awesome palm for the price Richard. Itaya has always been one of my favourite tropical palms I wish I could grow. A friend of mine has a nice one growing down here in a heated glasshouse. I think you’re a chance in your location but maybe keep it protected until it establishes. 
 

Here’s one at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Photo taken 9 years ago. 
 

Yep I had to buy for that price, a lot of palm that will explode once planted in the ground. I will acclimate it for a winter or two, it was grown on the Gold Coast so I stand some chance for now. But definitely score of the week in the palm sales department. You have to get up to PACSOA show next year for what’s available nowhere else.

11 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

What a cool palm for that sub tropical garden . I’ve never heard of it either . By the sound of it , hardening off for a while may be key to success. Harry

I looked at it and thought I can’t buy it I have no room left in the car to put it (was going to leave the wife behind for extra room but thought twice about that). So I  packed the car up jam packed full already and guess who had room for the palm. Now all I have to is go pick up the wife🤣 

Richard 

10 hours ago, Merlyn said:

FYI - Fairchild is in Miami, pretty much the warmest area in SouthEast FL.  It rarely approaches 40F (5C) on the worst cold fronts, though it has hit freezing I think twice in the 1980s.  For example, this year's minimum was 47F (8C) and it only dropped below 50F twice all winter.

But back to the Itaya, I know MB Palms grows them here in the Orlando area.  He usually has them for sale at the Leu Gardens plant sale, coming up next weekend.  I thought about buying one last year, but I wasn't sure if it would handle my typical upper-20s frosts here on the NW side of Orlando.  Kinzyjr's spreadsheet has only three reports on it:

• 60-80% leaf damage at 2C / 35.6F with maybe too much sun
• Dead at 28.5F / -2C with some protection
• 20% leaf damage at 29F / -2C under Bismarck canopy with a blanket dropped over it

I might try one somewhere, once I have a little bit of reliable canopy for protection.

I can only try for such beautiful palm. Temperatures will get down to 2 degrees Celsius, so a good protected spot with lots of rocks around might see it being a winner time will tell.

10 hours ago, Palmarum said:

Great score on a wonderful palm. Had a few of them and referred to the species as the 'Licuala of the new world'. Never had any issues growing them here in S. Florida and they handled any cold we had. 

Ryan

A complete bargain I had to buy it, even if has to stay in the greenhouse. The feedback so far is in the positive direction for living but you never know when it comes to winter.

Richard 

Great palm! I’m sure you are going to grow it well. 
I can’t add anything regrading cold hardiness but I do have one that does pretty good on the coast however the leafs tend to get a bit burnt from the sea breeze and sun. Overall a great palm.

2 hours ago, SeanK said:

Coral Gables is a bit SW of Miami, but still z10b or z11a.

Oh when did they move it ?

2 hours ago, happypalms said:

So you’re a bold and a beautiful lady I take it. Got your eye on Ridge have you. 
Richard 

The new Ridge is fat, unattractive and croaks instead of speaking. You also have the wrong show 😛  I mis-quoted from Days of our Dreary Bloody Lives.

Peachy 

34 minutes ago, peachy said:

The new Ridge is fat, unattractive and croaks instead of speaking. You also have the wrong show 😛  I mis-quoted from Days of our Dreary Bloody Lives.

Peachy 

Now Brooke won’t be to happy you said he’s fat! Or is Jr more your man from Dallas. 😂

12 hours ago, Brian said:

Great palm! I’m sure you are going to grow it well. 
I can’t add anything regrading cold hardiness but I do have one that does pretty good on the coast however the leafs tend to get a bit burnt from the sea breeze and sun. Overall a great palm.

I certainly have a lot to look forward too if that’s an example of what I have, stunning palm you have there!

I have had one in the ground for 3 years starting as a small 1 gallon. I am in coastal central Florida and in zone 10b. Mine looks its’ best at the end of summer and a little beaten up by the end of winter. The coldest it has seen is 2c for maybe an hour or two.  The leaves tatter very easily. Even more so than Licuala. I recommend placing it in spot very protected from wind if you want to see those big beautiful leaves undamaged. That was quite some deal! Best of luck and looking forward to future updates.

6 hours ago, Hurricanepalms said:

I have had one in the ground for 3 years starting as a small 1 gallon. I am in coastal central Florida and in zone 10b. Mine looks its’ best at the end of summer and a little beaten up by the end of winter. The coldest it has seen is 2c for maybe an hour or two.  The leaves tatter very easily. Even more so than Licuala. I recommend placing it in spot very protected from wind if you want to see those big beautiful leaves undamaged. That was quite some deal! Best of luck and looking forward to future updates.

Thanks for the grow tips . I have  a spot in mind for it, but my garden is so packed under the canopy iam going to plant it in the middle of pathway that’s like a three way intersection, to heck with the pathway I can walk around it I say but it’s a prime spot with great thermal protection out of the wind. It’s one beautiful palm that’s for sure. My low temperatures are around 2 degrees Celsius so iam hopeful it will make it. Be shame to kill it now, after all the years it has been alive to get to the size it is in a container.

10 hours ago, happypalms said:

Thanks for the grow tips . I have  a spot in mind for it, but my garden is so packed under the canopy iam going to plant it in the middle of pathway that’s like a three way intersection, to heck with the pathway I can walk around it I say but it’s a prime spot with great thermal protection out of the wind. It’s one beautiful palm that’s for sure. My low temperatures are around 2 degrees Celsius so iam hopeful it will make it. Be shame to kill it now, after all the years it has been alive to get to the size it is in a container.

Do you ever freeze or thats just not really a thing in Australia?

9 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Do you ever freeze or thats just not really a thing in Australia?

I wouldn’t say we freeze in my area, but at 6 in the morning in the middle of winter at work on frosty morning you think you are, but it warms up pretty quick the odd day you might have a beanie on your head.  Zone 10b 10a but some low areas in my area get minus 2 on extreme weather conditions. 

On 3/1/2025 at 7:09 PM, happypalms said:

The annual pacsoa show is on this weekend and the buy of the week is this Itaya amicorum. What a gorgeous looking palm never heard of it but I have now. Hopefully it will take the cold you just never know until you try.

kieren has a biggish one and mine isn’t too bad but strangely damaged by wind no matter how sheltered it is, it’s the Licuala of the Amazon. A guy in NQ fruits it in his lawn.

On 3/1/2025 at 7:09 PM, happypalms said:

 

 

On 3/1/2025 at 11:14 PM, tim_brissy_13 said:

That is an awesome palm for the price Richard. Itaya has always been one of my favourite tropical palms I wish I could grow. A friend of mine has a nice one growing down here in a heated glasshouse. I think you’re a chance in your location but maybe keep it protected until it establishes. 
 

Here’s one at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore. Photo taken 9 years ago

i got lots of seed off these but poor germination. 

1 hour ago, KrisKupsch said:

i got lots of seed off these but poor germination. 

Then you need to get some of those seeds to the germinated @happypalms do you if it  tolerate deep shade?

That is a gorgeous palm, Richard, and I agree, a good price. These are not fast palms.

One time at Floribunda, Jeff said Itaya amicorum is basically Sabinaria with divided leaves. I don't know how serious he was with that particular statement, and not that I know anything about growing Sabinaria... but I loved the look and bought 3 in January 2021. They were in 1-gal pots but rather small, so I left them in the pot for a while. One had a spear pull, but continued to grow, luckily. Finally planted them October 2022 in what turns out to be seasonal shade, and they struggled getting too much direct sun in summer. They are surviving, but not putting on much size at all. I remain hopeful one day they will look like yours.

13 hours ago, Kim said:

That is a gorgeous palm, Richard, and I agree, a good price. These are not fast palms.

One time at Floribunda, Jeff said Itaya amicorum is basically Sabinaria with divided leaves. I don't know how serious he was with that particular statement, and not that I know anything about growing Sabinaria... but I loved the look and bought 3 in January 2021. They were in 1-gal pots but rather small, so I left them in the pot for a while. One had a spear pull, but continued to grow, luckily. Finally planted them October 2022 in what turns out to be seasonal shade, and they struggled getting too much direct sun in summer. They are surviving, but not putting on much size at all. I remain hopeful one day they will look like yours.

I got a lot of palm for my bucks do to speak. From what iam reading they don’t like sun or wind. Which is fine by me I have a spot in my mind that’s shaded and out of the wind hopefully. They seem to be a pretty spectacular palm. I will my one a winter in the greenhouse and see how it goes then plant it out in the garden. South American palms are pretty well much in a class of their own for beauty with so many varieties to choose from. If Jeff wants to call a sabinara with spit leaves that’s fine by me as kris said the licuala of the Amazon will Look great in my garden. 

Hard to photograph but plugging along 

2 hours ago, Brad52 said:

Hard to photograph but plugging along 

Nice one. Is it in the shade or dappled light Iam trying to work out the best spot for my one. Deep shade or dappled light not sure, out of the wind is all I know about this palm. 

Probably gets a bit of direct light but dappled as opposed to shade.  Just went several weeks with little rain and no supplemental watering but looks good.

8 hours ago, Brad52 said:

Probably gets a bit of direct light but dappled as opposed to shade.  Just went several weeks with little rain and no supplemental watering but looks good.

Thanks @Brad52 might go with dappled light it will be a bit warmer than deep shade. Some were out of the wind.