Trachycarpus takil at the roof of the world

[Nigel]

Information for Trachycarpus lovers everywhere.

Information

[Gaston in Argentina]

Hi Nigel

Excelent article, greath information!

Palms and history mixed in the article make this excelent for me,

also the pictures of a never seen before cold hardy palmtree.-

[chris.oz]

Nigel,

Yes its true,  the accident of discovery of certain species and proliferation of them at the expense of other more desirable species can be unfortunate.  For example,  say Chamedorea costaricana had become more widely grown than C. seifrizei or,  Parajubaea torallyi had become more widely grown than Syagrus romanzoffiana.  Alas,  it will take many years now before we see the real takil in cultivation,  as mature palms.  They need a sponsor Nigel.....

[Kathryn]

Very interesting article Nigel. Thanks for sharing it.

[FRITO]

a great looking palm, fortunei just doesnt cut it after seeing this specimen. thanks for this article.

Luke

[Joe palma]

Seeds from my plants.

<img src="

" target="_blank">http://i68.photobucket.com/albums....MG]

[DoomsDave]

Thank you for sharing!

Trachies are seriously underappreciated here in California, where they grow so well.  All you need to do is give them water and they thrive.

I hope that many more species start to make their way here, and hope they don't hybridize too freely, like the Phoenix . . . .

I have a specimen in my garden, I'm not sure what it is (it's not the lovely in the article, I'm afraid) but everyone swoons over it, even the Australians and the Floridians.

I hope some seeds from that lovely plant in the article make it here.

It'll find a happy home . . . .

It's nothing like the "takil" that's been around a while here in the trade, which has been re-identifed as "wagnerianus."

[Nigel]

Dave, your a good guy.

[JakeK]

Nigel,

Thanks for posting this link. It is very exciting news to someone like me who lives in a climate too cold for all but two species of palms.

The takil given that it grows near the permanent snow line is really giving me some hope that they might be able to survive in the warmest of microclimates in the Cincinnati area. Some neighborhoods in the immediate downtown region on both sides of the Ohio River are most likely zone 7a and mine's one of them.

The was a T. fortunei growing outside on a river barge that was turned into a nightclub/restaurant for over 10 years here in Cincinnati. It received no protection other than sitting right on the Ohio River. The club closed down, so the trachy was probably trashed at that time.

[ruskinPalms]

I would try a Trachycarpus if I could find one. I think they look like Thrinax and Cocothrinax a little - just a heck of a lot more cold hardy. I like Trachies used as group plantings, or as smaller accent palmate palms in the landscape. The ones that look torn up and ratty are usually solitary specimens exposed to very harsh dry winds or extreme heat. I think there are some Trachies planted at the hospital where I work and the ones that actually get watered and fertilized look great.

[surgeon83]

Wow, Trachycarpus look great when grown in the right climate!  There is only one place I have seen healthy Trachycarpus (fortunei, of course) in my city, and I need to take some pictures over the weekend to show.  

Now, I understand that these palms are quite hardy to cold, but how to they stand up to ice and snow?  I have considered planting one at my parents' house in St. Louis, MO (zone 5b but they haven't seen below 0 in probably 15 years...) but would the frequent heavy ice and show break the fronds off?  They would not be able to mess with protection at all.

ps- this may be off topic, but does anyone have photos/ an explanation on the morphological differences between fortunei and takil (since I've never seen anything but fortunei)?

Thanks

-Brian

[Jeff Searle]

I looked at the article, but it really has no use for us here, but I looked. The bottom line is, you can't grow it all.....

[fastfeat]

Seems to me I remember seeing a couple of T. fortunei in Largo (FL) a couple of years ago-probably the extreme southern spot in FL where it would grow. Maybe Eric has at Leu?

Saw a quite a few in Portland, OR a few years back when I lived there. Periodic ice storms there did no permanent damage.

[Tyrone]

It's a beautiful palm. I reckon it should be planted instead of the overly common Washingtonia's. This would be a great palm for the SW of Oz, even out into the wheatbelt.

regards

Tyrone

[FRITO]

Brian, Takil has more leaflets per frond and a silvery underside as shown in Nigels link comapred to fortunei.

it also supposely grows taller and faster growing, bigger/better and more cold hardy.

however there has been much confusion as what a "true" takil is.  seeds distributed as takil in the past have turned out to be what people are calling 'nanital' or somthing now a variation of fortunei.

the cold hardy palm guys on the hardy palm and subtropical board have had many a discussion recently about this controversy.

[Nigel]

(FRITO @ Feb. 05 2008,09:24)

QUOTE

Brian, Takil has more leaflets per frond and a silvery underside as shown in Nigels link comapred to fortunei.

it also supposely grows taller and faster growing, bigger/better and more cold hardy.

however there has been much confusion as what a "true" takil is.  seeds distributed as takil in the past have turned out to be what people are calling 'nanital' or somthing now a variation of fortunei.

the cold hardy palm guys on the hardy palm and subtropical board have had many a discussion recently about this controversy.

Thats right, despite being `rediscovered` some 14 or so years ago , everybody who eagerly acquired and grew this palm found that it was not what it was supposed to be.

So, 14 years down the road and nobody has a takil.

Worse still was the speculation and propaganda being spread around.

Anyway, these pics show that the palm is there in all its glory. Some seeds have found their way into circulation this year ,although seed is quite rare and hard to acquire in any large numbers.

Hopefully in another 14 years the palm will finally be gracing many gardens throughout the world.

I will invite Sergio from Italy who knows all about this palm to post some further interesting pictures.

[ghar41]

This is cool stuff, thanks for sharing....keep it coming.  

Trachy's look great in my garden, and many sp. seem to like it here in No. Ca.... I can't wait to give the real T. takil a try!

[surgeon83]

Fastfeat- If they can take ice, I will plant one in St. Louis if I can get one there cheap.

FRITO- now that you mention it, it does have tons of very thin leaflets, even I can tell without a side-to-side comparison.  

If this is truly hardier than fortunei (which would be incredible), it may hold more promise for the midwestern US (not that I've personally ever seen anyone there trying Fortunei even).

[JD in the OC]

Hmmm...

There is a T. takil at the Fullerton Arboretum in California and now I wonder if it is the true species.

Too bad Trachys don't fare well here in Florida.  I wonder if Princeps would make it here???

I think Waggies make VERY nice potted palms- people seem to notice them.

[DoomsDave]

Trachy fortunei will survive heinous abuse, but look ugly in the process, like a forgotten prisoner all covered with too much hair.

The other species are much prettier at their best.

Waggies make bitchen bonsais in those adorable too-expensive ceramic pots . . . .

[_Keith]

Were it not for Trachy fortunei, many old folks down here would not know palms.  They may not look their best, but they have survived much abuse, more than any other palms save for a few CIDP, including the great freeze of 89 where it got down to 9 degrees.    I have a few in my garden down here in old Louisiana and have no doubt they will outlive me.

[elHoagie]

(Nigel @ Feb. 05 2008,08:10)

QUOTE

(FRITO @ Feb. 05 2008,09:24)

QUOTE

Brian, Takil has more leaflets per frond and a silvery underside as shown in Nigels link comapred to fortunei.

it also supposely grows taller and faster growing, bigger/better and more cold hardy.

however there has been much confusion as what a "true" takil is.  seeds distributed as takil in the past have turned out to be what people are calling 'nanital' or somthing now a variation of fortunei.

the cold hardy palm guys on the hardy palm and subtropical board have had many a discussion recently about this controversy.

Thats right, despite being `rediscovered` some 14 or so years ago , everybody who eagerly acquired and grew this palm found that it was not what it was supposed to be.

So, 14 years down the road and nobody has a takil.

Worse still was the speculation and propaganda being spread around.

Anyway, these pics show that the palm is there in all its glory. Some seeds have found their way into circulation this year ,although seed is quite rare and hard to acquire in any large numbers.

Hopefully in another 14 years the palm will finally be gracing many gardens throughout the world.

I will invite Sergio from Italy who knows all about this palm to post some further interesting pictures.

Nigel,

I remember a while back that what was being sold as T. takil was actually T. fortunei, and that the real T. takil was supposed to have a much larger trunk among other traits.  Anyway, I ordered some seeds of T. takil about 2 years ago, thinking I was finally getting the real deal.  Connecting your comment to the article you posted, it sounds like I actually have plants that came from the plant in Naini Tal?

This seems to be a problem with Trachycarpus in general.  It's been hell tracking down plants of the real T. princeps, but plants from seed I bought at the same time as the T. takil now have very white undersides, so I hope I have it.  Also, plants I've purchased as T. nanus appear to be imposters.  At least my T. martianus look the way they're supposed to (I think)...

Jack

[Nigel]

(elHoagie @ Feb. 05 2008,19:54)

QUOTE

I remember a while back that what was being sold as T. takil was actually T. fortunei, and that the real T. takil was supposed to have a much larger trunk among other traits.  Anyway, I ordered some seeds of T. takil about 2 years ago, thinking I was finally getting the real deal.  Connecting your comment to the article you posted, it sounds like I actually have plants that came from the plant in Naini Tal?

This seems to be a problem with Trachycarpus in general.  It's been hell tracking down plants of the real T. princeps, but plants from seed I bought at the same time as the T. takil now have very white undersides, so I hope I have it.  Also, plants I've purchased as T. nanus appear to be imposters.  At least my T. martianus look the way they're supposed to (I think)...

Jack

Jack, if you want to post some pics I will happily I.D. what you have.

[elHoagie]

(Nigel @ Feb. 06 2008,00:12)

QUOTE

Jack, if you want to post some pics I will happily I.D. what you have.

Thanks Nigel!  I'll try to get some this weekend.  A couple might be a little difficult because they still just have strap leaves...

[Nigel]

I can often identify them even with straps......

[Ken Johnson]

Trachs do grow in South Florida! I have seen them field grown, fourtuni I suspect. They are on the LY list but they have been around. I bet that most growers have forgoten or never knew about the palm.

[simona]

This article might also catch your interest: http://www.plantapalm.com/Vpe/palmkey/trac...y/trachykey.htm