Thrinax radiata

[ahosey01]

I was in McAllen today for work, and on my lunch I drove by one of the local nurseries.  I happened to notice they had a 15ft tall (10ft of trunk) Thrinax radiata.  They had no idea what it was (the lady thought it was a Livistona chinensis) so they sold it to me for $400.  It doesn't even fit in my 15-passenger van, I don't think.

Far as I know these are a no-hassle grow, but one question I have is what do they want as far as water is concerned?

[Jim in Los Altos]

Would love to see a photo of the palm! 

[Looking Glass]

3 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

I was in McAllen today for work, and on my lunch I drove by one of the local nurseries.  I happened to notice they had a 15ft tall (10ft of trunk) Thrinax radiata.  They had no idea what it was (the lady thought it was a Livistona chinensis) so they sold it to me for $400.  It doesn't even fit in my 15-passenger van, I don't think.

Far as I know these are a no-hassle grow, but one question I have is what do they want as far as water is concerned?

These grow naturally in pretty harsh conditions.  Fast draining, often alkaline soil or sand, with a lot of water in the hot season, and little in the cool season.  They are pretty drought tolerant, but will look much, much better with regular irrigation.   

Around here, they are now planted everywhere lately…. Along medians, in parking lots, and down by the beach.   With regular lawn type irrigation they look great.   Ideal size for small spots.   The crown stays at a nice hight for many years.   My neighbor has a group of 20- footers that he blasts with irrigation 3x per week and they are very happy.   

I’ve got a few sitting neglected in the same pots for a few years now.   They are trouble free.

 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

I don't really take care of my Thrinax radiatas and they are very fast growing, I've even seen one growing abandoned outside a local Costco, It's been there since like 2015/16 and it even survived the 2021 freeze completely exposed with no problem. Mine have never been cold damaged so far. They are very easy to grow.

https://www.google.com/maps/@25.7309555,-100.3932271,3a,15y,235.66h,87.11t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sIotqBnZZVMjqB7YaN--4Lg!2e0!5s20240801T000000!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D2.886303513690976%26panoid%3DIotqBnZZVMjqB7YaN--4Lg%26yaw%3D235.66401968124956!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[ahosey01]

20 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Would love to see a photo of the palm! 

Ask, and you shall receive.

[ahosey01]

16 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

I don't really take care of my Thrinax radiatas and they are very fast growing, I've even seen one growing abandoned outside a local Costco, It's been there since like 2015/16 and it even survived the 2021 freeze completely exposed with no problem. Mine have never been cold damaged so far. They are very easy to grow.

https://www.google.com/maps/@25.7309555,-100.3932271,3a,15y,235.66h,87.11t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sIotqBnZZVMjqB7YaN--4Lg!2e0!5s20240801T000000!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D2.886303513690976%26panoid%3DIotqBnZZVMjqB7YaN--4Lg%26yaw%3D235.66401968124956!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDMxMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

How cold did you guys get up there in 21?

[Jim in Los Altos]

2 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

Ask, and you shall receive.

That’s a very nice specimen. Much bigger than I imagined! 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

3 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

How cold did you guys get up there in 21?

Around -4⁰C and -5⁰C