Washy update ; not that impressive as of today .

[WSimpson]

This is the worst this Washy has looked at this time of the year ever . It wasn't a bad winter with a lowest  Low of 14F . I got a little spooked last winter when I put on the protection because it is getting a little too tall for my comfort level , and I didn't cover the very top of the palm , but I did cover the bud area . Normally this palm looks respectable this early in the season but it doesn't look like much now . Thankfully it is growing well now and should put out a nice frond soon . 

I'm getting good growth from the bud now .

 

 

[Swolte]

What do you think was the reason?

I relate. We had a 'reasonable' winter (15F low), however, we had two of these freezes with quite some warm temps (in the 80s) in between them. This caused some new opportunistic new growth to be hit again (and then some rain...). I am still waiting for two Trachies to push their spears. These were Trachies that have seen way worse before and we're showing great growth the previous year!

[SeanK]

A couple months behind schedule. Well, there's green, so that's a good sign.

[Las Palmas Norte]

15 hours ago, Swolte said:

...I am still waiting for two Trachies to push their spears. These were Trachies that have seen way worse before and we're showing great growth the previous year!

Really? Wow. These start pushing new growth in much cooler weather than nearly any other "hardy" palm I can think of. That's the case in the PNW with T. fortunei in my many years of growing them.

[Las Palmas Norte]

16 hours ago, WSimpson said:

...I got a little spooked last winter when I put on the protection because it is getting a little too tall for my comfort level, ...

Do you have any plans for the next winter season?

[Allen]

Tallest one around

[WSimpson]

5 hours ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

Do you have any plans for the next winter season?

Next winter I hope I have a 8B winter but if I don't I will protect it with a taller ladder and someone who doesn't mind heights .Will

Below is someone helping me take off the incandescent lights that I used for protection , along with a wrap of blankets . 

[WSimpson]

4 hours ago, Allen said:

Tallest one around

Maybe it  is close to stop growing taller ?

[WSimpson]

19 hours ago, SeanK said:

A couple months behind schedule. Well, there's green, so that's a good sign.

 

Here it is on March 19th last year . Way behind but it is picking up speed now . 

 

 

[ZPalms]

Thought I was the only one, my washies were a bit sluggish getting started up but looks like ours are on track now, yours looks great, here to another season! ✨

[Harry’s Palms]

I see just a bit of cold damage , but the new growth seems good . It looks like a nice spear is emerging . I have watched this for the last couple of years and admire your dedication to this palm. I get it , they are beautiful to me . Folks in my area don’t appreciate them much because they pop up everywhere , almost native , but well naturalized . Doesn’t matter to me , I still love them . Then again , I don’t have to go to such lengths to keep it alive , kudos 👍. Harry

‘My Washingtonia Robusta , photo from Fall of last year after trimming . Yes , I get a tree service ….no way I’m going up there! Harry

[palmofmyhand]

On 5/15/2025 at 7:56 PM, Swolte said:

What do you think was the reason?

I relate. We had a 'reasonable' winter (15F low), however, we had two of these freezes with quite some warm temps (in the 80s) in between them. This caused some new opportunistic new growth to be hit again (and then some rain...). I am still waiting for two Trachies to push their spears. These were Trachies that have seen way worse before and we're showing great growth the previous year!

I didn’t know Trachies were effected by those low temperatures, where I live they have never seemed to be held back regardless of the winter lows. I thought zone 8 was basically ideal climate for them?

[palmofmyhand]

1 hour ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I see just a bit of cold damage , but the new growth seems good . It looks like a nice spear is emerging . I have watched this for the last couple of years and admire your dedication to this palm. I get it , they are beautiful to me . Folks in my area don’t appreciate them much because they pop up everywhere , almost native , but well naturalized . Doesn’t matter to me , I still love them . Then again , I don’t have to go to such lengths to keep it alive , kudos 👍. Harry

‘My Washingtonia Robusta , photo from Fall of last year after trimming . Yes , I get a tree service ….no way I’m going up there! Harry

how do the tree service people get up there if you don’t mind me asking?

[Harry’s Palms]

They are usually smaller framed folks and I let them use their foot spikes. It doesn’t seem to hurt them and I honestly can’t see where the spike dug in. Been having it trimmed for well over ten years now . I grew it from a volunteer in a neighbors yard. Harry