Attalea phalerata, about 17 years old and has produced seed 2 years in a row,

[palmtreesforpleasure]

Very happy with this Attalea species, it seems to mature quicker than other Attalea species planted.

What are you opinions, is it the fastest to produce seed?

regards

Colin

[Jonathan Haycock]

No direct experience Colin, but Google suggests Attalea dubia is the fastest to mature within the genus, given optimal conditions.

[Merlyn]

@palmtreesforpleasure I am growing Cohune, Phalerata, Speciosa, Butyracea, and Brejinhoensis.  I just got the Speciosa a couple of months ago, so no direct experience yet.  Of the others, so far Phalerata is the slowest grower.  Brejinhoensis beats all but Cohune by a long shot.  Cohune gains height fairly quick, but burns from frost every single winter, with temps anywhere below around 35F.  In my area they always look crappy after winter.  Brejinhoensis, Butyracea, and Phalerata all seem to be reasonably hardy to temps at least into the upper 20s F.  

I am not sure about speed to seed, but I would check out Brejinhoensis if you can find one.  They are quicker than the rest I've tried, take no significant damage around 27F with frost, and have cool yellow and green splotchy petioles.

[tim_brissy_13]

2 hours ago, palmtreesforpleasure said:

Very happy with this Attalea species, it seems to mature quicker than other Attalea species planted.

What are you opinions, is it the fastest to produce seed?

regards

Colin

Looking good Colin. Where is this one, Sydney or Wollongong? Surprisingly Attalea dubia grows well in Melbourne, a couple of growers have some going slowly but robustly. Not sure how the other species would go this far south though. 

[palmtreesforpleasure]

The Attalea cohune is about the same age but has not produced fruit yet. There is another species which escapes me for the moment. 

I will check when I go in this week Tim.

I do not think i have ever seen seed of Attalea brejinhoensis Merlyn.

Looks like an interesting one. It appears it has been rolled into A speciosa.

Attalea maripa and Attalea colenda looks interesting, anyone growing them?

Attalea dubia appears to be the hardiest of them  Johnathon, maybe they grow faster in a lot warmer climates than in habitat, had not looked into this genus as much as others.

worth the look

regards

Colin

[Merlyn]

@palmtreesforpleasure I hadn't read that "lumper" paper where Brejinhoensis got put in as synonymous with Speciosa.  I read the summary of Henderson 2020 "A revision of Attalea," but the full text is behind paywalls.  One notable feature of Brejinhoensis is the speckled yellow petioles.  I noted an earlier thread on here where PalmatierMeg said Butyracea also has speckled "mealybug" looking petioles.  So this might not be unique to just one Attalea species.  At the moment my biggest one doesn't have any unusual markings, but I just noticed today it has actual mealybugs on the petioles...sigh...  This one was planted from a 7g pot in October 2021 and is now about 10 feet tall on the biggest frond.  It's fairly quickly growing up and over the other stuff nearby:

I have two Phalerata, both about the same overall size.  This was planted in November 2020 from a big partially pinnate seedling.  The Encephalartos Gratus in the background and Cycas Debaoensis (Multifrondis) on the left have both grown up and over it.  It only took about 25% bronzing at ~25F with frost, so it's pretty hardy...just really slow.  During the same time frame a Copernicia Fallaensis went from 6" tall to 8' tall, just about 8 feet off to the upper left of the photo.  So it's very slow.

In the front yard I planted a double Cohune.  Why a double?  Because I can!    At this age it's a bit hard to see there are two in there, but the smaller one is to the right.  These were planted around July 2021.  One was about 4' tall at the time and the other had just gone fully pinnate.  You can see some yellowed and tattered leaves even from this winter's couple of mid-30s frosts.  They take about 50% leaf burn with ~28F + frost.  The tallest leaf is about 8'.

And this is my biggest Butyracea, planted in July 2023 as an unhealthy yellowed strap leaf seedling.  It's done a lot better in the ground than in a pot!  I also planted a similar seedling double last fall.  

[Merlyn]

This was the other thread that inspired my Cohune and Butyracea doubles: