Palm identification + Further Questioning

[joaofveb]

Yesterday I was walking around the charming town of Porto Covo, Portugal and found what I believe to be a Adonidia Merrillii, growing in a private garden. Also given that I checked google maps and its been there since at least 2023, i found myself asking if growing a coconut tree would be possible here. Would gladly appreciate any input

[tim_brissy_13]

I think it might be Ptychosperma elegans. They are known to have a bit of hardiness, certainly more than Adonidia or Cocos. 

[pietropuccio]

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana suffering for the arid environment in which it is forced to live.

[tim_brissy_13]

6 hours ago, pietropuccio said:

Archontophoenix cunninghamiana suffering for the arid environment in which it is forced to live.

It’s not Archontophoenix. Praemorse leaflets tips for a start…

[pietropuccio]

I don't see premorse tips, but necrotic ones. The palm is placed in a hole that becomes an oven in the summer.

Also look at the crownshaft and the stem.

[tim_brissy_13]

4 hours ago, pietropuccio said:

I don't see premorse tips, but necrotic ones. The palm is placed in a hole that becomes an oven in the summer.

Also look at the crownshaft and the stem.

Even the leaflet tips that aren’t necrotic are praemorse. See the zoomed in shot. There’s many unhealthy A cunninghamiana in my city and I’ve never seen one with leaflets held at a V to the rachis or with such short petioles. 

[happypalms]

Iam with @tim_brissy_13 on this one ptychosperma elegans after all we live in the country of origin of this species. I did a post a few days back on this species if that helps in any way.

[pietropuccio]

I upscaled with AI the image on the left that you outlined, for me it is clear that these are the tips of three contiguous leaflets partially overlapping.
Then of course everyone is free to have different opinions.

[gyuseppe]

for me it's no Archontophoenix.

[Jonathan]

 

It does look a lot like the sun grown P elegans in this pic from the net...

[aabell]

Agree with Ptychosperma ID and the big tell is the wide spacing of the rings in the trunk. Would never see that in an Adonidia unless maybe it was growing in some pristine equatorial conditions. 

[lzorrito]

Ptychosperma elegans suffering from the northerly wind regime, which is common there, and some salty spray from the ocean. P. elegans have low resistance to this. Mine suffered a bit from the maritime air that was dominant last winter. As for Coco nucifera, forget it. It's a beautiful dream, but it's utopian.

[Merlyn]

@lzorrito do you think Beccariophoenix Alfredii would do ok there?  IMO that's the closest appearance-wise to a coconut, but everything scaled up by 50%.  I've done well with them here, with temps down to 25F (-4C) with just cosmetic leaf burn.  But I don't know how they do with coastal winds or prolonged cool temps.

[pietropuccio]

2 hours ago, lzorrito said:

Mine suffered a bit from the maritime air that was dominant last winter. As for Coco nucifera, forget it. It's a beautiful dream, but it's utopian.

Hello,

I have been interested in growing tropical species for a long time, especially palms, I would be very grateful if you could give information about your P. elegans, where it is grown, soil and climate conditions and some photos.

Many thanks

https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/?s=puccio&lang=en

 

[lzorrito]

22 hours ago, Merlyn said:

@lzorrito do you think Beccariophoenix Alfredii would do ok there?  IMO that's the closest appearance-wise to a coconut, but everything scaled up by 50%.  I've done well with them here, with temps down to 25F (-4C) with just cosmetic leaf burn.  But I don't know how they do with coastal winds or prolonged cool temps.

I got two Beccariophoenix Alfredii grown from seed that are just perfect, potted in half day sun. I´m in a 10b zone so I never experience temperatures below 35F, but may experience long cool humid  and periods around 48Ffrom dusk till dawn during January and February, B. alfredii don't even notice it. I live by the sea a I can assure you that sea influence is also completely tolerated.

[lzorrito]

22 hours ago, pietropuccio said:

Hello,

I have been interested in growing tropical species for a long time, especially palms, I would be very grateful if you could give information about your P. elegans, where it is grown, soil and climate conditions and some photos.

Many thanks

https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/?s=puccio&lang=en

 

Hello, 

All my palms are in pots. My experience is exclusively with potted palms. Some friends have them planted just across the border in Spain. Contact Jamie "TropicalGardenSpain" here in the forum. He is without a doubt a reliable source of knowledge.

 

 

[pietropuccio]

Thanks for the reply.

[joaofveb]

Thank you to everybody who shared their opinion ! 

 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Yes, that's an Adonidia. Some of them look like that in my city in Mexico too.

[joaofveb]

2 minutes ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

Yes, that's an Adonidia. Some of them look like that in my city in Mexico too.

I thought so too initially given its probably a more common palm to find in nurseries.