Bismarckia nobilis still popular or not?

[happypalms]

One palm that has become so popular that it hardly even gets a second look from a collectors point of view. Out done by its own popularity yet it still shines through as a number one favourite with gardeners and new home owners. Such a grand palm in colour and size from a small seed. An easy palm to sell due it’s tough as nails grow in a lot of places plant me iam tough attitude. I like them and they are still a popular palm yet overlooked with so many varieties of new palms a collector just won’t worry about them due to the fact they have already have them planted. But if it was a sabinara they would sell like hot cakes to the collectors lining up for more that’s for sure. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Great post! Very tough ….until the gophers find it! Once planted ( root disturbance can be fatal) they grow well and , in sun , quickly become a statement in landscaping. These are still not overly planted here but certainly seeing more of them. I paid a lot of money for a moderate sized one and a year later it was laying on its side. The roots were completely eaten off by the gophers. I even used a galvanized mesh around the root ball as I had been warned of the gophers attraction. There is no room around my house for such a large palm or I would have planted it in a “gophers free” zone. Harry

[Fusca]

This Bismarckia is one that I grew from seed sent to me from Australia!  They're still popular in my eyes...

[aztropic]

Been selling these for 2 years now. I grew mine from seeds produced on my own tree in my front yard. Started with about 75 plants in 5 gallon buckets. After 2 years,I only have about a dozen trees left. To compare,I get $80 per tree. Seems to be a pretty popular tree in the Arizona desert, especially since they have started selling them at our big box stores. People definitely plant what they know...👍

 

aztropic 

Mesa, Arizona 

[hbernstein]

Popular in South Florida. Definitely the way to go if one is looking for an awesome-looking, low-maintenance larger palm for our landscape.

[SeanK]

Bismarcks(blue) and Foxtails are very popular in SoFL. However, not regarded as collectable or niche palms. Even the Butiagrus are main-stream nowadays.

[happypalms]

16 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

Great post! Very tough ….until the gophers find it! Once planted ( root disturbance can be fatal) they grow well and , in sun , quickly become a statement in landscaping. These are still not overly planted here but certainly seeing more of them. I paid a lot of money for a moderate sized one and a year later it was laying on its side. The roots were completely eaten off by the gophers. I even used a galvanized mesh around the root ball as I had been warned of the gophers attraction. There is no room around my house for such a large palm or I would have planted it in a “gophers free” zone. Harry

Ground hog day hey Harry. Iam fortunate enough not to have those sort of critters. I did have a brush turkey problem due to the wife feeding them, a big no no when it comes to those things. Fortunately I believe they went to another national park after a discussion with the wife. Resorts and landscapers love Bismarck palms, even  the chain stores sell them they are that popular. I grow a few for the market out there. 
Richard 

[happypalms]

13 hours ago, Fusca said:

This Bismarckia is one that I grew from seed sent to me from Australia!  They're still popular in my eyes...

Good to see an Australian making it good overseas! 

[happypalms]

9 hours ago, SeanK said:

Bismarcks(blue) and Foxtails are very popular in SoFL. However, not regarded as collectable or niche palms. Even the Butiagrus are main-stream nowadays.

They became a victim of their own success. So popular they outdid themselves. Foxtails in the Darwin area of Australia, councils are asking people not to plant them they grow so fast and are problem with the large amount of seeds. 

[Bkue]

Not rare but an impressive statement palm. Everyone is in awe of the size and beauty if used correctly. They are all over the place though. Even highway planting throughout central Florida. When you use it correctly the size is mesmerizing until they get super tall. They are so proportionate I feel they often aren’t noticed. When I trim mine and bring down a 40lb 15ft long frond spanning almost 10ft wide people including myself are impressed. 

[Jubaea]

They are still not very common here as they are not readily available.  Hopefully they will become more available as they do well here in Santa Barbara. 

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Bkue said:

Not rare but an impressive statement palm. Everyone is in awe of the size and beauty if used correctly. They are all over the place though. Even highway planting throughout central Florida. When you use it correctly the size is mesmerizing until they get super tall. They are so proportionate I feel they often aren’t noticed. When I trim mine and bring down a 40lb 15ft long frond spanning almost 10ft wide people including myself are impressed. 

There are a few around planted in traffic roundabouts, and they look impressive smack bang in the middle of the road! 

[happypalms]

1 minute ago, Jubaea said:

They are still not very common here as they are not readily available.  Hopefully they will become more available as they do well here in Santa Barbara. 

Iam sure one clever grower will see a gap in the market. And once they do there will be a flood of new Bismarck palms in your area. 

[Mazat]

On 7/2/2025 at 8:20 PM, Fusca said:

This Bismarckia is one that I grew from seed sent to me from Australia!  They're still popular in my eyes...

pretty specimen

[Harry’s Palms]

4 hours ago, Jubaea said:

They are still not very common here as they are not readily available.  Hopefully they will become more available as they do well here in Santa Barbara. 

Same down here . They are around , just not that common. I can’t remember if there were any planted at De La Guera garden in downtown SB . I saw plenty of older Sabal and a beautiful Arenga . It would be the perfect setting. Harry

[Tyrone]

Not common down here. You see a few in Perth, much less down here. I’ve probably got the most of them here on the south coast. A real statement even non palm people like, if they have the room to plant. 

[tim_brissy_13]

Only very few scattered around Melbourne. They are on the marginal side due to our lack of heat but will grow well if good drainage is ensured. Mine is starting to really grow and has so far kept a nice bright silver colour. Other larger ones in Melbourne tend to look more dull than those in the sub tropics and tropics. 

[Kim]

Frequently seen on the Big Island of Hawaii, but not what I would call really common. People are familiar with them, and some get that amazing blue-white color. I remember one particular individual down in the Kapoho area right near the ocean -- it practically glowed, very eye-catching. All that went under lava in 2018. I don't think the resorts plant them because they don't present the Hawaii vibe that tourists expect.

I'll never forget seeing them on the plains in Madagascar -- Bismarckia for miles at sunset, what a sight!

There is a splendid pair in San Diego's Balboa Park outside the Botanical building, now quite tall. I will look for a photo...

[peachy]

They are falling out of fashion here now.  I see so many in small front yards that there is no room for anything else but low shrubs.  I bought mine from a non palm nursery and got it cheaper because it was a deep purple colour.  Later on I learnt the more purple they are when young the whiter they are when older. FACT !  There's 4 or 5 of them within a few hundred metres of my house so I went by my old house to see how big the bizzy is now.  To my horror it has been removed, along with the Mule, Phoenix rupicola and the green bizzy (another striking palms) but all the awful old alexanders and queens have been left in place. 

Peachy

 

[peachy]

1 hour ago, Kim said:

Frequently seen on the Big Island of Hawaii, but not what I would call really common. People are familiar with them, and some get that amazing blue-white color. I remember one particular individual down in the Kapoho area right near the ocean -- it practically glowed, very eye-catching. All that went under lava in 2018. I don't think the resorts plant them because they don't present the Hawaii vibe that tourists expect.

I'll never forget seeing them on the plains in Madagascar -- Bismarckia for miles at sunset, what a sight!

There is a splendid pair in San Diego's Balboa Park outside the Botanical building, now quite tall. I will look for a photo...

What a divine old building.

[sonoranfans]

most common palms I see at big box stores are

1) coconuts

2) adonidias

3) foxtails

4) foxtails

5) queens

6) royals

7) livistona chinensis

Bismarckias are here but not in large numbers.  When I look around my area those most common in the ground are sabal palmettos, foxtails, royals, livistona chinensis, phoenix sylvestris which are all more common than bismarckias.  All those cocos and adonidias and bottles don't seem to make it into maturity in the ground so much.

[ZPalms]

I'd plant one if I could 

[garrytsen]

Richard, It is awesome.  Bismarckia with bluish coloration is also one of my favorites.

[JohnAndSancho]

8 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

most common palms I see at big box stores are

1) coconuts

2) adonidias

3) foxtails

4) foxtails

5) queens

6) royals

7) livistona chinensis

Bismarckias are here but not in large numbers.  When I look around my area those most common in the ground are sabal palmettos, foxtails, royals, livistona chinensis, phoenix sylvestris which are all more common than bismarckias.  All those cocos and adonidias and bottles don't seem to make it into maturity in the ground so much.

All I see here are Costa Farms majesties, and they're usually in those "decorative pots" with no drainage floating in water. Occasionally cat palms or some small chamaedorea Elegans inside. Rarely a Roebellini. 

 

Anyway I'd love a bizzie but I'd have to keep it in a pot and I've read they don't really like that, but it might be worth the vibes if I found a cheap one and could keep the cats away from it

[happypalms]

11 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

most common palms I see at big box stores are

1) coconuts

2) adonidias

3) foxtails

4) foxtails

5) queens

6) royals

7) livistona chinensis

Bismarckias are here but not in large numbers.  When I look around my area those most common in the ground are sabal palmettos, foxtails, royals, livistona chinensis, phoenix sylvestris which are all more common than bismarckias.  All those cocos and adonidias and bottles don't seem to make it into maturity in the ground so much.

Here you can get 

kentia   
rhapis   
alexander   
Lutescens   
bismark   
chamaedorea elegans, costricana   
Thats all, you guys are spoilt for choice! 

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, garrytsen said:

Richard, It is awesome.  Bismarckia with bluish coloration is also one of my favorites.

Hi Garry, they are popular palms in Australia. Some real beautiful ones around to be seen in gardens and outside the big resorts, and used by commercial businesses around town.   
Richard 

[happypalms]

2 hours ago, JohnAndSancho said:

All I see here are Costa Farms majesties, and they're usually in those "decorative pots" with no drainage floating in water. Occasionally cat palms or some small chamaedorea Elegans inside. Rarely a Roebellini. 

 

Anyway I'd love a bizzie but I'd have to keep it in a pot and I've read they don't really like that, but it might be worth the vibes if I found a cheap one and could keep the cats away from it

Here’s one I saw in India when I was there last year, they seem to do well in pots in India! And all I can see here is costa farms and there 1000 acres of hothouses and blueberries! 

[happypalms]

7 hours ago, ZPalms said:

I'd plant one if I could 

Plant two not one! 

[happypalms]

19 hours ago, Tyrone said:

Not common down here. You see a few in Perth, much less down here. I’ve probably got the most of them here on the south coast. A real statement even non palm people like, if they have the room to plant. 

They would grow like weeds in WA one would think! 

[happypalms]

11 hours ago, peachy said:

They are falling out of fashion here now.  I see so many in small front yards that there is no room for anything else but low shrubs.  I bought mine from a non palm nursery and got it cheaper because it was a deep purple colour.  Later on I learnt the more purple they are when young the whiter they are when older. FACT !  There's 4 or 5 of them within a few hundred metres of my house so I went by my old house to see how big the bizzy is now.  To my horror it has been removed, along with the Mule, Phoenix rupicola and the green bizzy (another striking palms) but all the awful old alexanders and queens have been left in place. 

Peachy

 

They sort of become so popular that they have done there dash with collectors. Another ten years and they will be growing everywhere like foxtails. Theres two in my town of Grafton planted next to a set of steps, planted about a foot away from the steps and the house! I feel like telling them, mate do you realise how big they will get. That’s the people who buy them now no idea about palms they just see the pretty colours and buy away. Like those variegated rubber trees I see planted 3or 4 in a row next to a driveway or along the front yard in a row! Please someone tell them to take out a bank loan to pay for the plumbing repairs for the entire bloke of houses. No idea gardeners the chain stores see them coming! 
Richard 

[happypalms]

13 hours ago, Kim said:

Frequently seen on the Big Island of Hawaii, but not what I would call really common. People are familiar with them, and some get that amazing blue-white color. I remember one particular individual down in the Kapoho area right near the ocean -- it practically glowed, very eye-catching. All that went under lava in 2018. I don't think the resorts plant them because they don't present the Hawaii vibe that tourists expect.

I'll never forget seeing them on the plains in Madagascar -- Bismarckia for miles at sunset, what a sight!

There is a splendid pair in San Diego's Balboa Park outside the Botanical building, now quite tall. I will look for a photo...

A well grown one in hot sunny spot is magnificent. In habitat that would be another story totally mind blowing. I see thousands of archontophoenix cuninghammiana in habitat acres upon acres of them and hardly notice them, but to a person from overseas it would be mind blowing to see that many in habitat. I love the old conservatory, almost like the Kew palm house absolutely beautiful. I might have to book a ticket to Hawaii next holiday I think!