Theory on why my Washy is so far behind its normal growth at this time of year .

[WSimpson]

My theory is that because I didn't get my protection all the way to the top of the trunk ,  but just under about a foot of the trunk ,  that the cold ( 14F was the lowest temperature )  killed the live tissue in the  foot of trunk  that I didn't protect .   That one foot    area ,  with dead tissue , shrunk and squeezed the new growth growing out just above the live bud area . So as the new growth comes out of the live bud area it has to bulldoze its way through the one foot dead zone .

Any other theories ?

It's now growing well and finally expanding that dead zone to where it will soon more easily grow out of the dead zone and start to actually trunk again , still it will have  way  less growth  than last year .

 

Last year about this time :

 

 

Today , but at least   it is growing out faster  now  . I fertilized it yesterday , so that should  get it moving well      :

 

 

I'm thinking that there is some constriction just under the new green petioles and spears , but I think    it is close to growing out of that constriction .

 

 

 

[jwitt]

I think you are correct on the theory of washingtonia being able to power thru cons.triction. In fact they will split leaf bases. 

 

My hunch, and provide a bit better winter protection, leave a bit more leaf base(for insulation over the winter . Just a hunch, maybe.  

[WSimpson]

On 7/11/2025 at 6:55 PM, jwitt said:

I think you are correct on the theory of washingtonia being able to power thru cons.triction. In fact they will split leaf bases. 

 

My hunch, and provide a bit better winter protection, leave a bit more leaf base(for insulation over the winter . Just a hunch, maybe.  

I haven't been watering it or fertilizing it for years because it was always growing  so fast  , and was trunking up to the point where I was worried that it would become very difficult to protect . I have now been watering  it and I just fertilized for the first time in years . 

I feel like it will look great by November .

[jwitt]

11 hours ago, WSimpson said:

I haven't been watering it or fertilizing it for years because it was always growing  so fast  , and was trunking up to the point where I was worried that it would become very difficult to protect . I have now been watering  it and I just fertilized for the first time in years . 

I feel like it will look great by November .

It looks good now and regardless of the future, your robusta will be famous.

The Wilmington robusta has been outdone!

[WSimpson]

3 hours ago, jwitt said:

It looks good now and regardless of the future, your robusta will be famous.

The Wilmington robusta has been outdone!

Is the Wilmington Washy still there ? I used to google map the Wilmington area and look for it and I always found it . I haven't looked for it in a few years .

 

[jwitt]

19 hours ago, WSimpson said:

Is the Wilmington Washy still there ? I used to google map the Wilmington area and look for it and I always found it . I haven't looked for it in a few years .

 

Not sure. But that aside, there is one that is farther north,  away from the ocean, and much colder zone wise.  Probably close to, if not more than 30' tall. 

Pretty cool!

[NC-Key-Bar]

This was July last year. I saw it 2 weeks ago and looks really good. They keep it trim, so only a small, very green, crown. 
 

@WSimpson been following your robusta for years. Very nice work getting it this far. 

[WSimpson]

16 hours ago, NC-Key-Bar said:

This was July last year. I saw it 2 weeks ago and looks really good. They keep it trim, so only a small, very green, crown. 
 

@WSimpson been following your robusta for years. Very nice work getting it this far. 

Is that in NC  ? If it is , seeds from that would be great . 

Will

[NC-Key-Bar]

5 hours ago, WSimpson said:

Is that in NC  ? If it is , seeds from that would be great . 

Will

This is in Wilmington, on College Rd, almost to Carolina Beach. First time I member seeing it was probably like 2008-ish. I believe pure filifera. 
this was the only “Wilmington washy” I knew of….although, more are starting to show up.