Chrysalidocarpus ‘lafazamanga’ Advice on Growing Needed

[Jim in Los Altos]

Just received this bare rooted C. ‘lafazamanga’ from Florida and I’ve read that these are pretty robust growers. Do they tolerate cooler winter temperatures better than C. lutescens fellow Californians? I’m in zone 10a (cool winters, mild/warms summers) and have C. baronii, onilahensis, leptocheilos, and decipiens doing well. Anyone up here in the Bay Area or in cooler Southern CA growing areas growing lafazamanga successfully?

 

[flplantguy]

Not from California, but I have one and it is fast here in central Florida, and even grows when it's cooler.  Mine gets full sun most of the year and only had slight issues in a heat wave. I kept mine in a greenhouse during winter with temps in the 50s and 60s most of the time, but consistent 40s didn't happen in there. Grows faster, and taller earlier, than lutescens here, and those are fast too of course.  If no one there is growing one, I hope its a success! I think it will be and look forward to seeing how it does!

[Harry’s Palms]

I don’t know about this species but I have added a few Dypsis/ Chrysalidiocarpus to my collection here ( similar climate) . They were planted small in fractured sun , no problem last winter at all. Harry

[Josue Diaz]

I've tried twice in Fresno and lost it both times. I'll be trying again though, maybe in more sun. 

[Perito]

I had one in a 15 gallon container pretty exposed and it did fine last winter in Santa Barbara. Winter was mild; temps hit the high 30's a couple times. Planted it out at the end of June.

[quaman58]

Jim, they’re certainly not any more cold sensitive than lutescens in our area. they seem to be a bit more robust grower here for some reason. Rarely brown tipping, and I just never seem to see a bad one. Probably as much sun as you can give them, while also giving them a bit of canopy for the colder months of the year. Based on the others that you’re growing up there, I think you’ll do fine with this one.

[BayAndroid]

I would say these would be almost no different from a Baronii. Some in hotter climates said that is when they had issues, I think for a 10a Zone, it's going to be a slam dunk.

[kylecawazafla]

If you can't grow it in the Bay Area, then nobody can! You probably live in the best microclimate for palms that Northern California has to offer! 

[happypalms]

Just do what I do Jim Wack em on the ground in a good spot and water, and hope for the best! 

[Jim in Los Altos]

31 minutes ago, happypalms said:

Just do what I do Jim Wack em on the ground in a good spot and water, and hope for the best! 

This one has such a tiny rootball that I think I will keep it potted until this coming winter is over. Usually I put seedlings straight into the ground but, for some reason, Florida grown palms, whee this one’s from,  seem to have a lot of foliage compared to roots ratio. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

47 minutes ago, kylecawazafla said:

If you can't grow it in the Bay Area, then nobody can! You probably live in the best microclimate for palms that Northern California has to offer! 

Fingers crossed.  

[happypalms]

3 hours ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

This one has such a tiny rootball that I think I will keep it potted until this coming winter is over. Usually I put seedlings straight into the ground but, for some reason, Florida grown palms, whee this one’s from,  seem to have a lot of foliage compared to roots ratio. 

There is a saying roots not shoots. A good root ball is critical to success. With a stack of foliage and not enough roots to support life. And since you’re going into winter pot her up and greenhouse is the order for the day! 

[flplantguy]

My baronii in ground from a 3 gallon slowly died in the summer heat, not big enough, while this guy was ok, so if cold isn't an issue I bet it becomes a California staple one day in spots. More showy than lutescens too. As a kid none of these cool ones were there that I saw, and I'm a little jealous of the diversity and cooler summers there now!

[Matt in OC]

15 hours ago, quaman58 said:

Jim, they’re certainly not any more cold sensitive than lutescens in our area. they seem to be a bit more robust grower here for some reason. Rarely brown tipping, and I just never seem to see a bad one. Probably as much sun as you can give them, while also giving them a bit of canopy for the colder months of the year. Based on the others that you’re growing up there, I think you’ll do fine with this one.

Agree with this. Sun and water and they are happy, not particularly tender for me at all.

[JD in the OC]

I think this one is a winner! I call it the Frosty Cane Palm on account if it's white trunks. Mine is doing great in SW Florida zone 10b. Transplanted with a tiny root ball and it didn't skip a beat (Superthrive mixed with water is key)

JD

[Rivera]

Jim, I have a few in 1g pots and they pushed decent growth through our cool summer months in SF's Sunset District. 

That doesn't indicate what their health through winter will be like, but C. lutescens has grown poorly here by comparison. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

6 hours ago, Rivera said:

Jim, I have a few in 1g pots and they pushed decent growth through our cool summer months in SF's Sunset District. 

That doesn't indicate what their health through winter will be like, but C. lutescens has grown poorly here by comparison. 

Chris, That’s good to know. I’ve tried C. lutescens and they’ve survived a number of winters but never thrived. Always looked stunted so I gave up on that species. That’s why C. lafazamanga intrigued my interest. I have a good feeling about this species here. So good to know that your’s are doing so well so far. 

[James B]

Mine was a dud in my old garden. Perhaps it didn’t get enough sun or was too close to other palms competing. Since moving into my home I have Lutescens planted this year and plan on adding Baronii but don’t know if I will try again. My Lutescens is happy in full all day sun. In my old garden I found it to grow slower than the Lutescens or the Baronii I had planted. Perhaps it does not do as well in higher elevation than it does closer to the coast. 

[Hu Palmeras]

Very cool

[Hu Palmeras]

On 25/9/2025 at 18:29, Jim in Los Altos said:

Acabo de recibir esta C. 'lafazamanga' a raíz desnuda de Florida y he leído que crece bastante bien. ¿Toleran mejor las temperaturas invernales más frías que las C. lutescens de otras Californias? Estoy en la zona 10a (inviernos frescos, veranos templados/cálidos) y tengo C. baronii, onilahensis, leptocheilos y decipiens que crecen bien. ¿Alguien aquí en el Área de la Bahía o en las zonas más frías del sur de California que cultiva lafazamanga con éxito?

 

I like your palm tree. I'll try them in my area.

[Hu Palmeras]

On 25/9/2025 at 20:28, Perito said:

Tenía una en un contenedor de 15 galones, bastante expuesta, y creció bien el invierno pasado en Santa Bárbara. El invierno fue suave; las temperaturas alcanzaron los 30 °C un par de veces. La planté a finales de junio.

I envy them in a healthy way. They have beautiful palm trees.

[Hu Palmeras]

On 26/9/2025 at 1:58, kylecawazafla said:

Si no puedes cultivarlo en el Área de la Bahía, ¡nadie podrá! Probablemente vivas en el mejor microclima para palmeras del norte de California. 

These are the best palm trees in the world, friends.