Bactris mexicana

[idontknowhatnametuse]

I am going to recieve seeds of this species from a very kind heliconia seller in Tabasco, Mexico (photo of the seeds in the mother palm) next week. Does anyone know what these need to germinate? I know this species lives in mountainous areas and that it is shade-loving. Has anyone germinated these in the past? What kind of conditions do they need? (how much temperature, humidity, light)

@Eric in Orlando any tips?

[Las Palmas Norte]

I think you'll likely get more responses with DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

[idontknowhatnametuse]

@PALM MOD can this be moved to DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE please? Thanks.

[Fusca]

I was surprised to see this posted in the Cold Hardy forum also.  According to @kinzyjr's cold hardiness spreadsheet one at Leu Gardens survived 29°F without damage so it apparently does have some cold hardiness for potential survival in zone 9b.  I assume that you're getting B. mexicana var. mexicana and not var. trichophylla.  Hopefully Eric can give you some germination tips!  Good luck @idontknowhatnametuse!  Save a seedling for me 😉 

[kinzyjr]

1 hour ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

@PALM MOD can this be moved to DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE please? Thanks.

So moved.

8 minutes ago, Fusca said:

I was surprised to see this posted in the Cold Hardy forum also.  According to @kinzyjr's cold hardiness spreadsheet one at Leu Gardens survived 29°F without damage so it apparently does have some cold hardiness for potential survival in zone 9b.  I assume that you're getting B. mexicana var. mexicana and not var. trichophylla.  Hopefully Eric can give you some germination tips!  Good luck @idontknowhatnametuse!  Save a seedling for me 😉 

Interesting.  Hopefully it proves not to be a one-off.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

12 minutes ago, Fusca said:

I was surprised to see this posted in the Cold Hardy forum also.  According to @kinzyjr's cold hardiness spreadsheet one at Leu Gardens survived 29°F without damage so it apparently does have some cold hardiness for potential survival in zone 9b.  I assume that you're getting B. mexicana var. mexicana and not var. trichophylla.  Hopefully Eric can give you some germination tips!  Good luck @idontknowhatnametuse!  Save a seedling for me 😉 

I am actually getting over 60 seeds, I will sell most of the seedlings to local palm/plant collectors and anyone willing to come to Monterrey for some (If most of them sprout). This is the only Bactris sp. that I will be able to grow in the ground down here, that's why I posted it in the cold hardy forum, it's one of the two cold hardiest Bactris species. I am pretty sure that this species could also do well in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

@Fusca By the way, I'm pretty sure it's var. Trychophylla. The seeds were collected near the border with Chiapas in the mountainous region.

[Fusca]

2 hours ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

@Fusca By the way, I'm pretty sure it's var. Trychophylla. The seeds were collected near the border with Chiapas in the mountainous region.

If the information in Palmpedia under "Comments and Curiosities" is correct that seems to contradict your source - unless the mother palm is from a collector.  The only entry in Jeremy's spreadsheet is for var. mexicana.  Hopefully there's still some cold hardiness with it.

https://palmpedia.net/wiki/Bactris_mexicana

[idontknowhatnametuse]

12 minutes ago, Fusca said:

If the information in Palmpedia under "Comments and Curiosities" is correct that seems to contradict your source - unless the mother palm is from a collector.  The only entry in Jeremy's spreadsheet is for var. mexicana.  Hopefully there's still some cold hardiness with it.

https://palmpedia.net/wiki/Bactris_mexicana

My bad. I thought var. Trychophylla was the one that grew in the mountains of Mexico. I guess it's var. Mexicana then.

Is var. Mexicana the one with thick leaflets? That's the form that I'm getting.

[Alberto]

On 10/8/2025 at 9:10 PM, idontknowhatnametuse said:

I am actually getting over 60 seeds, I will sell most of the seedlings to local palm/plant collectors and anyone willing to come to Monterrey for some (If most of them sprout). This is the only Bactris sp. that I will be able to grow in the ground down here, that's why I posted it in the cold hardy forum, it's one of the two cold hardiest Bactris species. I am pretty sure that this species could also do well in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.

....and what is the other cold hardiest Bactris dpecies? I can grow Bactris setosa at my place, in southern Brazil. Thanks

[idontknowhatnametuse]

18 minutes ago, Alberto said:

....and what is the other cold hardiest Bactris dpecies? I can grow Bactris setosa at my place, in southern Brazil. Thanks

The other cold hardiest one is Bactris setosa, the one you're growing. Since Bactris mexicana is so rare I'm pretty sure we still don't know at what temperature it gets damaged. The one that @Eric in Orlando has, doesn't have any reports of damage at -3⁰C or so.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Here we go

[idontknowhatnametuse]

I got over 150 seeds, still can't believe it

[WagnerMX]

Are they still fresh enough for consumption?

[idontknowhatnametuse]

12 minutes ago, WagnerMX said:

Are they still fresh enough for consumption?

Yes. The pulp is intact. They surprisingly don't float like other palm seeds.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Seeds clean. They will sit in warm tonight and they will be left in the sun tomorrow so the pulp can be easier to clean off.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Ready to be planted tomorrow. They will spend one more night in warm water.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

I noticed that 2 of them already sprouted! I can't believe this, this is the first Bactris I ever germinate, my favorite genus. I'm so proud and happy today. Any tips? The weather is super good right now for planting. I really want to move them because there's like some sort of fungus in this container and it scares me that it could affect the small sprouts. Should I transplant? @Alberto @WagnerMX 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Bump, any advise anyone?

[John hovancsek]

Bactris has been an easy grow for me from seed. It seems like they benefit from a mild fungicide every once in a while. I would separate them from the fungus infected soil for sure and let dry between watering 

[John hovancsek]

Here are a couple that I grew from seed. 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

26 minutes ago, John hovancsek said:

Bactris has been an easy grow for me from seed. It seems like they benefit from a mild fungicide every once in a while. I would separate them from the fungus infected soil for sure and let dry between watering 

Thanks!

[idontknowhatnametuse]

24 minutes ago, John hovancsek said:

Here are a couple that I grew from seed. 

They look very beautiful, Bactris militaris & Bactris gasipaes?

[idontknowhatnametuse]

@John hovancsek Here they are. I have seen that Bactris grow upwards before producing any roots outside of their seed. Did I do right in planting the tip upwards?

[idontknowhatnametuse]

@John hovancsek Also should I cover/protect them at this stage or can I leave them outside unprotected in a protected space so they can get the heat that we are getting these days? (Will keep their surroundings humid).

[Alberto]

On 2/17/2026 at 4:39 PM, John hovancsek said:

Bactris has been an easy grow for me from seed. It seems like they benefit from a mild fungicide every once in a while. I would separate them from the fungus infected soil for sure and let dry between watering 

I agree!

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Already making photosynthesis (Turning green)