Washingtonia filifera in Northeast Lousiana

[ryjohn]

They do well here 30 miles south of the Arkansas state line.  These palms defoliated 100% last winter, so as you can see they recover quickly.  I have four of these I started from seed 20 years ago.

 

[SeanK]

At what size did you plant them into the ground?

What type of soil do you have?

[Las Palmas Norte]

Lookin great. Appears as though a few other things are also doing well in your area.

[ryjohn]

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

At what size did you plant them into the ground?

What type of soil do you have?

I planted them in ground at a 2-3 gallon size.  Soil is light loam here, and my property unfortunately has a lot of disturbed (from construction) reddish subsoil mixed in.  Clearly they prefer this over the spots with more organic matter mixed in.  I did have two die in good location after thriving for years… not sure why… almost like some sort of borer got them and then cold finished them off, but found no bore holes.

[jwitt]

Beautiful!!!! 

In a climate, many say is undoable........

MMMMMM! 

[howfam]

11 hours ago, ryjohn said:

They do well here 30 miles south of the Arkansas state line.  These palms defoliated 100% last winter, so as you can see they recover quickly.  I have four of these I started from seed 20 years ago.

 

You said these palms defoliated 100% last year.  Whats was the low temperature that caused that damage? 

[ryjohn]

1 hour ago, howfam said:

You said these palms defoliated 100% last year.  Whats was the low temperature that caused that damage? 

This is the cold snap we saw in Jan 2025-- must say the defoliation was a little worse than I expected.  Similar to what I would typically expect from the 6-10F range.  Sabal mexicana was burned 90% too, and sabal palmetto 50%.  jwitt-- you will have to clue me in on the "M" shape-- is that some sort of filifera identifier?

[SailorBold]

Can you share the seed source?  Also how did you skin your trunks? 

[ryjohn]

I believe I bought "Truth or Consequences" seed from Ian and the "Desert Northwest" website about 20 years ago.  The trunks are self-cleaning.  If you leave the browned-out fronds on a year they will pull off cleanly with a light tug.  After two years they will start falling off en-mass in wind storms.  I don't think we are dry enough here to have a skirt stay on to the ground like you see in the desert.

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

14 hours ago, ryjohn said:

They do well here 30 miles south of the Arkansas state line.  These palms defoliated 100% last winter, so as you can see they recover quickly.  I have four of these I started from seed 20 years ago.

 

Those are awesome! Do you see many around your area/town?

[ryjohn]

There is only one other pure filifera in this area, one that predates mine but which is shorter a few houses down from me. But there are a lot of filibustas that have survived the recent 7B winters.

[jwitt]

5 hours ago, ryjohn said:

 jwitt-- you will have to clue me in on the "M" shape-- is that some sort of filifera identifier?

It is an adult leaf filifera identifier.  Credit goes to @SailorBold for the label.  One of those things that once seen, hard to unsee.

Mine also seems to be self cleaning. Dog does help too 

[jwitt]

M and

M

no M

[MarcusH]

3 hours ago, jwitt said:

It is an adult leaf filifera identifier.  Credit goes to @SailorBold for the label.  One of those things that once seen, hard to unsee.

Mine also seems to be self cleaning. Dog does help too 

Almost looks like a heart to me but your Filifera looks really good. Look at that Havana cigar shaped trunk. She's getting fat now lol. Love me some Filifera