Copernicia fallaensis

[Josue Diaz]

Its been a while since I've posted anything, and figured I'd step it up and document the life of a copernicia fallaensis in my front yard. 

Here's when I first got it. It was all alone and looking for a forever home. Grown by Josh Allen at his Vista nursery, it was ready to move out and make a life of its own. Hitchhiked it's way to my house in Fresno back in May.

Life's been good to it so far. A good, deep, sandy loam (some 80% sand), a warm climate (many days above 100F) and plenty of water. Some cool, though spiky, neighbors as well. 

No tantrums yet, though we've been enveloped in a thick fog for the better part of 2 weeks. Seems to not mind the chill. 

[tinman10101]

nice ... thinking of planting mine out but wondering what are your lowest lows that it went through and for how long. 

cheers

tin

[mnorell]

I just planted two of these here in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area)...they had been sitting at a posh local nursery for about a year, presumably grown in Florida, only one of the original three had been purchased, all in 35gal containers and carrying a very high price-tag (and that doesn't usually seem to put off the Palm Springs designers, but I think many customers might have thought they were just some overpriced Bismarckia). I documented these palms in another thread last December...in any event, we needed a couple of specimen palms street-side in front of our house and we made the decision to plunk down the money as this is such a spectacular species and the likelihood of encountering it again here at this size is very slim indeed. The justification also being that I'm 63 at present, so need that 15 or so years of extra growth so I can feel like I planted them when I was 48...even though I'm quite the poorer for enjoying that illusion.

They are doing just fine, and I am old enough and palm-experienced enough now to have gobs of patience during the establishment phase, so I don't expect to see much noticeable movement for a couple of years on these. I'm assuming they will endure the occasional temps around the freezing point here without issue since we don't experience frost here in general due to the low dewpoints. Of course Fresno is not going to be so kind in the latter regard, so you may find that to be a problem, although the leaves are largely vertically held, which would minimize any frost accumulation, I would think. In any event, keep all of us posted as this one I think has a future (if a slow-growing one) in California. You won't know until you try it...and keep in mind that there was a day when most of us assumed the exotic Bismarckia nobilis was a tender tropical that belonged only in Florida or Hawai'i.

[Josue Diaz]

14 hours ago, tinman10101 said:

nice ... thinking of planting mine out but wondering what are your lowest lows that it went through and for how long. 

cheers

tin

We haven't been below 40 yet, so no real cold to speak of, but we haven't had much heat either. days in the 50s and 60s with nights in the 40s much of Nov. 

14 hours ago, mnorell said:

I just planted two of these here in Rancho Mirage (Palm Springs area)...they had been sitting at a posh local nursery for about a year, presumably grown in Florida, only one of the original three had been purchased, all in 35gal containers and carrying a very high price-tag (and that doesn't usually seem to put off the Palm Springs designers, but I think many customers might have thought they were just some overpriced Bismarckia). I documented these palms in another thread last December...in any event, we needed a couple of specimen palms street-side in front of our house and we made the decision to plunk down the money as this is such a spectacular species and the likelihood of encountering it again here at this size is very slim indeed. The justification also being that I'm 63 at present, so need that 15 or so years of extra growth so I can feel like I planted them when I was 48...even though I'm quite the poorer for enjoying that illusion.

They are doing just fine, and I am old enough and palm-experienced enough now to have gobs of patience during the establishment phase, so I don't expect to see much noticeable movement for a couple of years on these. I'm assuming they will endure the occasional temps around the freezing point here without issue since we don't experience frost here in general due to the low dewpoints. Of course Fresno is not going to be so kind in the latter regard, so you may find that to be a problem, although the leaves are largely vertically held, which would minimize any frost accumulation, I would think. In any event, keep all of us posted as this one I think has a future (if a slow-growing one) in California. You won't know until you try it...and keep in mind that there was a day when most of us assumed the exotic Bismarckia nobilis was a tender tropical that belonged only in Florida or Hawai'i.

I feel like I should have planted one of these 20 years ago... totally get the feeling. Would love to see the two you planted! Rancho Mirage seems like it would be a great place for these, given I think RM is home to one of the few (if the only?) fruiting and trunking coconuts in California. 

[Harry’s Palms]

Nice looking palm. I would certainly give that one a try if I ever run across one. Looks like it would take sun at an early stage. Harry

[Fusca]

For what it's worth @ahosey01 has a small one in Brownsville that didn't flinch at 27°F this past January.  I believe all of the Cuban Copernicia can handle full sun from the get go.