Caryota gigas/obtusa

[Chavy87]

Considering this palm in 9b Northern California. From what I've read, it may be doable. Does anyone have any experience with these palms?

[Merlyn]

@Chavy87 I have tried here a couple of times in 9B / bordeline 9A Floriduh, and failed all of the times.  However, an important bit is they took heavy frost damage and just never grew back.  I would guess (without direct knowledge) that they'd do a lot better without frost, or with jusf a couple degrees warmer than my place.  Jusf a few miles Southeast of me, Leu Gardens has grown several to fruiting 40+ foot monsters.  But they are inside the "urban heat island," which definitely helps.

You could check @kinzyjr's spreadsheet of cold damage.  There should be some CA reports that should help!

[Merlyn]

 

[Chavy87]

1 hour ago, Merlyn said:

 

Based off the data, cold wouldn't be too much of a concern. We may have a 2 or 3 days under 30 last winter. 

[Fusca]

3 hours ago, Chavy87 said:

Considering this palm in 9b Northern California. From what I've read, it may be doable. Does anyone have any experience with these palms?

Just be aware that these palms are monocarpic and will die a couple years after flowering.  According to Palmpedia they can reach 60' in height (big boy palm) in about 25 years.  Not really suitable for a small yard and a huge expensive removal project down the road.  But it's a beautiful palm.  Maybe it's doable in NorCal but is it worth it?

[Chavy87]

18 minutes ago, Fusca said:

Just be aware that these palms are monocarpic and will die a couple years after flowering.  According to Palmpedia they can reach 60' in height (big boy palm) in about 25 years.  Not really suitable for a small yard and a huge expensive removal project down the road.  But it's a beautiful palm.  Maybe it's doable in NorCal but is it worth it?

I am aware. It is unfortunate that they are monocarpic. As far as, is it worth it? Yes and no but I stopped keeping track of the money wasted on palms and tropical plants, along time ago.

[Josue Diaz]

Obtusa grows in Fresno, and urens will bloom and seed in Fresno. I dont know of an obtusa old enough to bloom in this area, but I know of at least 3 big juveniles, and one trunking palm in the Fresno area (Old Fig Garden, Sunnyside, Del Rey, Tower District). It's only a matter of time before one of them does bloom - likely the one in Del Ray which is the oldest and biggest. This is a picture of mine from a year ago. It's put on some size since then. 

[Josue Diaz]

Here's one you can see on street view. I drive past this property almost daily - and it appears this one may be close to trunking as well. 

[PalmBossTampa]

Life is short , plant the largest one you can afford to lose and try

[Harry’s Palms]

Mine is almost 25 , no flowers yet but plenty of frond size . Not nearly as tall as Urens . Harry

‘Caryota Obtusa at over 25 years old on the right. , Caryota Urens even older on the left . No flowers yet🤞. Already talked to the tree service about cutting them down when the time comes. I was quoted $300 for the Urens . I may be able to do the Obtusa myself , neither one have flowered. This pic was taken over a year ago. Harry

[Merlyn]

On 12/17/2025 at 9:45 PM, Chavy87 said:

Based off the data, cold wouldn't be too much of a concern. We may have a 2 or 3 days under 30 last winter. 

Temps under 30 here caused severe damage to mine.  But that's with frost, a big killer of all marginal plants.  The same temps also killed small Urens and some Mitis trunks, though the rest of the cluster always grows back.  I'd think the main cold risks are either frost or high and really dry dessicating winds at night.  If you don't have either of those, there's probably not a lot of risk around 30F.  Depending on the size you get, you could either cover it with a cardboard box or frost cloth initially.  I did that here with a few questionable ones like Corypha, Elaeis, Attalea, etc.  This helped prevent frond damage on the one or two really bad nights.  A touch of fungicide in the crown during the winter would help prevent crown rot.

[Motlife]

They grow well in Nelson, New Zealand. We would be borderline 9b/10a. We probably get more frost than you would though even if temps are slightly higher. The large one I know of is in a garden under 20-30m tall canopy and is growing great. I have one I bought from a nursery less than a year ago that looks a bit rough, but was growing completely in the open and neglected (got it for $20 nz), and I've potted it up and it's growing well now. So I think in a good sheltered it should do well for you.  

That pic is 3 years ago, and it's grown lots in the meantime