Plants to be donated to the only botanical garden in Athens

[Phoenikakias]

All belong to Sabal genus. A maritima, two blackburniana and an unknown specimen, probably palmetto (because it dies quickly in clay soil!).

All of them together

S maritima

Sabal blackburniana x2 (whatever this invalid name stands in current case for)

And finally the unknown specimen

 

[Than]

Is that Diomedes gardens? So, I expect to see a commemorative plaque with your name on it next time I visit! 

 

[gyuseppe]

Chamaedorea tepejilote at the Botanical Garden of Naples
It's very familiar to me! A donation of mine from a few years ago.

[Phoenikakias]

1 hour ago, Than said:

Is that Diomedes gardens? So, I expect to see a commemorative plaque with your name on it next time I visit! 

 

Lol there is already one, although I had not asked for it.

[Than]

Good idea. I could give them many plants too

[realarch]

4 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

All belong to Sabal genus. A maritima, two blackburniana and an unknown specimen, probably palmetto (because it dies quickly in clay soil!).

All of them together

S maritima

Sabal blackburniana x2 (whatever this invalid name stands in current case for)

And finally the unknown specimen

 

Most Excellent! I’ll check the plantings out when visiting Athens next fall. 

Tim

[happypalms]

No place like a permanent home they say, good one for all Palm humanity!

[Phoenikakias]

An update, plants already brought there. A picture of the chief gardener next to the donated plants.

And the previous happy owner...

 

[gyuseppe]

Well done my friend, I too have donated plants to the botanical garden of Naples in the past, I also donated the very common chamaedorea radicalis, an easy to find plant, but they didn't have it, I saw lately that they were male and female and they produced seeds.

[happypalms]

Keep up the good work, the world needs more palms! 

[Phoenikakias]

1 hour ago, happypalms said:

Keep up the good work, the world needs more palms! 

I do my best! Unfortunately this particular Botanical Garden lies in a frost pocket and therefore it is suitable only for selected, cold hardy palms. And most unfortunately there is no other Botanical Garden in strict sense in Attica, only parks.  Parks are not safe for palms for various reasons. Most crucial one is, that care takers do not keep an inventory of existing spp and are not interested at all in the well being or even survival of unique exemplaries, instead they are  concerned only about the general outlook and the functionality of existing plants. Hopefully the planned new park in Hellenikon (southern suburbs) will keep a more botanical  character, as I have still more tropical palms to dispose of (Rhopalostylis sapida and baueri, Chambeyronia, Howea, Archontophoenix).

[happypalms]

38 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

I do my best! Unfortunately this particular Botanical Garden lies in a frost pocket and therefore it is suitable only for selected, cold hardy palms. And most unfortunately there is no other Botanical Garden in strict sense in Attica, only parks.  Parks are not safe for palms for various reasons. Most crucial one is, that care takers do not keep an inventory of existing spp and are not interested at all in the well being or even survival of unique exemplaries, instead they are  concerned only about the general outlook and the functionality of existing plants. Hopefully the planned new park in Hellenikon (southern suburbs) will keep a more botanical  character, as I have still more tropical palms to dispose of (Rhopalostylis sapida and baueri, Chambeyronia, Howea, Archontophoenix).

There are plenty of cold tolerant species out there , obtainable yes but it will take research time and money. This is why we need such palm nuts on that job. And it will take dedication to such a project dont give up, it will take many years of self determination. But good on you, work with the garden curator and show your serious about the project and talk about conservation with him, but also listen to him and work with what he wants build up that relationship and it will happen. 

[Phoenikakias]

First three donated plants (all Sabal), already plugged in.

[Than]

On 4/9/2026 at 2:36 PM, Phoenikakias said:

An update, plants already brought there. A picture of the chief gardener next to the donated plants.

And the previous happy owner...

 

Wow, they should give your name to the palm section of the garden! Haha. When I visit I'll go see them

[Than]

On 4/10/2026 at 10:33 AM, Phoenikakias said:

Chambeyronia, Howea, Archontophoenix

Dispose on me!! 😆

[Phoenikakias]

28 minutes ago, Than said:

Dispose on me!! 😆

Perhaps, but you have first to be proven worthy to get them, meaning being able to keep them alive. Keep putting effort despite occasional setback.

[Than]

3 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

Perhaps, but you have first to be proven worthy to get them, meaning being able to keep them alive. Keep putting effort despite occasional setback.

I kept a Ptychosperma elegans seedling alive in the ground! I only probably lost my leptocheilos although deep inside I think there might still be hope for it. I'm getting there! 😁

Btw I repotted B. alfredii and also Veitchia Joannis as you said, in deep pots full of pumice. No summer holiday for me! Unless I take them along haha!!

[happypalms]

15 hours ago, Than said:

I kept a Ptychosperma elegans seedling alive in the ground! I only probably lost my leptocheilos although deep inside I think there might still be hope for it. I'm getting there! 😁

Btw I repotted B. alfredii and also Veitchia Joannis as you said, in deep pots full of pumice. No summer holiday for me! Unless I take them along haha!!

I do believe your climate is temperate correct? If so try to avoid rock mineral based substrate, it’s too cold in winter especially when wet. Go for a warmer substrate mix like coco coir perlite and a little good quality potting soil. A much warmer substrate mix. If you want to grow subtropicals and tropicals in cold climates. 

[Than]

5 minutes ago, happypalms said:

I do believe your climate is temperate correct? If so try to avoid rock mineral based substrate, it’s too cold in winter especially when wet. Go for a warmer substrate mix like coco coir perlite and a little good quality potting soil. A much warmer substrate mix. If you want to grow subtropicals and tropicals in cold climates. 

My climate is 9B, not too different from that of @Phoenikakias . Occasional mild frost but potted palms are brought indoors when cold. 

[happypalms]

2 minutes ago, Than said:

My climate is 9B, not too different from that of @Phoenikakias . Occasional mild frost but potted palms are brought indoors when cold. 

I can see why you bring them indoors, in a cold climate like that with ptychosperma elegans! 

[Than]

20 minutes ago, happypalms said:

I can see why you bring them indoors, in a cold climate like that with ptychosperma elegans! 

Ptychosperma was in the ground under canopy and it made it surprisingly! Sandy soil helped. I didn't even add any protection 

[Phoenikakias]

22 minutes ago, happypalms said:

I can see why you bring them indoors, in a cold climate like that with ptychosperma elegans! 

Just a prank. Visited his garden during after hours and replaced the ptycho with a tor tor!

[happypalms]

On 4/30/2026 at 9:16 PM, Phoenikakias said:

Just a prank. Visited his garden during after hours and replaced the ptycho with a tor tor!

Bit of a Cold War hey! 🤣

[happypalms]

On 4/30/2026 at 9:11 PM, Than said:

Ptychosperma was in the ground under canopy and it made it surprisingly! Sandy soil helped. I didn't even add any protection 

That’s the one sandy soil is the trick for winter with palms, if you have sandy soil your winter advantage is up it warms up faster! 

[Than]

On 4/30/2026 at 2:16 PM, Phoenikakias said:

Just a prank. Visited his garden during after hours and replaced the ptycho with a tor tor!

Oh was that you in the camera? We thought it was a wild boar! 

[Hu Palmeras]

On 24/12/2025 at 16:35, Phoenikakias said:

Jaja, ya hay uno, aunque yo no lo pedí.

I tried the Masafati dates. They have a very rich flavor, more like a caramel or a toffee. They are a variety from Iran.