Locating a Lepidorrachis

[Foggy Paul]

Say hello to my little friend, purchased from @Darold Petty just before Christmas. 

It was gorgeous today, I think all over California, so we did a little garden cleanup. This got me to thinking about where I intend to put this plant, probably in mid to late February. I have two spots, close together but quite different. Here’s the overall view. 

One location is where the Cycas is currently. It has never done well, I think due to scale, but is looking better lately. Still I would not hesitate to move or remove it. This location gets plenty of sun spring through fall, I’m concerned maybe too much. Eventually there will be more canopy but this will take years. It is very visible from our patio which is desirable. Darold recommends this location. 
 

The other option is a few feet away underneath the growing Sphaeropteris medullaris. Despite its own issues with sun, it will provide filtered shade for years and will gain height, allowing the Lepidorrhachis to become more visible. Honestly I am leaning towards this option but want to see what the group thinks. It’s possible that I get a bit more sun than Darold, and of course I don’t have anything like his mature canopy. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

[Harry’s Palms]

For palms that size I like partial shade , mostly. It looks very healthy and I am not familiar with that species so I don’t know how much sun it likes. The second location seems to fit and it looks like it will have more room there. Just my humble opinion, Harry

[PlantMorePalms]

Very nice palm, I'm jealous.

I've sunburned a lot of palms by putting them in spots where they'll "eventually" have canopy, and at the speed most palms grow here it takes quite a while for them to look good again. I'd put something this rare and valuable in the spot with more reliable shade, or use shade cloth in the other spot until the canopy develops if the sunnier spot is more prominent and you want this to be a showpiece. 

[Aloha Palms]

Wow! That’s incredible. I’d love a Lepidorrachis Mooreana in my garden. My recommendation is to go with the spot Darold recommends because he has experience with them.

[tim_brissy_13]

I’d personally play it safe and ensure it’s shaded from the start. I don’t think there’s such a thing as too much shade for Lepis. 

[Jonathan]

I reckon either option would be ok in your climate, which is prettysimilar to mine...shade is definitely preferable when they're young, but that's a pretty robust looking specimen you've got. Beautifully grown @Darold Petty.

[DoomsDave]

Wow keep us apprised @Foggy Paul! I hear Lepidorrachis need to have a perfect home or they just croak.

[Foggy Paul]

18 hours ago, DoomsDave said:

Wow keep us apprised @Foggy Paul! I hear Lepidorrachis need to have a perfect home or they just croak.

Haha yes, hence my interest in optimal siting. If I can keep it alive I will have 3 of the 4 LHI species, only missing the most obvious one. Maybe I can fit a forsteriana in somewhere…

[Jonathan]

4 minutes ago, Foggy Paul said:

Haha yes, hence my interest in optimal siting. If I can keep it alive I will have 3 of the 4 LHI species, only missing the most obvious one. Maybe I can fit a fosteriana in somewhere…

You should, cause they're beautiful!

[Foggy Paul]

12 minutes ago, Jonathan said:

You should, cause they're beautiful!

 

I know! Our neighbors across the street have two, and despite being somewhat neglected both look pretty good. When I met @JasonD and told him where I live, he asked me if I was the one with the Howeas. Sadly no.

[Darold Petty]

@Foggy Paul, check my listing in the "For sale" section,  

[Jonathan]

Get 'em in NOW!!

[Foggy Paul]

Haha OK @Jonathan, I will get one of Darold's plants! I may put it in the front yard to complement the neighbors'. We have a couple of spots that have opened up since our proteas keep outgrowing their spaces and/or falling over.