Japanese variegated rhapis

[happypalms]

Variegated palms you either like them or you don’t like them. I myself like them, not as uncontrollable like its green cousin.  Slow growing, most of these ones are all around 30 years old in my garden. Easy to care for and grow, just add water, perfect for rocky soil  helping to bonsai them. Iam slowly removing all my green excelsia varieties and are replacing them with more variegated ones. A great tropical look palm either in the ground or in a container on a balcony! 

[TropicsEnjoyer]

Beautiful pictures as always. Definitely a palm I intend to buy when I have a bit of more money available 😂. I know you probably have a much more ideal climate than I do, but in your experience how long does it take for a little lady palm to really take off and start gaining some growth momentum and good height? My little one is testing my patience right now, albeit we did have a rough winter. 

[rick]

Rhapis excelsa grows really well in all parts of Florida and can make a dense clump over time. Growth is generally faster in ground vs in a pot. The variegated varieties are slower due to the lack of chlorophyll and many are actually dwarfs. In my experience even the non-dwarf varieties do not grow as large as the standard green.

[happypalms]

6 hours ago, TropicsEnjoyer said:

Beautiful pictures as always. Definitely a palm I intend to buy when I have a bit of more money available 😂. I know you probably have a much more ideal climate than I do, but in your experience how long does it take for a little lady palm to really take off and start gaining some growth momentum and good height? My little one is testing my patience right now, albeit we did have a rough winter. 

They are a nice palm, warm feet they like and will start to get a move on, you could have gotten a runt sucker, a really healthy vigorous sucker taken from the parent plant should see a nice potted plant in 5 years with a few suckers forming and about 2 feet in height. They are slow to start but once they get a move on it’s the sss as me speed of growth as the green ones. Different varieties have varied growth rates, try ayanishiki or zuikonishiki they are the toughest ones and easiest to grow. 

[happypalms]

4 hours ago, rick said:

Rhapis excelsa grows really well in all parts of Florida and can make a dense clump over time. Growth is generally faster in ground vs in a pot. The variegated varieties are slower due to the lack of chlorophyll and many are actually dwarfs. In my experience even the non-dwarf varieties do not grow as large as the standard green.

There a great palm for the cooler climates, not frost but take a fair amount of cold. The Japanese bonsai most of there ones. I even seen them as potted plants outside there homes in Japan. As you say once in the ground they get a move on. Variegated excelsia are the fastest growing variety, while some of the other varieties are incredibly slow. Still there a beautiful palm regardless of growth rates.