Why are foxtails so popular overseas, I see a lot of growers who bend over backwards to have one in there garden.

In Australia they are a landscapers favourite, chain stores sell them like they are going out of fashion.

Yet to a palm collecting palm nut in Australia they hardly get a second look. I have them in my garden but they don’t wow me like other palms do.

Yes they are bullet proof, take a beating in sunlight, tolerance of a lot of dry conditions and they grow in some of the rockiest soil around. Cold frosty weather seems to be there only enemy.

They are becoming a bit of weed in the Northern Territory around the Darwin area, with city councils asking people not to plant them as they grow so well in the heat up north.

So what’s the beauty and challenge a lot of overseas growers find in them!

some people talk about the queen palms the same way you describe the ubiquitous foxtail in Australia.....what makes foxtails so popular (at lease in florida)is they are bulletproof. foxtails resemble royal palms but do not get as large, which is a big factor for most homeowners with limited space.

8 minutes ago, donalt said:

some people talk about the queen palms the same way you describe the ubiquitous foxtail in Australia.....what makes foxtails so popular (at lease in florida)is they are bulletproof. foxtails resemble royal palms but do not get as large, which is a big factor for most homeowners with limited space.

Never really looked at a foxtail as a royal palm, but yes the trunk is somewhat a little similar. I guess a smaller version of a total in a way.

And the best looking queen palm I ever saw was in habitat in South America, the perfect spot for them, but not in my garden dare I say!

I say DoomsDave them. They're intolerably boring. Agree wholeheartedly with all of the above.

Way less common on the west coast here. But they’ve got a semi Veitchia/Caryota look that makes them interesting IMO. But in Hawaii, wow, they do indeed take on near Roystonea proportions.

Foxtails are definitely less trouble free than royals around my place. Planted too close to houses they get mineral deficiencies in clayish soil. With proper siting and soil they can look nice here, but the royals seem to defy the need for care if they get water. Most of the foxtails around my neighborhood are deficient in some way, perhaps 1/3 look nice with no obvious yellowing(Mg) or potassium deficiency. I am sure I could grow a nice one in the right spot, but that "right spot" has other options. Foxtails are not a canopy palm unless bunched and they take a lot of time to get big enough to function as canopy. The foxtail leaf is an architectural touch that some probably like. A royal is going to be a big tree and drop big leaves so it is does not compete with foxtails for function. I would not want a royal over the driveway for example. Foxtails are more competitive function wise with adonidias, not royals. I had a small foxtail once, it was killed in 28F in 2010. SInce then my yard has grown in and there is plenty of canopy with windbreak as well. I would like a fox lady and am holding out for one, but I might settle for a foxtail. I have a half a dozen palms in containers that will go in before a foxtail. I think the average homeowner here doesn't look at palms for shade, they are looking at an accent planting in a wide open " maintenance free" HOT yard. The lack of shade keeps you inside a few extra months a year and runs the AC harder, but most do not realize that or care. Most will opt for that live oak for shade if they appreciate the extra outdoor time or AC savings. A royal is not an accent palm, they don't plant them these days in new home landscape packages. Plant, auto irrigate, and ignore doesnt work well with foxtails here but works very well with royals. But are clearly too big a tree for a small yard that is typical these days(55; x 110') with 10-15' on each side.

7 hours ago, happypalms said:

Why are foxtails so popular overseas, I see a lot of growers who bend over backwards to have one in there garden.

In Australia they are a landscapers favourite, chain stores sell them like they are going out of fashion.

Yet to a palm collecting palm nut in Australia they hardly get a second look. I have them in my garden but they don’t wow me like other palms do.

Yes they are bullet proof, take a beating in sunlight, tolerance of a lot of dry conditions and they grow in some of the rockiest soil around. Cold frosty weather seems to be there only enemy.

They are becoming a bit of weed in the Northern Territory around the Darwin area, with city councils asking people not to plant them as they grow so well in the heat up north.

So what’s the beauty and challenge a lot of overseas growers find in them!

You guys always offload the lower-tier stuff to the yanks. I NEVER saw a can of Fosters the time I was down under.

I'm surprised you guys don't sell us snakes, too.

Wodhyethia has become a victim of its own success. Imagine if it was discovered today - a large, landscape suitable palm with a crownshaft, self cleaning and large very full and plumose fronds. You can understand the attraction beyond the palm enthusiast community.

I have friends and family that go up to the tropics and subtropics and have showed me photos of Foxtail palms being wowed by them and asking what they are. Objectively they are a beautiful species when well grown and they are adaptable to a range of soil conditions and even some warm temperate regions. I’m right on the limit of where they will grow and there’s less than a handful of long term survivors that I know of (none look good), yet it doesn’t stop them being sold in the 1000s here and people still lap them up.

17 hours ago, Frond-friend42 said:

I say DoomsDave them. They're intolerably boring. Agree wholeheartedly with all of the above.

They were so popular once, now just as common as syagrus romanzifollia, at the start of the foxtail boom it big money and poaching seeds from national parks, in the end they couldn’t control the whole debacle of the seeds and who had foxtails for sale. Now they have become boring in a sense!

15 hours ago, quaman58 said:

Way less common on the west coast here. But they’ve got a semi Veitchia/Caryota look that makes them interesting IMO. But in Hawaii, wow, they do indeed take on near Roystonea proportions.

I guess in the right setting they are pretty good. The only other palm that has the same look is the Normanbya, given a choice between the two the Normanbya is the winner. A healthy black palm is a real tropical winner of the two.

19 hours ago, SeanK said:

You guys always offload the lower-tier stuff to the yanks. I NEVER saw a can of Fosters the time I was down under.

I'm surprised you guys don't sell us snakes, too.

Well no wonder you never saw a can of fosters, who the heck drinks that dishwater.

And don’t worry we Ozzie’s keep the best best stuff for ourselves!

And come on down under and collect a few snakes, some of the most deadliest snakes in the world mind you, oh and I’ll put another shrimp on the barbi for you!🤣

21 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

Foxtails are definitely less trouble free than royals around my place. Planted too close to houses they get mineral deficiencies in clayish soil. With proper siting and soil they can look nice here, but the royals seem to defy the need for care if they get water. Most of the foxtails around my neighborhood are deficient in some way, perhaps 1/3 look nice with no obvious yellowing(Mg) or potassium deficiency. I am sure I could grow a nice one in the right spot, but that "right spot" has other options. Foxtails are not a canopy palm unless bunched and they take a lot of time to get big enough to function as canopy. The foxtail leaf is an architectural touch that some probably like. A royal is going to be a big tree and drop big leaves so it is does not compete with foxtails for function. I would not want a royal over the driveway for example. Foxtails are more competitive function wise with adonidias, not royals. I had a small foxtail once, it was killed in 28F in 2010. SInce then my yard has grown in and there is plenty of canopy with windbreak as well. I would like a fox lady and am holding out for one, but I might settle for a foxtail. I have a half a dozen palms in containers that will go in before a foxtail. I think the average homeowner here doesn't look at palms for shade, they are looking at an accent planting in a wide open " maintenance free" HOT yard. The lack of shade keeps you inside a few extra months a year and runs the AC harder, but most do not realize that or care. Most will opt for that live oak for shade if they appreciate the extra outdoor time or AC savings. A royal is not an accent palm, they don't plant them these days in new home landscape packages. Plant, auto irrigate, and ignore doesnt work well with foxtails here but works very well with royals. But are clearly too big a tree for a small yard that is typical these days(55; x 110') with 10-15' on each side.

It is one of the keys to growing foxtails is drainage, heavy clay soil is not going to grow a good foxtail. Iam quite lucky to have the foxtail native to our country, after all it gave Australia a name in the palm world just like Madagascar is to palms.

A well grown one is a beautiful site to behold and only a true palm nut can see that beauty, the rest just see as you say that formal look of a set standard accent setting and the diversity of a shade tree in comparison to a palmtree.

The average home owner just wants an easy to care for setting with plants. Maybe mow the lawn and sit back and admire the garden.

It’s only the true gardener who knows what they want in palms and it takes many years to learn such things to look for and if the foxtail fits into that category then it’s a winner and this is what they are so popular.

12 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Wodhyethia has become a victim of its own success. Imagine if it was discovered today - a large, landscape suitable palm with a crownshaft, self cleaning and large very full and plumose fronds. You can understand the attraction beyond the palm enthusiast community.

I have friends and family that go up to the tropics and subtropics and have showed me photos of Foxtail palms being wowed by them and asking what they are. Objectively they are a beautiful species when well grown and they are adaptable to a range of soil conditions and even some warm temperate regions. I’m right on the limit of where they will grow and there’s less than a handful of long term survivors that I know of (none look good), yet it doesn’t stop them being sold in the 1000s here and people still lap them up.

Like the Bismarckia palm a victim of its own success, the resorts love them and the big grand Gold Coast high rise buildings they suit them perfectly in that landscape. Very formal palm. No wonder there in the background of everything in those holiday snaps on the Goldie. Let them line up by the thousands at the chain stores for the foxys, because iam not going to grow them and take up my space for them when I can have a thousand marojejya darinii palms!

10 hours ago, happypalms said:

I guess in the right setting they are pretty good. The only other palm that has the same look is the Normanbya, given a choice between the two the Normanbya is the winner. A healthy black palm is a real tropical winner of the two.

I'm sure there must be a good Normanbya somewhere in Southern California that would allow me to weigh in on that, but I'm unaware of any. I've been "growing" one for 10 years, that is maybe a meter tall, and has a trunk diameter of my thumb.

4 hours ago, happypalms said:

Well no wonder you never saw a can of fosters, who the heck drinks that dishwater.

And don’t worry we Ozzie’s keep the best best stuff for ourselves!

And come on down under and collect a few snakes, some of the most deadliest snakes in the world mind you, oh and I’ll put another shrimp on the barbi for you!🤣

I used to like the 24 oz cans of fosters on a hot day, when I first become of legal age(18). I also used to like sweet wines, cant sand them now. Its true that point of origin keeps the best for themselves, I saw a better line/choices of california wines in california. The best ones I cant get here in florida. You could get lucky on a $ 6-7 bottle of excellent wine in California if you read up a bit. My daughter bought me a birthday present, 3 months of German beer club, 12 bottles a month of various German beers. I think the best is often kept local, never saw any of those German beers in a liquor store in florida.

Do you see Normanbya more in Australia than we do here? I always wondered why it is so rare while Wodyetia has become such a common landscape palm, considering they have such a similar look. Normanbya have a larger wild population, and are found in a more accessible area (Daintree vs Cape Melville). I suppose Wodyetia evolved to tolerate more drought and full sun while Normanbya may be more of a true rainforest palm?

I think they are a great looking palm especially when mature and healthy. Their plumose leaves make them stand out in any garden. I guess I could see that people who don’t have the space or do not want to risk 25-50 lb Roystonea leaves prefer Wodyetia instead. Still a different type of plumose from the Royal but self cleaning unlike Syagrus which is also a plus for me.

15 hours ago, happypalms said:

I guess in the right setting they are pretty good. The only other palm that has the same look is the Normanbya, given a choice between the two the Normanbya is the winner. A healthy black palm is a real tropical winner of the two.

You have nailed it. We grow a Wodyetia here because we can not grow a Normanbya, latter dies fast due to the lack of needed air moisture during summer.

Wodyetia is so popular here because it actually grows well enough here to look good, is plumose pinnate crown shafted and is self cleaning. It has taken the queen palm’s place. Queen palm’s die from disease here. So do most Phoenix species. In my very marginal 9B/10A humid subtropical climate, Wodyetia does better than most other crown shafted alternatives. Yes, Roystonea is very close to being native here and does great too and I do have one and only ONE because one dropped frond cut up more than fills a standard sized trash bin. Roystonea is a much, much larger palm than Wodyetia. Wodyetia is actually more frond hardy in a freeze/frost than Roystonea but Roystonea wins the ultimate cold temp death match. All palms have pros and cons. I’ve come to realize that maintenance is huge as palms mature. Wodyetia seeds like a beast in my yard. Cool at first, but those seeds are like golf balls and weigh a ton… So why are they so popular? Beautiful, cheap, hardy and mostly easy to maintain. What’s not to like?

Oh yeah, and they do pretty good in at least up to cat 3 hurricanes which is a plus here lol.

9 hours ago, quaman58 said:

I'm sure there must be a good Normanbya somewhere in Southern California that would allow me to weigh in on that, but I'm unaware of any. I've been "growing" one for 10 years, that is maybe a meter tall, and has a trunk diameter of my thumb.

Start tracking it down and have a good look, they are a bit cool tender. You need that right microclimate for them and good soil and moisture but once established they are a beautiful palm. Here’s a nice example of a Normanbya, one in a subtropical climate near the coast not far from me.

8 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

I used to like the 24 oz cans of fosters on a hot day, when I first become of legal age(18). I also used to like sweet wines, cant sand them now. Its true that point of origin keeps the best for themselves, I saw a better line/choices of california wines in california. The best ones I cant get here in florida. You could get lucky on a $ 6-7 bottle of excellent wine in California if you read up a bit. My daughter bought me a birthday present, 3 months of German beer club, 12 bottles a month of various German beers. I think the best is often kept local, never saw any of those German beers in a liquor store in florida.

So you were weaned on fosters. Just look at some of the beer in Belgium, unobtainable in Australia. One of the reasons is our alcohol content law is way below what the average Belgium beer is. But not many drink fosters in Australia.

8 hours ago, aabell said:

Do you see Normanbya more in Australia than we do here? I always wondered why it is so rare while Wodyetia has become such a common landscape palm, considering they have such a similar look. Normanbya have a larger wild population, and are found in a more accessible area (Daintree vs Cape Melville). I suppose Wodyetia evolved to tolerate more drought and full sun while Normanbya may be more of a true rainforest palm?

Yes you will see Normanbya a bit, more up north than in my subtropical climate. Some resorts have them, whoever the landscaper was some years ago doing contracts must have known there stuff and was getting palms from up north near cairns. In my area you have to know what you’re looking at but they are around.

7 hours ago, ruskinPalms said:

Wodyetia is so popular here because it actually grows well enough here to look good, is plumose pinnate crown shafted and is self cleaning. It has taken the queen palm’s place. Queen palm’s die from disease here. So do most Phoenix species. In my very marginal 9B/10A humid subtropical climate, Wodyetia does better than most other crown shafted alternatives. Yes, Roystonea is very close to being native here and does great too and I do have one and only ONE because one dropped frond cut up more than fills a standard sized trash bin. Roystonea is a much, much larger palm than Wodyetia. Wodyetia is actually more frond hardy in a freeze/frost than Roystonea but Roystonea wins the ultimate cold temp death match. All palms have pros and cons. I’ve come to realize that maintenance is huge as palms mature. Wodyetia seeds like a beast in my yard. Cool at first, but those seeds are like golf balls and weigh a ton… So why are they so popular? Beautiful, cheap, hardy and mostly easy to maintain. What’s not to like?

That’s one way of explaining it I guess. I dread the day my ones start seeding, might just cut the flower of I think.

They are a winner for a lot of reasons!

7 hours ago, ruskinPalms said:

Oh yeah, and they do pretty good in at least up to cat 3 hurricanes which is a plus here lol.

Their native habitat is up north in cyclone country, so no wonder they stand up to hurricanes!

8 hours ago, Phoenikakias said:

You have nailed it. We grow a Wodyetia here because we can not grow a Normanbya, latter dies fast due to the lack of needed air moisture during summer.

Normanbya is a beautiful palm, iam getting a few more seeds next month I like them that much, but definitely a humid climate with good rainfall palm to look there best.

12 hours ago, happypalms said:

So you were weaned on fosters. Just look at some of the beer in Belgium, unobtainable in Australia. One of the reasons is our alcohol content law is way below what the average Belgium beer is. But not many drink fosters in Australia

Fosters ranks 55th in US sales among beer makers and is the most popular Australian brand here. Not much Fosters sells here either these days. We in the US don't know what a good Aussie beer is I guess.

Wodyetia is the second most popular palm we sell at the nursery where I work in Venice FL, behind Adonidia merrilii. We sell a lot of Dypsis lutescens and Hyophorbe too both bottles and spindles. Not much else in stock besides fishtails, coconuts, cat palms, lady palms etc. I was excited to recently get Alexander palms too. When I began working there 11 years ago we had some cool stuff like Dypsis Cabadae and Phoenix loureirii. But we have a new guy ordering and he doesn’t seem to want to go beyond the usual suspects.

Speaking of beer I’m from Queensland and I sure could use a slab of 4X. Meanwhile it’s Landshark…and very rarely a tinny of Fosters ale, the green can. 🍻churrs mate 🦘

4 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

Fosters ranks 55th in US sales among beer makers and is the most popular Australian brand here. Not much Fosters sells here either these days. We in the US don't know what a good Aussie beer is I guess.

When I was in Oz some 20+ years back, XXXX was a popular domestic beer. Then, each state had its own brand. I don't really recall them except for Victoria Bitters (VB). The project planner flew up from Victoria for his two-week rotation.