Layered Planting

[MattyB]

Many of us have small gardens and still want to plant many species without overcrowding it all.  One thing I learned when I first started getting into palms is you can plant several different species very close to one another without overcrowding by having the appropriate sized plant having the desired growth rate.  For example I have planted all within a few feet:  (1)A. cunninghamiana, (2)Ptychosperma elegans, and (1) Ravenea glauca.  The A. cunninghamiana is the biggest, Ptychosperma medium sized, and the glauca the smallest.  The Ptychospermas crowns will never get into the Archontophoenix, and the R. glauca will never reach into the Ptychospermas.  So, as they grow this layered canopy is full, yet spacious.  What examples of layered planting to you guys have?

[bgl]

Matt,

where is the picture??

Bo-Göran

[MattyB]

sorry Bo wrong computer (stupid home dialup).  I'll have to post a pic later.  Can't you use your mental palm imagery?  Such a master garden planner as yourself must have the gift.

[bgl]

Matt,

That's not a problem. I just wanted to know if your reality lives up to my imagination!

And I love the layered look. Here's some Phoenix roebelenii (YES, I have Phoenix!!) at the bottom, some medium sized Cyrtostachys renda (to the right) and (of course) Clinostigmas above them.

Bo-Göran

[bgl]

And, YES, more Phoenix roebelenii, with (barely visible)Pinanga coronata just behind and above them, and (of course) towering over these, a row of Clinostigma samoense. This photo is taken just outside the entrance to our property.

[tikitiki]

I use layering more for protecting against frost than to keep them from getting over crowded. I can take overcrowding more than I can losing to frost.

Here are some foxtails protecting me kerriodoxa, Licula peltata and kentiopsis.

And washingtonias protecting a small Neoveitchia just to the right of the coccos.

[tikitiki]

[quaman58]

You're dead on Matt. For me it's about getting a jungle feel without that crowded look; also assuming that one, (sun lover), will filter the sun for another. My latest attempt at this are two Queens separated by about 15 feet, with a Pinanga javana & a Hedyscepe in their "shawdow zones". A different tack is a close planting of a Caryota Urens, which lives fast & dies young, and a no windows Beccariophoenix. I'm try to look a few years down the line...Anyway, great topic..

Bret

[bgl]

Bret,

My experience is that Beccariophoenix 'no windows' is much slower when grown in shade compared to full sun.

Bo-Göran

[Fred Zone 10A]

I'm glad to see master gardener bgl uses lots of Phoenix roebelenii in his jungle paradise.  They are the "Rodney Dangerfield" of palms, but I love their look and their small size.  They are perfect for tucking in under bigger palms since they will grow in sun or shade and don't take up much space and grow fairly fast.

[ghar41]

(MattyB @ Aug. 26 2006,01:40)

QUOTE

 What examples of layered planting to you guys have?

These were all large transplants so it was easy to see how they would fit together.  Taken at night:

Butia capitata

Trachycarpus fortunei "wagnerianus"

Chamerops humilis

with small Dioon edule, Trithrinax schizophylla, and Rhapidophylum hystrix in the foreground and background (not visible)

[Kris]

Dear guys  

excellant topic & very nice pictures.

and post no.5 the layered planting of

palms in bo goran's property is very

pleasing to the eye.around 3 layer of

palms are seen in it ?

this techineque is new to us in india,it does

appear to be very neat & tidy.

thanks for sharing.

Love,

Kris.

[MattyB]

Nice pics everyone.  Here's the King, double Ptychosperma and R. glauca I was talking about.  Obviously they are small still but I think you can get the idea of their separation in size vs growth rate.