All Activity

Yep this year apparently it's just normal for me to be below freezing half the winter. Normaly it's super hard to get below freezing buttons year its just normal. I'll have to break out all the protection again since I'm forecast to be 35 as of now witch means more like 30.

Nice! Merry early Birthmas! 5 gallon?

Clay, where did you get your C. dodecandra seeds? If you ever get any from your specimen, I'd love to buy some from you. I've looked for that species but never have found any seed sources. My C. sebestena is doing fine and about ten feet tall but planted under broken canopy at the edge of my Hibiscus tiliaceus for extra protection, and a few feet from the (heated) pool for a little extra bump in winter. We rarely hit the freezing-point here but usually come perilously close at least once a year. I think this is one of those really tropical dicots that hates long stretches of cool/cold weather (as my winter-shaded, northern-exposure specimen perished in the cold 2022/'23 winter here) but in a south or west-facing suntrap they are very happy. I wish it weren't damaged by strong winds but this seems more damaging in fall, where the unsightly appearance doesn't last long if the tree loses most of its leaves in winter. In spring the new leaves aren't yet out when we get most of those crazy wind-blasts, so they always have excellent appearance in the warm season. This year my tree is looking good and has most of its leaves still. As far as frost/freeze goes I imagine they are more tender in actual frost than with a light dry freeze (i.e., Sonoran desert), and it seems Scott's experience would bear that out compared to wet freezes/frosts encountered east of the Divide. A pleasantly modifying factor in all this is that it's a fast-growing plant, blooms young, and can generally be sourced and replaced readily after a cold winter does it in, without spending much to get it back into your garden. Good for usually frostless Texas/Florida 10a/b areas where it can go for a number of years before it's endangered by a frost. Cordia boisseri (white geiger) is so much hardier and makes a very pretty tree (some really nice big specimens around Key West). It does beautifully here as well (and sets seed freely) but I'm a sucker for the orange flowers and the huge leaves on C. sebestena. Also there is a species occasionally in the trade in the southwest that is a smaller shrub with white flowers, C. parvifolia, native to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and obviously also quite hardy; and a probably uncultivated but showy tall tree, C. sonorae, with white flowers, native to Sonora around Alamos. I also have C. lutea here, and it does nicely as well. I wonder if the orange-colored Polynesian C. subcordata is very tender...something tells me--yes...

I prefer planting them when the ground starts to warm up. This is to help the roots get established easier.

They can take some cold, no doubt.

They look very beautiful, Bactris militaris & Bactris gasipaes?

The Cordia sebestena which I am aware here in Port Isabel/South Padre Island look like that as well now after one short night at 30-31f with 30mph winds. The Cordia dodecandra (a similar Central American species) which I planted last summer look much better. There was some damage to 60/70% of foliage, but most still have some green. Those that were fried have already dropped and new leaves are sprouting. I am hopeful this will be a more than adequate substitue for C. sebestena here as they are only marginally hardy at best in my area. Anyone else trying C. dodecandra? My apologies if I am hijacking the thread.

Thanks!

I overwintered my last batch of Trachycarpus fortunei seedlings in the ground and it was below freezing for a couple of weeks; we also had some rain and snow mixed events about the same time (a year ago, in fact). We experienced temperatures around -10 C or less each at night. I mulched up around the seedlings a bit for protection, that was all. If they are in pots, I can't speak to the whole root ball freezing, though. Best offer some protection.

1st looks like A. striata. 2nd.. Not too sure.. Old flower inflo is throwing me off.. A. medusae, / tongaensis, and sabaea all produce branched inflos, and the droopy -ish looking, recurved foliage yours possesses. Hybrid ..of some sort.. is possible.

To bad u are not coming to big island

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/338806575

Here are a couple that I grew from seed.

Thank you!

Bactris has been an easy grow for me from seed. It seems like they benefit from a mild fungicide every once in a while. I would separate them from the fungus infected soil for sure and let dry between watering

There is A LOT to do on O'ahu in the world of horticulture and landscape...pardon my very long post here but Honolulu is a big city, O'ahu is a good-sized island, with several diverse climate-types, and this is just some of what is there for your botanical enjoyment... The single most important place for you to go is Lyon Arboretum, part of the University of Hawai'i, at the top of Manoa Road. Truly spectacular and you'll probably want to go up there more than once. The late great Ray Baker along with Bob Hirano were the driving forces there in the latter 20th century, establishing amazing collections of palms, Heliconia and many other plants in this perfect, rainy greenhouse of a place. You can really wander into the deep tropical forest there, and you can see things like Amherstia nobilis and lots of other rarities thriving. There are also a lot of plantings on the UH campus further down the valley toward town. For a flip-side experience, you should go to Koko Head Crater and botanical garden...this fascinating crater has a semi-desert climate with one of the best collections of Plumeria on the planet. Also many other tropical plants that thrive in such a dry, hot environment (Madagascar, etc.). Very useful to inspire you for your Arizona garden. Very importantly, remember to bring water with you if you go there...water/beverages are not available, and the dehydration factor may remind you of Arizona! Foster is important because it's a very old botanical garden and thus has some very large specimens of many tropical palms and other plants that represent early introductions. I lived in Honolulu in '88-'89 and would often visit Foster Gardens, it was the first place I ever saw the beautiful Satakentia liukiuensis...I was really transfixed by those palms and I'll bet they are really something after all these years. You might also look into Wahiawa Botanical Garden...interesting because it is located upland, in the middle of the island (near the Dole Plantation). Also Waimea Botanical Garden on the windward side of the island, I remember that being a very nice walk up into that valley...but not sure if it's worth the ticket price considering how many other options you have. To me some of the best experiences are to be found just wandering in town and through some of the old parks like Ala Moana, and Kapi'olani. If you walk down along Kapi'olani Park (on Kalakaua Avenue) by the Aquarium and toward Diamond head it's a really pleasant experience parallel to the beach and it's fun just to explore the neighborhoods flanking Diamond Head, just to look at the residential landscapes. More Singapore Plumeria and Tahitian Gardenia than you can shake a stick at, and lots of beautiful uses of lava-stone walls and other Hawai'i-style landscaping elements that may give you inspiration for your own landscape back at home. Other well-heeled areas that feature very nice landscaping and good for an easy driving tour include Kahala (on the other side of Diamond Head, this is where Magnum P.I. was largely shot), and up on Tantalus and Makiki Heights (Round Top Drive, Makiki Heights Drive), very jungly area with large estates hiding behind some wonderful plantings, you can work that area in with a trip to Manoa. Through this area and going up to the Pali, you'll see gigantic pothos and Cup of Gold vines snaking through the trees that will blow your mind. There is also a botanical garden at Tantalus but I haven't ever been there. As far as public-facing landscaping palms are concerned, Pritchardia pacifica in particular is used all over the place, particularly in commercial and hotel settings, and seems to reach its visual zenith in Honolulu's climate, and you may really fall under the spell of that palm. Honolulu is famous for its huge banyan trees and you will also see incredible Monkeypod (Samanea saman) trees wherever there is room for them, along parkways, especially Moanalua Road/Hwy and at the Moanalua Gardens. If you have time, try to include the historic areas of downtown. Fort Street Mall, University Avenue, King Street all have wonderful old plantings around the historic buildings, lots of mature Pritchardia pacifica and Ptychosperma, et al. in random plantings in the commercial center. Also lots of beautiful red and pink ginger and Heliconia all over the place around Honolulu. I assume since my last visit (I think 2008) many new tropical palm and other plant introductions have arrived and thrived in landscapes around the city as well, especially in hotel landscapes. I remember noticing during my last visit that in particular Areca vestiaria had become more common in landscapes there. In Waikiki proper, you must wander, wander, wander, especially through the larger hotel properties, and go to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and see the Banyan filled with its crowd of garrulous Mynah birds and some really magnificent old plantings of Ptychosperma macarthurii up against the hotel walls. The landscaping there epitomizes old gracious Hawai'ian landscaping of the early 20th century, and everything is very well maintained in the "Hawai'i style." Keep in mind that Honolulu enjoys a really interesting convergence of mostly Pacific/Asiatic cultures, Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and others, and so there is some real landscape diversity based on those cultural traditions. The East-West Center Japanese Garden next to UH is well known, and the Hawai'i Int'l Airport's cultural garden (yes, in the middle of the airport!) was designed in the early '60s by famed Landscape Architect and author Richard C. Tongg and hopefully you can work that in with your arrival or departure. And for just the natural beauty of the island, don't forget to drive out along the Kalaniana'ole Hwy to Makapu'u Beach (famous for the sand that will be deposited in your swimsuit, and you can see Maui!) and further along, the view of the Ko'olau Mountains in Waimanalo is truly spectacular and should not be missed. If you take that trip (which could include Koko Head), you might also visit some of the nurseries along that route. Just a few I remember are nurseries like Ni'i Nurseries (Charles Ni'i Nursery and also R&S Ni'i Nursery, there are two of these) above Hawai'i Kai near Koko Head. Frankie's Nursery (mostly tropical fruit trees but also some ornamentals) in Waimanalo is very well known, and may be worth visiting for a wander. If you're interested in Plumeria there are some major nurseries like Jim Little Plumeria Farms. Many of these nurseries will ship to the mainland as well. There used to be quite a few well-known mom-and-pop nurseries specializing in orchids, anthuriums, etc. around the island and I'm not sure how many of these are still around. But you might just google nurseries and call around, and I'm sure there will be a good selection to choose from. While many people associate Honolulu with coconuts, banyans, breadfruit, monkeypods, Plumeria, Anthurium, orchids, gingers, Cordyline, et al., Honolulu is also famous for its flowering trees, and you will likely see some nice ones in bloom in April, including Pink-and-white Shower (Cassia javanica), Rainbow Shower (Cassia x nealeae), Silver Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia aurea) and the Primavera (Tabebuia/Cybistax/Roseodendron donnell-smithii). If you can't tell from my verbose listing, there's a lot to see pretty much everywhere you go!

Hello all, I’m looking to ID these two aloes. Both transplanted.

Looks really good! Happy early birthday!

In my area you can plant a lot of things 9 months out of the year. I would say it's safe to plant palms Mid to late February if they're fully Hardy, but I just typically choose to wait to plant the first week of march

Yesterday, the girlfriend got me a European Fan Palm as an early birthday present. I repotted it this morning. This is my first time growing one of these.

Bump, any advise anyone?

These are good news, Richard 🤗.

Yeah, never hurts.

New spear starting to open on my Hyophorbe lagenicaulis. Not bad for mid February

They really went full out microclimate on those!!