All Activity

I hope all the plants that still have a chance recover. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you, Eric. It was an extremely cold winter here too, one of the coldest. It was tough.

Got to the low 30s here a few nights, and several mid to upper 30s nights as well. More frost this year than I have seen since moving to Parrish in 2015. First time frost has been more than just a few rooftops here and there. Most of the winters here I don’t see frost at all (although I’m sure there is a little I have missed because I’m not up checking every morning). Definitely has been the coolest winter I’ve had here since 2015. I was living in Bradenton in 2010. The coldest I’ve seen at my current house was a night at 27 or 28 when an advective freeze blew in from the north northeast in January 2018. Where I’m at is fairly well protected from advective freezes coming from the northwest or even from due north due to my proximity to the gulf and Tampa bay. Damage this year has been slow to materialize. Everything looked ok after her first week from the major cold event. I think my damage has come from frost. Most of my stuff should live, even my 80% burned coconut and C. macrocarpa. My yard has zero canopy other than foxtails, royal and Bismarckia. My royal palm took maybe 10 to 20 percent burn. My foxtails and Bismarckia look no different than any other winter so far. I have 1 Adonidia, it looked diseased heading into this winter so I’m sure it will die which is totally ok. Overall, my area made out well compared to a lot of Florida this winter.

Even in the so-called "rainy season" here there can be periods of mini-drought. I once did some calculations and determined that a disturbingly high proportion of the yearly rainfall fell over a very restricted number of calendar days. I suppose that is true for many locations, but here it seems to be somewhat more amplified. In the extreme heat of summer, a relatively short period without precipitation can become problematic very quickly. Nothing lasts forever though, and this cycle will modify...eventually. I do not claim to fully understand the nature of climate change and how it contributes to this current pattern, but there is very compelling macro data that suggests the globe is warming overall, and rainfall patterns are being disrupted. Global warming does not occur in a linear fashion though. It is punctuated by extremes in the opposite direction. It has been almost surreal to be at the epicenter of these extremes. Drought, extreme wind and extreme temperatures this winter. Don't know why it is for sure, and don't know when, or if, it will return to "normal". Whatever it is, I hate it.

Here is a preliminary cold damage to my personal palm collection. I live in Altamonte Springs, about 14 miles north of Orlando. Its a little colder than the metro Orlando area. My yard does have some good tree canopy in the back but this didn't make much difference with the winds. The first night of the freeze was 23F with 20-30mph winds all night and it was below 32F for over 10 hours. The 2nd night dropped to 28F but it was still with frost. This was the coldest freeze since the record Christmas 1989 freeze. It was also the first hard freeze with high winds the entire night. PALMS Acoelorrhaphe wrightii (4’)- no damage Aiphanes horrida x minima (6’) -100% burn, already had about 25% burn from earlier cold, it always showed damage below about 35F every year but always quickly recovered, not sure this time Archontophoenix cunninghamiana (20’) -major burn Archontophoenix purpurea (7’)- 100% burn Areca triandra (3’) -100% burn Arenga engleri (7’)- surprisingly burn on one leaf Arenga hookeriana (5’)- all tall stems 100% burned, shorter suckers green Beccariophoenix alfredii (15’, 10’)- both have severe burn but green in center Borassodendron machodonis (3’)- COVERED, no damage Brassiophoenix drymophoeoides (5’)- 100% burn Carpentaria acuminata x Adonidia merrillii (25’)- 100% burn Caryota mitis ‘Variegata’ (3’)- severe burn Chamaedorea elegans (2’)-100% burn Chamaedorea ernestii-augustii (3’)- 100% burn Chamaedorea metallica (2’)- 100% burn Chamaedorea microspadix (6’)- no damage Chambeyronia macrocarpa (3’)- all leaves burned except newest Chelyocarpus chuco (4’)- COVERED no damage Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos (3’)- 100% burn Chrysalidocarpus lutescens ‘Nana’ (3’)- COVERED but partially blew off, 50% burn Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis (Mahajanga form) (6’)- 100% burn Chrysalidocarous onilahensis (3’)- light burn Chrysalidocarpus pembanus (15’)- 100% burn on the 2 tall trunks, suckers have some green leaves Chrysalidocarpus psammophilus (3’)- 100% burn Chuniophoenix hainanensis (3’)- no damage Clinostigma savoryanum (4’)- 2 newest leaves have no damage, others burned Coccothrinax barbadensis (3’)- light burn Coccothrinax crinita (3’) – severe burn Coccothrinax spissa (3’)- severe burn Cocos nucifera ‘Green Malayan’ (10’, 3’ trunk)- almost 100% burn but a few green leaflets and petioles still green, already push new growth, it already had about 20% burn from frost a couple weeks prior Copernicia alba (6’)- no damage Cryosophila stauracantha (4’)- 100% burn Cyrtostachys elegans x renda (3’)- COVERED no damage Dictyosperma album (furfuraceum) (3’)- 100% burn Euterpe edulis (10’, 5’)- both have 100% burn Gaussia attenuata (7’)- 100% burn, new spear opening Gaussia maya (5’)- 100% burn Heterospathe negrosensis (4’)- light burn Howea belmoreana (3’)- severe burn Howea forsteriana (7’)- severe burn Hyophorbe verschaffeltii (6’)- 100% burn Lanonia dasyantha (2’, 3’)- no damage on either Leucothrinax morrissii (5’)- no damage Licuala kunstleri (2’)- light damage Licuala peltata (3’)- light burn Licuala ramsayi (6’)- slight damage on 1 leaf, very delayed reaction Livistona decora (10’)- no damage Livistona muelleri (4’)- moderate burn Livistona saribus (15’)- no damage Normanbya normanbyi (8’)- 100% burn Phoenix acaulis (3’)- no damage Phoenix loureiroi (Kashmir) (8’)- no damage Pinanga coronata (4’)- 100% burn Pinanga gracilis (3’)- 2 stems, 1 no damage, other 100% burn Pritchardia hillebrandii (3’)- moderate burn, still lots of green Pseudophoenix sargentii (4’)- severe burn Ptychococcus lepidotus (5’)- 100% burn Ptychococcus paradoxus (6’)- 100% burn Ptychosperma elegans (10’)- 100% burn Ptychosperma propinquum (macarthurii) (12’)- main stem 100% burn, suckers mostly brown but some green Ravenea glauca (3’)- light burn Ravenea hildebrandtii (5’)- 100% burn Ravenea rivularis (6’)- 100% burn Reinhardtia latisecta (2’)- no damage Rhapis excelsa ‘Zuiko Nishiki’ (5’)- no damage Rhapis humilis (8’)- no damage Sabal etonia x palmetto (2’)- no damage Sabal mauritiiformis (5’)- very minor burn Sabal miamiensis x maritima (6’)- no damage Sabal palmetto (10’)- no damage Sabal palmetto (Miami Rockridge form) (2’)- no damage Sabinaria magnifica (3’)- COVERED, cover partially blew off, light burn on a couple leaves, very delayed damage Schippia concolor (3’)- moderate burn Serenoa repens, silver (3’)- no damage Syagrus romanzoffiana (20’)- light burn Syagrus sancona (7’)- severe burn Syagrus weddelliana (6’)- severe burn Veitchia arecina (3’)- moderate burn Wodhyethia bifurcata (4’)- 100% burn CYCADS Bowenia spectabilis- no damage Ceratozamia hildae- no damage Cycas debaoenis- no damage Cycas thouarsii- 100% burn Encephalartos ferox- 100% burn Stangeria eriopus- light burn Zamia furfuracea – no damage, in pot and taken in Zamia integrifolia (narrow leaflet form)- no damage Zamia integrifolia (Palatka Giant)- no damage Zamia integrifolia (wide leaflet form)- no damage Zamia nesmophila- moderate burn Zamia sp. “Spots”- severe burn PANDANS Freycinetia cumingiana (4’)- main stems dead, some green shorter stems/leaves Pandanus furcatus (15’)- 100% burn but green already pushing out Pandanus letocartiorum (decumbens) (2’)- 100% burn Pandanus penangensis (monotheca) (5’)- 100% burn Pandanus polycephalus (3’)- severe burn Pandanus pygmaeus ‘Variegatus’ (2’)- moderate burn Pandanus tectorius (spineless form) (3’)- 100% burn Pandanus tectorius, dwarf spineless variegated form)- 100% burn PALM-LIKE PLANTS Cyclanthus bipartitus (4’)- 100% burn, this is root hardy, foliage dies every year as it declines around 35F but rapidly regrows in spring Dracaena arborea (4’)- severe burn Ravenala madagascariensis (15’)- 100% burn Ravenala menahirana (Honkondambo) (3’)- 100% burn, new leaf emerging Sphaeropteris cooperi (Cyathea) (10’)- 100% burn Strelitzia nicolai (10’)- 100% burn

It’s amazing how dry it can be here in the winter months and then the Waterworld-like rains that come in rainy season. Looking at the yearly totals is definitely misleading as it doesn’t tell the story.

I tried a butia a few years ago and covered it on cold nights. It died but my pot grown palmetto survives to this day. I wish butia were equally as cold hardy as sabal palmetto but it hasn't been my experience. I've killed two butias and pretty much have given up on them. I may try one again. 🤔

I think your low temps MAY be OK. I am not sure. If you're going to do the experiment, then I would do it as best as you can. Buy a healthy, 6-foot royal, and put it in the ground immediately, and keep it well-watered. Hopefully, the next winter will be a mild one. You want as much growth as possible, before this palm is challenged by worst-case SCV cold events and thrashing dry wind events. If you're OK with it, post some pictures of the exact possible planting site. I think various SoCal PalmTalkers much wiser than me will contribute thoughts about making this experiment as strong as possible.

It’s a couple hours from where I live but I’ll try to check on it in April or May.

Really great post Nathan. Thank you! I lived in Phoenix briefly in the winter/spring of ‘98 and fell in love with the variety of plants that were flowering there then. Parry’s Penstemon is one of the most amazing of all the penstemons. I remember the beautiful Desert Bluebells as well. Seems the heat of the desert regions doesn’t often allow for any blue flowers but the Sonoran Desert has that stunner during the cooler season. I was unaware of their toxic properties, that is unfortunate. Simply put, if you enjoy deserts and don’t mind the heat southern Arizona and the Phoenix area is stunning. I look forward to another visit. Thanks for sparking my memories!

Encephalartos hildebrantii flushing in the garden today.

Some rain is in the forecast for today and tomorrow. Models showing very modest amounts in the .1 to .2 range.

I'm not seeing much of a threat on the latest model runs but to your point in mid-March upper 30s or low 40s is PROBABLY the worst but might be a light frost, however... To quote Bob Dylan When you ain't got nothin' you got nothin' to lose. Liberating in a very sad sense.

Totally agree! Hardly ever mentioned unfortunately. USDA zones are so frustrating to work around. My 9b is Howea country but I can't grow things like Bismarkia which love heat and can take a short freeze but not prolonged cool winters. Guess I'm trying to figure out which camp C alba falls into? I suspect it's the bizzy camp...

Tim, I germinated maybe half a dozen several years ago. I planted 3 out of which two are now no longer and one is clinging on for dear life. The reason for the bump is to help me decide the fate of the remaining three...do I grow them into much bigger plants in the greenhouse and then plant them out, or do I send a couple to some guy in Melbourne? Basically trying to figure out if it's a climate limitation or a growing issue on my behalf. Either way, they're snails, but still great looking palms.

I just came home 2 days later and it looks so bad what happened the base also feels a bit soft I think it’s dying (it fell over a few times because of the wind)

That's a beauty! They're actually one of the few non-Caribbean Copernicia species though....C alba is from the Chaco region of Southern Brazil/Paraguay/Northern Argentina. Similar area to a lot of Butias, hence my interest in it. I'm sure I read about or saw pics years ago of this species growing with or nearby B yatay but I haven't been able to find it again, might be dreaming maybe.

Agree with Jim. They start self shedding around 25 years old. One thing I’ve noticed and can be seen in above photos is that they’ll start from the top down. My theory is the expanded base of the trunk sort of locks the leaf bases tighter. They fall off easier once the trunk starts to thin out and grow upwards with uniform diameter.

A nice bit of anthurium colour with a spot of philodendron thrown in for that extra tropical look!

I gotta get in on this one!

Ps Tim if ever I sell my garden I will let you know, the house is for free! My garden needs a good custodian with a love of palms such as yourself!

Beautiful, they say they are not gone if you remember them, like I said he could germinate a rock!

Everyone’s cold hardy favourite the tough old Arenga engleri.

You gotta start them out in pots before you can plant them in the garden.licuala PNG dwarf Dypsis forcifolia reinhardtia simplex Calyptrocalyx flabellata Dypsis lanceolata and the good old Johannesteijsmannia altifrons Oraniopsis appendiculata

Mission accomplished! The truck ended up being particularly helpful for pulling, and they slid pretty well over cardboard boxes my husband put down (see video). Hopefully the palms will find a great new home. Either way, I’m excited about the additional planting beds that just opened up! IMG_5513.mov

Great thread Richard. Here’s my contribution of Merc germinated palms I’ve planted. Pritchardia napaliensis Pritchardia martii