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Marcel, sorry for the delayed response but hadn't seen your question. We hit 16F with heavy frost this year and that day's high was 35F. We've had a hard winter by our standards here in central Texas and the BxP has done just fine with no damage. All of my other hybrids (BxS, BxJ, JBxJ, BJxB) had also done well. Alberto, thanks for the updated picture, looks like the transplant went well and the palm is happy! Jv

For those of you who are interested in Jubaeas, go to Travel Logs and check out the attachment that Bruno posted of Jubaeas in habitat in Chile. These are the best photos that I have seen of Jubaeas in habitat. Credit must go where credit is due, and the pictures were taken by Brandt Maxwell from the French palm site, Fous de Palmiers. Several things strike me. I'm surprised that not only do the palms grow in the valleys where it might be expected to be more moist, but also on the mountain tops where it must be much dryer. From the xerophilous plants growing around the Jubaeas, it must be an area where long periods of drought can be expected. I also noticed the blacken evidence of fire at the base of some of the palms. Also, quite remarkable, in most habitat photos of palms, you will see some that have died and only a trunk remaining. I see no dead palms in any of these photos. The palms growing at La Campana have very graceful fronds hanging down below 90 degrees from the trunks and in one photograph they seem to be the silver variety. I have 4 mature Jubaeas and one has a very strict growth habit, while the others are less so, but none of the fronds hang below 90 degrees from the trunk. All of mine are green and the fronds are very rigid and tough. I've experienced 60 mph winds and none of mine have ever had any wind damage. Mine get watered 12 months of the year, so I wonder if the rigid fronds on mine are enviromental or genetic? I suspect genetic, as the plants probably came from the same tree. It's been so long ago I can't remember where my Jubaeas came from, but I suspect from one of the few old trees growing in the Bay Area. I expect the trees growing at La Campana got a good shake in the recent earthquake in Chile but they have withstood many before as they must be ancient. Dick

Another Butyagrus .....? , sprouting

Jerry, do you know which Gunnera sp. you have planted at your place in Hawaii or where it is native to? I know there are many different species from different "cool climate" areas, some being a bit more tropical than others, that's why I ask. It would be nice to know which Gunnera species can actually grow in some warmer climate zones. Al, The plants that I planted came from Costa Rica and I believe that they are Gunnera insignis. Below are a few pictures.

These are Gunneras that grow along the Panamerican Highway, build during the second world war all the way from the USA to Panama. In Costa Rica it reaches 3400 metres above sealevel. For many kilometres there are Gunneras , among some interesting alpine vegetation. My hat is to show the size...of the leaves....

Here's a huge clump growing in Vancouver, BC Canada. These were 8 feet tall.

Wish I could grow the Gunnera too but the only places I've ever seen them or heard of them growing are cool climate areas. Here is a pic I took at a high elevation area in Costa Rica in May of 2008.

David, I'm not sure how well they would do in your area. They are cool weather loving plants and would probably not make it through a hot summer in FL. These plants grow well in the Pacific Northwest and maybe CA, but usually not in hot humid environments. The only place I have seen them growing in Costa Rica is high up in the mountains where it's much cooler. Here are some growing at La Paz. Junglegal for scale