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Had this one in the garden since a strap leaf seedling in 2010 it's very close to trunking now. This area gets full sun in the afternoons but temperatures here in coastal Tasmania rarely exceed 30c 88f or below 2c 34f.

As summer and the heat arrived to Hungary I will post some pictures of my garden 😁 Palms and plants that I have planted outside: Phoenix canariensis Phoenix Sylvestris Butia Capitata Brahea Armata Sabal Palmetto Trachycarpus fortunei Trachycarpus fortunei x takil Chamaerops humilis Syagrus Romanzoffiana Rhapis excelsa Washingtonia Filifera Cyathea Australis Dicksonia Antarctica Cycas Revoluta (and another type of cycas which I have no idea how is it called) Lots of type of yuccas, agaves, alocasias, colocasias and others 🙂

Several different stages:

One more middling stage:

Wanted a couple of trithinax acanthocoma for the collection now all I have to do is wait ten years for them to grow I will plant them at the bottom of my property in the cool zone no special treatment just coco coir perlite in a community pot in the hothouse and time is all that is needed.

A common fruit here in Hawai’i, known as Ohi’a ‘ai, blooms and fruits abundantly once a year. A beautiful scarlet fruit with the shape and crunch of a pear and is mildly sweet. To me its subtle taste has a rose water flavor. It flowers and fruits from the stems and branches well hidden within the dense leafy mid sized tree. The skin is very thin and they bruise easily, lasting only a few days when ripe. Here are a few photos. Tim

Carpoxylon macrospermum, yes definitely a beautiful palm - at any time. Here are a few of mine. Most of the palms in the photo are Carpoxylons except the tall palm on the right (a Clinostigma samoense) and the somewhat robust Chrysalidocarpus sp. almost dead center in the background.

Okay, so, up on my experienced (geriatric?) soapbox I go. How do I love queen palms? And how do I or others hate them. Oh the many ways relating to their being and biology. Here in Southern California Queens rock, our climate is a lot like their native land in Sou-ha'merica, Argentina, Paraguay, southern Brazil. If you have soil that's actual ag dirt, and not alkalai-hell dirt, they just grow like hell. Deep green. Fat, happy. thirty feet in like 7 years. Thick and tough enough to stop monster trucks and yeah, I've seen a number that did. Full sun, the fuller the better, but will take half a day. 18 inches across the trunks, and the trunks are full of fibers not water. These ain't no candy-assed Roystonea trunks. They use these for pilings in the sea, and "shipworms" don't mess with them. Fibers woven with other fibers, not just "bark" and sponge underneath. The roots are greedy. (Slapping self to stop editorials.) Weeds and other plants don't like growing beneath them. Good places for gravel/chips etc. for mulch. The original street view for google maps of my place shows a bunch of queen palms, the year before I had another dude remove them for his palm ranch in Corona. (Tried to get him into other palms, but he said no.) Still do my best for the volunteer babies. People who want them are glad when I plant them for them, and encourage them to come explore other options. But, queens rock. Bay-bay, yes they do. To be continued.

This was from 10+ yrs ago from our honeymoon in Kaui. It's still my screen saver on my phone 😃 What I would do to be able to grow this palm ! T J

A couple of quick photos from Google Maps (Feb. 2024). Lakeland City Hall: Has added some trunk and frond width since this photo 5 months ago. Barnett Park: Those who went on the summer CFPACS tour remember this one. It looks a LOT better than in this photo now and was impressive during the tour. Lake Wire: They pruned this instead of letting it self-clean. It's a relatively recent addition. I'll get some better photos of these next time I'm downtown. Mine is growing well, but still a little smaller than these since I bought it small.

That’s an awfully big category since there approximately 1,000 different species of fan palms. Were you referring to any particular species of fan palm?

Two examples. Please add your favorites:

More photos of the fruit. Tim

Absolutely one of my most favourite palms I just love chamaedorea palms especially the adscedans var something about that variety that just sums up a small palm in perfection it may be the one that challenges my cultivation every season pollinating them it’s so satisfying having a single female plant that’s isolated and producing seed on it they just grow so well in my climate I attribute that to the black sandy soil it seem to be what they want whatever it is there special to me.

Or we can change to something less invasive and agressive but having similar look, Syagrus x andrequiceana (flexuosa x romanzoffiana) Picture by Pierre-Olivier Albano: Mine (hopefully) too

Royals grow fine here, if you water them. That's the big limiting factor.

A small Sabal that I had left for dead because after last winter’s cold, the entire center pulled out and the remaining hole is black with mildew, is now sprouting! A good lesson in not digging them up too quickly.

Every time I visit our chocolate farm in El Salvador, I try to take seedlings with me to plant there. I also have sourced non-palm plants locally (Couroupita guianensis, Delonix regia, a number of different Handroanthus, Ceiba, Mahogany...but the selection of palms locally is pretty slim. We are in the process of planning a new home construction (and the rest of the acreage is cultivated) so I don't have a lot of confidence with planting much yet - I don't want to end up having things ripped out or damaged when it comes time to build - but I have planted a couple of things over the last few years which seem to be doing ok with no irrigation. The dry season here can be brutal. I hope to start brining in some really exotic species once the house is built and we have irrigation in place. This is a really wonderful property and I have a lot of space to play around with. 20240703_052837.mp4 This is some of our heirloom cacao. Tested by USDA and confirmed criollo (of the 10 or so identified genotypes, criollo is the least common but occurs naturally in Central America. We found this particular variety growing wild in a nearby canyon and have cloned a whole lot with it. I like the maroon color on the new flush. First are these kerriodoxa - I planted two and both are going great! they are under a giant Ficus inspida (I believe). Then we have a duo of Chrysalidocarpus leptocheilos. Really excited about his one, as I have not seen these here anywhere. This, I believe, is Livistona saribus A bismarckia nobilis And a few Ravenala as well.

???? I can understand someone saying that Washingtonia robusta is synonymous with Southern California, but being a second generation native, I hardly think of Syagrus romanzoffiana as an iconic representation of Southern California, They didn't really burst onto the scene in the suburban sprawl until maybe 40 years ago. Washingtonia robusta's date back at least a century as street plantings in California and common yard plantings. My first home in the late 80's I opted for a couple of Rhopalostylis sapida rather than Queens even though at that time only a few people were planting Queens in my new Carlsbad subdivision... so much more elegant a palm are those Shaving brush palms. It wasn't until the 90's that every other lot being developed in southwest Carlsbad had a mix of Queens, Pygmy date palms and maybe a Sago "palm" or two (Cycas rovoluta). At about that time we said goodbye to all the regional hardware chains and shortly thereafter many of the regional nursery chains and Home Depot moved in. They were followed by Home Base, which later was acquired by Eagle Hardware and then gobbled up by Lowes, where most of these palms are now sold. Not to mention the many independent nurseries that have closed over the decades that had more eclectic buyers than the chains can claim. Perhaps that's why I don't want my yard to look like a Home Depot parking lot in the way of plantings. I miss Sackett and Peters, Builders Emporium, Stallings Ranch Nursery, my local Ace Hardwares where the owners were often behind the cash register. I don't miss not planting Queen palms that go with the new mass merchandise nationwide chain retailers.

Two years ago I planted a few two inch Java Blue Bananas. It doesn’t take long. First bunch harvested, A few more immature bunches on the plant. This bunch started forming before winter, saw a number of frosts which burned back the leaves, but the bunch kept growing which may account for the smaller sized fruits. Vallejo, Northern California, 9b. 🍌

Thoroughly amend your clay, and it's about the best soil you can have. The only thing that's better is river bottom silt or dirt with gold nuggets or diamonds in it.

It sounds crazy but I like how the trunks look stunted/bonsai even when planted out in the landscape.

A little update. I am not sure if this is the Ravenea conferta recently described. Does anyone know if the unusual terminal leaflet on this Ravenea in my photos is also apparent in Ravenea conferta?

It is possible to grow palms long term in containers it just take a long time obviously but repotting into the next size container that may take 5 years or more the Kerriodoxa is 22 plus years old in the photos they sort of become bonsai if I was to plant it in the ground it would take a couple of years to start to get a move on most likely sulking for the first year Howea fosteriana will live in containers pretty well much indefinitely small patio palms may never be planted living there entire life in a container it comes down to how good a grower you are knowing your soil fertiliser and watering schedule once you learn it bingo it’s easy to keep a plant pretty well much indefinitely.

They do rock! They are Southern California icons. It's an image. A way of life. The Queens ooze the Southern California lifestyle decades in the making. Awe inspiring feathery pinnate ornamental elegance. Mine are growing in clay and super happy with the nutrient rich soil. But I am still amazed things grow in this clay. If I don't water frequently enough during our dry season the clay dries into concrete and it becones water impervious. It takes time to get the water to penetrate once again. Yet they still flourush. They know they are in the land of So Cal. Queens forever!!

Hmmm. Okay, in my time I've loved queens. Palms that is. When I came here in 1985 I wanted to get a house and get some palms, and in 1986 I did, in Highland, right next Norton AFB. Closed escrow on Sept 2 and bought a bunch of five gallon queens on Sept 3 planted them shortly after, I was a happy young dude planting his first palm trees. And, some are still there after nearly forty years. Sold the house, went to college at UCR, lived up hill from the campus and OF COURSE I planted a few queens there, too in 1990-1991. They're still there. Landlord approved, I moved, he died, new owners like the palms apparently. In law school, I discovered the palm society, and the downward or upward spiral began. Palm snobbery set in. I raised palms in a home container ranch and sold them for cash to whoever wanted them, and it was gratifying to see how many did.

Just my take, but I think they always look their best; a magnificent palm.

I wouldn't have thought that, but since you pointed it out -- yeah, very-short-to-no petiole, much like A. catechu dwarf. However, comparing the two side-by-side, you would never mistake one for the other. Not the extreme recurve nor overall breadth of the frond of a dwarf A. catechu, and of course the thin trunk and red crownshaft are dead giveaways for A. macrocalyx. But hey, they are both Areca genus, so, yeah, but no.

This is a prize, I love them untrimmed 😍

Here's my example of a pygmy date palm that I grew from seed I started 27 years ago. Not exactly 'pygmy' size anymore, but it has taken everything that the Arizona desert has thrown at it in stride. 120F + temps in the summer,23F on its coldest winter days over the years. It is planted on a western exposure and receives full sun from about 11am on. Always looks good,even with minimal water,as I only water it about once a week by hand,and that's if I remember... There are tens of thousands of pygmy dates already planted across Arizona, so those sheer numbers alone prove that it is an acceptable species for the average homeowner to grow here successfully. aztropic Mesa, Arizona

I'm 81 now and was in great shape until March when I came down w/shngles. Yea I got the shots and still got it. Then as that was clearing up something swelled up below and to the right of my belly botton. After an Ultra Sound, a CT scan and a MRI my Dr's said they don't know what it is but it's not a hernia or any cancer. Pain is gone now but still swollen enough that bending over to put on socks or shoes is uncomfortable. As they say getting old is a bitch but it beats the alternative. LOL Anyway back to palms....I can finally use my weed wacker for the first time in 3 1/2 month. Spent about 3 hours w/a lunch break clearing the "back 40" which is a triangle of land about maybe 2000 sq feet... Some day I'm gonna measure it. LOL. It's the are labled Plumeria Patch. None there now but 40 years ago I was selling the flowers until I realized it was a twice a day job 7 days a week so I quit doing that. That long straight boundary is 700' long. Oh yea it' 2 acres. Here are two photo's before and after. I'll add some of the palms up there. Not to many planted way back there. This is in the lower portion of the "patch" looking at the long straight white line.

Fan palms are also nice just saying

That photos is in zone 13a. But yes if I was zone 10a such as Mediterranean Spain for example I would have other species like royals and foxtails, but at least one queen palm. Zone 10a in the UK I doubt can grow royals because the temps are too cool for too long, even if the winters are mild without freezing temps. Even in London I only have two queens in the ground and I have loads of species including, archontophoenix species, chamaedoreas, Chambeyronias, phoenixs, Jubaeopsis, chrysalidocarpuss, washingtonia, sabals, butias,, allagoptera, acoeloraphe, arenga,brahea, livistona ect ect. Pretty much any species that can handle cool periods. I wouldn't have only queens but a few are nice.

This looks like a Banyan but is really a large Yellow Poinciana tree:

Hi. The update is that we have taken guidance from the Kew team (Dr Dransfield in the UK and Dr Rakotoarinivo in Madagascar) and are preparing the paperwork for botanical samples to be collected and exported, to allow for proper identification. The process is being delayed because although the collection permit is written and signed, the person who should hand it to us is on a mission in the bush. Without the paperwork, Kew can’t export the material to the UK for genetic analysis so we are being patient and putting our ducks in a row before we do anything. I’m hoping we can ship the samples to Antananarivo this week.

Today: cold front just passed through, air was clear and crisp and I couldn't help capturing the blue/silver tones in the Butia.

Nothing like summer to spur significant growth from these beautiful palms. The older two have grown under canopy and are tall and thin. The younger one is in full sun, much more robust, and it’s not uncommon to drop two fronds at the same time coming out of winter. Clean, colorful, compact, just a great garden palm. Tim

Welcome to my new topic! You can research all sorts of varying methods for transplanting palms from the nursery pot into your clay soil. I wanted to share this method I came up with which has worked well for me in my rocky clay. I dont think it's a common method. Say you buy a Queen palm (surprise 🤣) in a 1 gallon pot. It's like 7 inch diameter. I dig the smallest hole possible. 8 inches wide. And depth should be even or an inch raised but not sunk lower. I do gently tease out any tightly bound roots (perhaps unnecessary). Lower the root ball in. I fill the little narrow gap around the root ball with a 50/50 mixture of native soil and Gromulch from The Home Depot. Make sure to leave no air pockets. Very narrow area yes.... so use a dry mixture with all the finest soil. Bust up any big clumps until its like sandy before mxing and filling in very slowly!! This narrow amended layer allows the roots to easily penetrate at first. Once the roots penetrate that thin layer they are basically in the clay beyond. So it's a minimal amendment minimal digging method. The goal is to get the roots established into your clay soil as soon as possible. I found without that little amended sliver, the plant experiences initial difficulty and more shock compared with using all clay in your sliver, and harder to water properly. Watering properly is key especially at first as you water at the trunk base which is the initial potting soil root ball on SLOW DRIP and water will wick into your amended sliver and then into the clay beyond. I do throw gromulch on top every month or so but keep it a few inches away from the trunk. That Gromulch at Home Depot is really good stuff, it says it's for organic gardening. Just sharing my own method of success!. Feel free to share your methods, thank you!

These two 3gal specimens are ready to be potted up! $95ea Serious buyers are welcome to visit for pick up, **Located in Dade City, FL (North of Tampa, I-75, exit 293)** Shipping lower 48 US ONLY via UPS Ground: additional $26.00 or $34.00 (for both specimens) ***shipped in pot w/ dirt preferred*** Venmo, PayPal, and/or Cash PM if interested Picture of "Mother" palm included

Don't even get me started on the grass. its ridiculous. The hotter it gets the faster it grows and it takes me a couple of hours to do it. Cordylines definitely need some shade here, I had to pull the one I planted as it was getting bleached out. I do still plan on getting some Pseudopanax and want to try some Phormiums (there are multiple species), since Dianella seems to be ubiquitous. Tetrapanax "Steroidal giant" seems to be doing ok in the ground, with late day shade. Older leaves have burnt off but newer ones are holding their own, but I'm having issues with insect predation. I have been trying to be brave and buy some of the more tropical things, that I have been told are hardy in a typical winter and root hardy in a bad one. Lots of experimentation going on for me right now. I will say I have killed a lot of plants already, for various reasons. So far I am pleasantly surprised at how well Trachycarpus are doing for me. Latisectus started to burn a bit in July but I moved it so it doesn't get all day sun. Princeps is handling everything and is actually growing at a decent clip.

Those daytime highs are something else, but it's the nights that are kind of scary.

Mines are still so small. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

This. I unintentionally killed a bunch of Dypsis pembana seedlings some years back that I was trying to sell at a yard sale when the sun fried them after I treated them with neem oil. Didn't sell a single one. Won't do that again. If you must use neem oil keep the palms in deep shade until the fronds are clear of it - be paranoid around any palm treatment if the word "oil" appears on the bottle.. If you sprayed those pygmies with the stuff in the sun you may have roasted greens for dinner. Good thing roebeleniis are common and cheap.

Glad to see I'm not the only one with palms struggling while weeds flourish.

Hey Kim, mahalo. The Joey’s are finally getting some size to them after a few previous try’s and setbacks. I love em. Jonathan, this is the tame part of the garden, 😀 There are other sections that truly have the ‘jumgle’ vibe. I checked out South Arm on google maps, interesting looking part of Tasmania. Planning an excursion there next year…..a lot of interesting adventures to experience. Nico, planted out as a one gallon about four years ago. These particular palms are fast growing and more robust in full sun. The red color is variable, sone pink, shades of red, and some stay green and never show any color. Tim

Looking good! Oh, and those Joeys in the background, oh my! 🤩

Beryl was exactly what is to be expected of a Cat 1 in reality. The difference is that it hit a city with a population in the millions, and that city was in the path of the highest winds. A wind gust of 89 mph was measured in Houston, with widespread gusts of 75-80 mph throughout the city. This is standard category 1 winds. Anybody that tries to tell you that Beryl was stronger than Cat 1 is misinformed, as surface observations, aircraft data, and satellite & radar data all suggest that Beryl was a Cat 1 at landfall in Texas, not this this has been disputed here but just putting that out there. People focus too much on the category number instead individual impacts. A lot of people will say "Oh its just a one so its not gonna be that bad", well, the category is only one factor here. The category correlates to wind speeds ONLY, as you likely already know. People tend to leave out the inland flooding, storm surge, and tornado threat that also accompanies tropical cyclones. I am not saying that this is what you did, but just explaining that what you are hearing may not be particularly true. Regardless, hopefully everything begins recovering quicker than it has been so far, and im glad that yall are okay over there. You are very lucky to have electricity over there especially based on the new "Whataburger Outage Tracker" which is creative and hilarious! And also, cant forget about the plants either, hoping those all pulled through okay as well, hurricane force wind gusts of any extent is not a great experience for any plant.

Yeah, Queen palms can be nice and not nice, but to each their own...

I didn’t know that Beccariophoenix madagascariensis grew on such rocky ground. The general thought was it grew on sand. In regards to sending seed, many Ravenea species need to be fresh to germinate. If the local collectors get to understand that there is more to be gained by keeping the parent plants in the ground on site and selling seeds they may leave them be. Otherwise they’re just gonna dig them up for a quick dollar. That would be tragic.

Could it be suggested that the country of poster be visible as there are a lot of different international members where collection is the only option. E.g, I am in U.K...or maybe a ‘Country’ filter in Palm Talk program?