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Heterospathe Barfodii flowering like crazy and just dropped a frond

My Pritchardia thurstonii is looking stellar this rainy season. It has almost doubled in size and sports large emerald green leaves. Fast reverse into late last year when I walked past it and saw to my horror that it was coated with mealybugs and probably scale too. They likely were days or a couple weeks into eating it straight to the compost pile. One of the worst mealybug infestations I've ever seen in person. I dashed indoors to shave a bar of ivory soap into a bucket of water, then dashed back outside with soap solution and a couple of soft cotton cloths. I spent the rest of the afternoon gently sponging soapy water onto every inch of that palm and into the crown. Next day I repeated the process. And the next day. And the next. It seemed like no sooner did I eliminate one brigade of bugs then another appeared the following morning. By the time I killed off the palm sucking horde my thurstonii was in chewed up tatters. Still, it survived and here it is today. It still has a tattered leaf or two from its ordeal at the bottom of its crown. Pritchardia thurstonii, Cape Coral, FL July 2024

I walked the Garden Lot around noon today and the heat and swelter were overbearing. I noticed my juvenile Tahina spectabilis has sent up several pristine leaves after growing little in summer 2023 or winter 2024. During Hurricane Ian in 2022 it was crushed by falling Livistonas and Bismarckias. I really thought it was a goner but gradually it produced leaves again from its underground meristem. Summer 2023 was hot and drought-stricken. We got less rain that rainy season than we got the previous winter. Winter 2024 was chilly, cloudy (94+ days of clouds) and wet - just what tropical palms hate and mine limped into spring with a lot of yellow cold-spotted leaves. But since the heat and normal rainfall have returned my beleaguered palms are happily growing again, my lone Tahina included Tahina spectabilis, Cape Coral, FL, July 2024

Hey all - I am located in 9b on lake Apopka in Orlando, Florida area. In May of 2023 I planted a 65 gallon Beccariophoenix in the ground. it has been bullet proof. A few real cold nights and 40+ mile an hour winds. It’s a tank in the wind. my question is - from how the palm looks now - how long should I expect to wait until the palm develops a trunk? Maybe 5 years from now? 7? also for whatever it’s worth. My take on the palm is that if it is planted correctly it is super strong and resilient - but it doesn’t seem to grow that fast. I would say that mine hasn’t “taken off yet”.

Syagrus romanzoffiana x Jubaea

Butia sp Florianópolis flowering. Parajubaea torallyi behind

Here are mine for comparison... - Palm on right was purchased from @Josh-O (at Fairview Nursery) as"Black Stem" in 2021 (1G size). Josh has owned beautiful "black stems" in the past, and I paid a pretty high price for this one... since at the time it was literally impossible to get this plant. Happily it appears to be thriving. - Palm on the left was also purchased in 2021. This one was from Floribunda - sold as "Black Petiole" (seedling size). I've heard mention of different sources of "black stem" baronii over the years (the "Vakona" version, one from a Reserve nearby the lodge, and the Rancho Soledad version... which was apparently the least successful). As they've grown mine have gone through similar looking stages so I believe they're both "legit". To my eyes, the most distinctive feature is the bright white base of the spears as they come out (which contrast strikingly against the dark red base). Here are close-ups of that area on both plants... --- I also have a "regular" baronii (from Floribunda) and can put them side-by-side for comparison tomorrow If that would be helpful. I agree they looks very similar when young.

On the foreground: Trithrinax brasiliensis

Sabal uresana ( I tried but could not turn this pic....)

The spear cracked open into two as one is about to open it's leaflets on one of my Chrysalidocarpus decipiens. The color immediately drew my attention.

The first success: Today one (out of over 100) seed germinated! 🥳 The baby N°2401: #9 of 13 seeds: The mother (and father) tree when 8 yr old:

As always, my submissions. To this thread are a little on the lame side compared to the many amazing palms posted here. But anyway, here are some random shots from around the yard today.

I just love to meet growers who are passionate about there plants and this cactus grower is just that he has been selling his cactus at the markets for 30 years with his wife one day they will retire and i will miss them so every time I go to the markets I make it a point buy there plants always asking what rare ones they have I never leave disappointed.

Here they are. Any closeups? I’m a huge fan of Sabal uresana

Flowering aloes in the winter

Calyptrocalyx showing some nice color 🥰

Kerriodoxa elegans at ANSG:

Thanks, All. I believe my palm is from a seed distribution in Madagascar some years back. I didn't get it then but a few years later I was contacted by a PTer in Fort Myers who had a small one in a 3g but wanted to trade with me for his Tahina. He had a small lot and no room for a palm that grows as huge as this species does. Also, Tahina are extremely averse to pot culture so this palm had to go in the ground ASAP. So I planted it in as much open space as I could find on my Garden Lot. Of course, that means it is open to the sky and FL weather - no canopy. It has grown slowly and sometimes struggled over the years as well as potentially meeting its Maker when assaulted by Hurricanes Irma and Ian. Each storm required 2+ years of recovery to get back to the "old normal". But this summer it seems to have made a growth leap assuming we don't face down another cat 4/5 hurricane.

It’s been quite mild for winter this year. No frost the coldest being 3C and the days haven’t been balmy but not frigid either. It got to 18.5C today and the next two days are around 20C max. We are behind with rainfall but everything is wet and moist in the garden. Even one of my bananas is putting out a flower now.

Pant pant pant Huff huff huff Licky!

I have a encepholartus longifolius that has got its first cone about a year ago. It is finally gotten to the point that all of the sections are falling away exposing the bright red seed.

Exactly my point... Neither palm is a favorite, but this is what San Diego looks like. Queens are not predominant, at least not in my stomping grounds.

A friend came by and hooked me up for my birthday. Iguanura speciosa

Storm trying to push in.

MAGNIFICENT. Ending the trip to Itacaré,South Bahia, one of the rarest Brazilian palms.

So I got this palm from Joe Palma labeled as baronii “black petiole”. I’ve posted about this palm before but no one seems to know if “black petiole” is a species of it’s own or if it’s just a colorful baronii. Who knows. Doesn’t help that I can’t find any info on it. Super pretty palm whatever it is.

Wanted to share two pictures of my filiferas I planted back in July 2023. I sprouted them from seed in my greenhouse in fall of 2021. They both had trunks about the size of my thumb and were less than a foot tall. They are planted way too close to my building but face due south and get rainwater from canales above. Hindsight I should’ve planted them right in the middle but was worried I’d never be able to walk around them ( still prob won’t be able too soon!) Exactly one year later the fronds on the palm are up to my shoulder and I’m almost 6 ft tall. I water them deeply twice a week in the summer and use palm gain fertilizer twice a year. Can’t wait to see how much more they explode by end of the summer!

Hey everyone, hope everyone is having a great growing season! This is my annual NYC palm post. This palm just keeps growing. It grows all seasons (including winter) im guessing it's at least 15 feet? My daughter is 5'6. I've seen other windmills but they where in a greenhouse in the Bronx botanical garden. If anyone has some pics of there east coast palms please post.. thanks in advance... Bobby

A trip to the local markets today I had to buy some rainforest trees from one of my favourite growers I have been buy plants from John for the last 30 years he has some wonderful Australian rainforest plants and knows his plants well I will grow them on for a couple of seasons then plant them out to expand my garden with some more trees creating a canopy over time.

Newly planted Dypsis Basilonga opening new frond! So far it hasn’t burnt back at all. It gets dappled light most of the day .The brown leaves were already present when planted. Next to it , on the right , you can see partial view of Dypsis Plumosa. Harry

I don't have any good advice for you because in the 30+ years of growing two langencaulis I have yet to harvest any ripe seeds - why, I don't know. First of all, I believe crops take 2 years to ripen but my palms abort all their seeds during the first year while they are still avocado-green-colored. So, not one ripe seed. I also have never gotten ripe seeds from my two 30+-year-old H verschaffeltii. I don't know why: my alkaline sandy dreck soil? Both species are hardy in my area aside from some winter spotting on the bottles. They are irrigated 2x weekly and fertilized 2x per year. They are large and fat and flower and set seeds but all seeds abort before ripening. I'd also like to know someone else's experience with these species, esp. in FL. Moot point, I guess, as every BB garden center carries potted Hyphorbes and I'm not interested in growing more

Two in my front yard in Fort Lauderdale. Six feet or so.

Spotted this one in a creek the birds must have dropped the seed there it certainly was out of it’s normal habitat range or escaping a garden.

I understand what it takes and the years involved in growing palms to that size at PACSOA annual plant sale there was a very large geonoma atrovirens for $650 aus dollars I kick myself for not buying it a true collector palm and a very large one oh well next visit to the show I will take a few more dollars I prefer to grow my palms from seed it is just more satisfying for me I always look for a bargain but the palms in my area are just the common ones which I already have I just cannot do commercial nursery prices I prefer private growers or the markets. Richard

Both Tahina spectabilis are definitely pushing spears. Job done 👍. Just patience and TLC required now. https://gofund.me/33c19dcc

It’s useless to argue about whether or not queens are the big staple palms of SoCal. Just enjoy what you have around you. If you wanna surround your property with queens, more power to you! If you do not want any queens on your property, good for you! It doesn’t matter, we all have the ability to grow whatever variety of palms we desire. There’s no need getting caught up in arguing about one common palm. Just grow what you wanna grow and have a lot of fun doing it. Every once in a while sit back and relax and be at peace in your palm gardens.

One other symptom of infestation may be (many will dispute this but I am nevertheless sure about my observation at least with regard to Pritchardia) epinasty. It is documented in Pritchardia and may also apply in some cases on Livustona.

Another data point is to look is the "Black Stem" photo from @Tracy's photo tour of the Willoughby garden. If you look at this comment I made - and expand the photo - you can see what our plants might look like in the future - --- And here's what I believe is most recent photo thread with grower updates...

It is, lol.. I get having to purchase by mail ..do it often enough but look at road trips this way, no middle man to rough plants in the mail / someone sending me the smallest specimen possible. Can talk with X plant guru / see if there is anything else that i might be able to cross off my list, ...and the adventure to and from is fun as well. Getting up at 4AM to be at the Huntington or L.A. Arboretum by ..9 or 10AM for a plant sale = 100% worth it. Another fun aspect, ...the people passing next to you who look over at your car full of plants while on the road home. Priceless..

Far?, lol.. Try San Jose to Phoenix and Tucson, then San Jose to San Diego ..Twice, all in on summer ... just to pick up specific plants.. When you really want something, sometimes you gotta hit the road to get it.. Makes obtaining that special plant / plants desired extra special.

Oh dear holy God. Praying for you @quaman58. Pray for me and the rest of us back, including @Phoenikakias. For an effective natural control to those vile grubs.

My own personal specimen. 07/22/2022: The day it hit the ground. 07/19/2024: Almost two years later

Currently 15c at 7.30am heading for a rainy top of 19c.

31.9C / 90F here at 12:45pm. Expecting at least 33C / 92F now this afternoon.

First, I must say your palms are impressive and look very nice. Those fat trunked trachies, wow! Are you getting those locally? That space is really too small for a filifera. They become huge! My thought on that. As you grow them from seed, I am sure you are aware of the incredible roots. This species is all about roots in my mind/experience. That root structure can be larger that the crown, so maybe 25'x35'(?). That and it's ability to hibernate(dormant) is where it's ability to withstand drought comes from. So that "drought tolerance" is really only temporary, at least in our climate. They will eventually wither away, or growth slow very substantially after some time. At least in our climate. Why I would not move now: I think of filifera as water pumpers. On a hot sunny day here, you can feel a discernable temperature difference (drop) when putting your hand near the spear, even near a large leaf. That is evaporation. I don't feel that on meds or trachies. So knowing your rapidly growing filifera is going to be dug up, that root system(damaged and now much smaller) will not be able to support what leafage is currently present. The leaves are going to die back and you will be left with(if lucky), a spear, maybe 2 small new leaves. Now it is November. ...... That has been my experience transplanting in June. It is now July. I have not hurricane cut. But the end product is the same. 2-3 year recovery. If you were to seed in place now and transplant those palms, the seeded in place would be larger in 5 years than your transplanted palms. Much larger. That is my experience. All about the roots. In our climate. A side note, my 1 year seeded in place Rayado palms are currently 18" high. No protection/fertilizer, other than rock/leaves. I have able do this, in our climate(seeded in place/no protection) multiple times. So it works and is repeatable. I also will plant multiple seeds and make a self protecting grove, and then thin in a couple years. This is 11 years seeded in place with 1 transplant. It has a fifteen foot horizontal spread by fourteen feet tall, and still getting larger.

Palm road trips are the best, I once drove 800 miles in one day to obtain a better form of a palm I already had !