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It’s been a long road to get to this point, but we’ve finally achieved it, we own acreage in Australia 🥳. The acre parcel is located 3 km from the township of Malanda, 15 minutes to Atherton (main hub on the Atherton Tablelands), and just over an hour down the stunning Gillies Range highway to Cairns. 740 metres above sea level and typically 6-7C cooler than Cairns in summer (29 Vs. 36C this Saturday), with minimums rarely dropping below 12C in winter. Also humidity tends to be lower. I’m hoping the climate is a suitable candidate for Juania australis, Ceroxylon, and Hedyscepe. The land is red volcanic soil, which is very fertile with good drainage and moisture retention. Ultimately I would like to build a house on it and retire up there over the next 10-15 years, but that all depends on if I can convince my wife to leave the Gold Coast. If not, we’ll use it as a holiday home and split our time between the two locations accordingly. For now, it’s my playground to plant sun loving palms that will provide future canopy. As each species goes in, I’ll update this thread. The YouTube video shows the land as it is now. Over the next few months all the infrastructure will go in (town water, underground power, sealed roads, concrete access driveway etc).

Some stills of the land and view. Land: View:

And some more from Punakaiki and surrounds including Pororari River track, Truman Track, Pancake Rocks, and the bottom end of the Paparoa track.

Was on the west coast of the South Island recently for 2 weeks camping and experienced lots of great habitat. Here are some photos, mainly from start of the heaphy track. The first photo is from the deck of a friend’s house at the Mohikinui River mouth.

Hello ! Was lucky enough to explore the forests of Costa Rica : from altitude cloudy forest to dry savanes. They have it all, with amazing species. A special thanks to Jeff who gave me great advices and IDs. Some of you might know him.

Why so definitive with the papaya? That's fully in the survivable camp depending on the duration. They don't die the second it hits 32F or 30F or some other arbitrary number. Fishtail too #optimism

Doesn’t look like it got below freezing here. None of my freeze/frost indicator plants look like it got that cold. When I took my kids to school on Friday morning the car said 37 to 38 F there and back around sunrise. I know the car thermometers aren’t of the best scientific value but nothing looks froze around here so far. I guess bring on Monday night.

I've got my potted plants in the garage. I will be losing my papaya tree and my fishtail palm, but they were always intended to be annuals. Nothing else in my landscape has me worried with 28F as the forecast low.

very high calcium soil cannot be ammended to solve pH issues which will be a problem for many palms. I dont know about Alfredii there, I guess you will be the first one to grow in such an alaline soil. I would try adding elemental sulfur, and plenty of it to see if the pH can be changed. It will take a couple years to find out. pH 8.2 is not extremely high but5 its an issue. Here is a chart, the red pH zones are a no for most plants. https://planetpermaculture.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/ph-chart-showing-nutrient-availability/ looks like B, Fe, Cu, Zn, and N will be a problem. Get the sulfur pellets, they are small pellets but big enough that the wind wont blow them away like a granular sulfur. You will need to address the pH issue at and around the planting sites. You have to put this stuff down liberally, 4-5 lbs per planting site per year for 3-4 years. THe soil microbes break down the sulfur to acid in small amounts so no burn. I dont recommend using a quick soil pH adjustor, there is a high risk of killing plants as it rinses down. you might just be able to change that soil at pH 8.2 but it will take time an lots of sulfur. In the mean time get some humic acid as it chelates some of the micro nutrients and improves availability in alkaline soil.

Upper 20s in the forecast for the northern part of SA in the forecast on Sunday morning. Nothing to worry about.

This one is Cleopatra x True blue Arenarius. It is turning more blue with each flush. It is also is a speedster as this flush started in Nov. for its 3rd flush last year! I believe this will turn into a good looking plant.

I have’nt posted in awhile because not alot going on this time of year. I have a few plants flushing but thats it. This one is Horridus x Arenarius. Not very blue yet but maybe in the future.

I have been asked to spread the word about the World Palm Symposium supported in part by the IPS as part of our research, education and conservation mission statement. Below I copy a letter from the Organizing Committee: Dear fellow palm researchers and enthusiasts! Abstract submissions and early-bird registration are now open for PALMS 2026 Singapore! We are now accepting submissions for talks and posters related to the following themes about palms: 1. Ecology and ecophysiology 2. Systematics, phylogenetics, and evolution 3. Biogeography, macroecology and macroevolution 4. Plant-animal interactions 5. Uses and conservation 6. Palms in the human landscape Hands-on workshops in palm propagation and collecting—plus exclusive field trips into Singapore’s nature reserves—are coming up. Join us and be part of it. If you are early career researcher or student, we are also excited to announce travel grants to help support you. For more information, check out our website: https://palms2026.sg Sign up here for news and announcements (e.g., workshop sign-ups and deadline reminders) or follow us on Instagram! Best, Jun Ying Lim On behalf of the World Palm Symposium Organising Committee

Palermo was a bit of mixed bag. Still pockets of stunning ancient heritage, but unfortunately the city in general does appear to have lost its way. The botanical garden on the other hand was a pleasant surprise, with a fantastic variety of palm species. Also the most comprehensive collection of citrus trees I've ever seen, the majority of which were full of ripe fruit. Well worth a visit. Washingtonia robusta Church of St. Dionisio 14th century ruins Phoenix sylvestris Washingtonia robusta Not 100%, but I think this is Trachycarpus takil. Labelled Trachycarpus fortunei. Brahea armata Butia sp. Brahea edulis Trachycarpus martianus Jubaea chilensis Trithrinax campestris Rhopalostylis sapida Chamaedorea metallica Archontophoenix maxima Roystonea regia Chrysalidocarpus baronii Brahea decumbens Brahea brandegeei Brahea armata Chrysalidocarpus decaryi Trithrinax campestris Brahea aculeata Nannorrhops ritchiana Parajubaea torallyi Sabal maritima Dioon spinulosum Encephalartos lehmanni Chamaerops humilis var. argentea Howea forsteriana

Congratulations on the acquisition. I hope you see your plans to fruition.

Gone are the days of germinating everything you could get your hands on in the way of seeds! Its own popularity pushed it out of fashion, along with the help of new varieties of palms coming along.

One beautiful palm from New Guinea. Clumping, colorful, well behaved, and attractive entire leaves. Copious amount of indument on the rachis and leaf veins. Been in ground for around twelve years. I’ll add photos of the colorful inflorescence and seed if and when that happens. Tim

Sorry, So Cal--this topic's about the east coast! Anyone seen any Clinostigmas growing down here? Fairchild gardens has a Clinostigma Harlandii with about 14' of trunk. A friend of mine is attempting a decent sized batch of Savoryanum--not out of the solid leaf yet, but very much healthy. I know Savoryanum is well represented in California, so my guess is it's a winner down here. The Clinostigma Harlandii looked pretty healthy after two consecutive, harsh winters(by our standards) so I want to believe this lovely palm is also safe. Two down, so what about the other 9? I have been wanting to grow Clinostigma Exorrhizum for some time, but prefer to see it local before I try it out. Lastly, of all the people that may reply to this post, have any of you seen the alleged cone of stilt roots, this genus is known for, or is this an adaptation to their local environment only(the Clinostigma Harlandii at FTB doesn't have stilt roots like described in my literature)?

Gorgeous Andrew!

31° expected tonight lol .

I was out cleaning up this part of the garden and did some trimming on this Decipiens hybrid which makes it easier to get photos of it. Also, for what it’s worth, I was speaking with a friend about this palm. He is familiar with the original garden this seed came from and mentioned that he believed the Decipiens crossed with a Baronii which is close by. In the past I thought it was crossed with a Madagascariensis type palm that is right next to the Decipiens, but none of these hybrids, to my knowledge, showed any irregular leaflets which crosses with Madagascariensis always seem to show. Supposedly, Decipiens and Baronii are very closely related on the Chrysalidocarpus DNA tree. That would explain many things about these hybrids. Not just their appearance, but also the fact that so many hybrids happened from the 1 seed batch, and now the hybrids themselves are making plenty of viable seed. I’m no expert but I wonder if palms that are so closely related hybridize, does that create a somewhat new species? Or a variation?

Upon request by the owners and IPS president Andy Hurwitz I am posting information about a one of a kind legacy property available for sale in Hawaii. PT is not normally the correct venue for real estate ads, but I believe when you read more you will see why an exception is made here. Although memories of my visit there in 2022 will forever be etched in my mind, please address inquiries to the owners, not to me personally. Please see information and photos from the owners: A New Chapter for Casa de Las Palmas We purchased Casa de Las Palmas in 2017 from the estate of legendary nurseryman Jerry Hunter. Jerry was the owner of Rancho Soledad Nurseries in California, Palms of Paradise in Hawaii, and Mount Soledad in Pacific Beach. Dubbed the "Dean of California Landscape Architects", he held license #33. His designs are found throughout the San Diego area, including San Diego Zoo, Balboa Botanical Gardens, and a host of other public and private venues. Along with collecting and hybridizing many new plant varieties, he built the first plant tissue culture laboratory in San Diego. Casa de Las Palmas was Jerry's private Hawaiian retreat. Over the course of 35 years, Jerry transformed seven acres of upper Hilo farmland into a true garden masterpiece, creating a magical realm of exotic palms, waterfalls, meandering lava-rock paths, water gardens, and flowering tropical plants. Now over 45 years since planting began, it's a vast and mature botanical collection of rare palms, cycads, philodendrons, bromeliads, anthuriums and orchids. We have been honored to be the caretakers, but the time has come for us to move on, so we are offering the property for sale. Before we list it on the open market, we want palm and garden lovers to know it is available, in the hope that we can find a custodian for the future. The property has a 2-bedroom, 2-and-a-half-bathroom house with a separate apartment, and potential for additional dwellings. We currently do private garden tours, film shoots, and small events, and there is plenty of room to grow a successful business here. We had the delight of hosting IPS members for a lunch and tour during the 2022 Biennial in Hawaii. Please do contact us if you would like any further information. Irene Francis & Lars Woodruffe 646-338-7882 irenefrancis@hotmail.com https://houseofthepalms.com/

A few chamaedorea alternans that are a wonderful addition to the collection, a few more dypsis minuta are always welcome anytime, the Pinanga sylvestris should be a nice one for the garden, with a rare licuala micholitzii. All welcome additions for the collection and the garden.

Pinanga maculata. Tim

A desiccating Chambeyronia hookeri leaf adds a bit eye catching attention for a fleeting last flash of red!

A nice bit of colour on the iguanura new leaf, and all bright green after a good thunderstorm in the garden this afternoon!

That does sound like classic transplant shock, especially if it was badly root-bound before. Palms really feel repotting stress, and moving it indoors adds another adjustment with light and humidity changes. As long as you keep watering steady but not excessive, skip fertilizer for now, and give it bright, indirect light, it should settle in. These things just take time with palms—sometimes a couple of months—while the roots recover and start working properly again.

Caramel Pluto philodendron Golden Crocodile philodendron Kiett mango from seed Jesus Christ my arms are hairy. Anyway here's your color.

Let's fast forward to today, where it's in the 50s, and her highness was brought inside as usual. We spoke of fertilizing, but found this thread, and we shall wait until March-ish. She looks bigger than the op in 2022, but she looks....burnt and not so green. She lives outside receiving indirect sunlight, and she has a dedicated irrigation line as of 2 weeks. Prior to that her watering and fertilizing was scarce. Her soil is the same as from 2022. Does she need new soil perhaps? A bigger pot that's transportable? Some fertilizer or food now? Thank you Miami

Pinanga disticha, Licuala grandis, Licuala glabra var. glabra.

The Ceroxylon and one of the Howeas have been sold.

A few more photos. Tim

To me the elegans has stood the test of time. Taking pride of place in the greenhouse next too the the rare tropicals, to group plantings in the garden to standing alone with pride. An old favourite of mine going back to when I was a child at my grandmothers house with them in the kitchen. Down to them taking place in a heritage home adding that Victorian era look. There here to stay in my collection!

Oraniopsis appendiculata, coping with the high temperatures and lack of rainfall!

Cefalù is a must see if you're travelling to Sicily. Stunning architecture, beautiful city.

In 2014, I gathered seeds of this species from habitat in Cuba. 12 years of growth in the Arizona desert and here are the results. The ones I planted in full, all day sun, are finally putting out larger fan shaped leaves. The ones planted in shade, although a much prettier shade of green, are still only pushing strap leaves after all this time. Full sun definitely makes a difference in speed of growth. Species is basically a miniature version of Copernicia macroglossa, but is better adapted to smaller yards and gardens where space is at a premium. Unfortunately, due to its extremely slow growth rate and rarity of seeds, it will never be common or commercially produced. aztropic Mesa, Arizona

Best time to start a slow growing species is today folks! Future you will be glad you did

Late to the discussion, but... I've grown my share of wobbly palms, and never staked a one. My solution was rocks. Large rocks to help support the palm at its base. Or if no rocks around, one could use bricks, or if you're into that kind of thing, garden gnomes, concrete bunnies, or an upside-down clay pot -- something with some heft that will encourage the palm to stay upright. Then a year or two along the calendar, you can simply move them elsewhere. No marring of the trunk from any ties, and the palm ends up with a firm grip on its place in the soil.

These are photos of a grove of majesty palms (around 15 total palms) in my brother's old place in Long Beach. Photos of the grove were taken in 2008 and then in 2012 before he sold the place. Needless to say, he liked majesty palms a lot. Mike Arends Leilani Estates, Hawaii

Clinostigma doing well and looking reptilian.

Here is Clinostigma samoense. Doing very well and getting thicker.

Picked this up at sale. It's a Maypan (no talls were available). Easily the biggest coconut I've ever seen. The basketball next to it is a full size, official 29.5" basketball.

Yeah, these don't like it here...

Andrew, the trunk on yours makes mine in shade look puny!

Updates on this one. There was a lutescens that was causing this palm to bend. So as soon as I saw the kink, out came the machete!

Here are a couple better shots of this samoense.

2015 update photo of mine:

Hi Andrew, yup it's C. samoense that hold entire leaves while still young. Yours is looking good. Tim

I believe this is a samoense. We left it in a pot for too long and it started to decline. I told my dad we need to get her in the ground if we want to keep her(she wasn't going to sell in her condition). A year or so later and she is really starting to take off!