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This Kaapsehoop Cycad caught my attention in the setting light this evening. It is still a juvenile.

I have both A. Cunninghamiana and C. Alexandrae that are mature . They are on opposite sides of my house so no fear with hybridization as far as I can tell. The Alexandrae is large and has flowered but no fruit yet . The Cunninghamiana (x2) has produced copious amounts of fruit . The seeds I sowed have sprouted and , so far , are true to the parent palm. I’m the only one on my street that has Archontophoenix palms . The Purpurae and Maxima are juveniles and planted close to one another . They could hybridize but that will be a while so not worried , they are still small. They were transplants from a friend’s yard who has a lot of Archontophoenix . Harry

I germinated a batch of these Jan 2026, coming on strong now in their second summer. I've got a couple extra, free to any local palm gardeners willing to pick up or meetup in the Ft Myers area. I have other misc seedlings around too, feel free to message if you're local I'd like to find good homes for them.

Could you copy Dowe’s description mate? I’ve seen references to it online but not in full detail. I’m mainly interested in whether it mentions the presence of ramenta on the abaxial surface of the leaflets (I couldn’t tell from your pics but it should be pretty clear at the size of your plants if you can get photos of the underside of leaflets) and the fruit and seed size. I’d probably defer to those with more experience, but just my 2 cents: Archontophoenix have been cultivated for generations now, particularly A cunninghamiana and A alexandrae. Although there’s clear evidence that they can hybridise (Albang and reverse and some purpurea hybrids on this forum), my experience is that seed from a specimen in a garden with other Archontophoenix sp will generally stay true to the mother. There are also areas of overlap with the native habitat range of A cunninghamiana and A alexandrae yet natural hybrids are extremely uncommon from what I know. I’d guess Archontophoenix sp are nothing like Chrysalidocarpus sp which almost seem to act functionally dioecious when multiple species exist in the same garden. I’m not sure the risk is huge in Richard’s case for example, but it is something that’s good to be aware of.

Stanhopea orchid flowering ( not sure of the species ) I have inherited a few specimen's from my father and I'm not really an orchid person per se, so I'll see how I go with them...

Thank you for the responses and suggestions, really appreciate it and look forward to a great palm! Appreciate the buy pointers as well and I will try to make it to the next Central Florida Palm Society meeting, thanks! Given the differences of light/humidity in coming from a nursery - indoors with not as bright as it may be used to plus the humidity changes, I am leaning towards not repotting and letting it adjust before I repot in Spring/Summer. From what I have been reading, they do not like root disturbance much so that compounded my idea but correct me if wrong. I'm sure it will be in a decent soil it has been growing in and hopefully can continue as-is while I learn how to best do that and routine care. I aim to keep humidity a little higher indoors using a spray or a humidifier as some suggested. I've had my other houseplants vacation outdoors at times for a bit of shower or repotting, flushing the salts out. After one brought in an unwanted hitchhiker and multiplied quickly indoors, the quarantine and treatment process was not pleasant for me and the other plants as well. I tend not to do that much anymore or with care in my neck of the woods and with gardens around carrying lots of insect/plant diversity - good and bad.

Again my words probably weren’t chosen right. I don’t know how this palm was overlooked and never entered widespread cultivation is what I should have said. However what you’ve said Richard is quite correct. If you live in an area where Archontophoenix are wild and you grow a number of non native Archontophoenix in your garden, there is an increased risk of hybridisation and contamination of the wild environment.

Interesting it’s said it escaped from cultivation, thuu oy a iscthe one fear I have with any of my archontophoenix species, cross contamination with the local population of Bangalows in my area sooner or later. With it known in my area that archontophoenix have moved habitat from birds ( blueberry's farms attracting birds) expanding their habitat. So what will happen in the years to come when my archontophoenix species set seeds and are dispersed throughout the mountains and valleys. For sure cross pollination is going to happen and the local gene pool will be split up. So it’s a dilemma that needs to be addressed, so do I cut down my Alexander and purpurea, myolensis, tuckeri, it’s a mixed bag of lollies out there!

Im definitely guilty of being that guy after having a palm weevil fly into my back slider. In my head I looked like Brad Pitt fighting in the movie Troy but judging by my wife and kids laughter im guessing it was more like Homer Simpson trying to hula hoop.

Your Bismarckia looks fine. If you can leave it on without it being in your way, leave it until it’s dry. It will not damage anything by hanging down. The only thing would be if someone were mowing and tore it off. That would be worse than just pruning it. The bed is somewhat undersized and it’s understandable. The palm was probably about that big around when you planted it. Of course, a Bismarckia crown can be much larger and will likely increase its width. Until it grows tall enough for that to not interfere with lawn care, you might want to increase the size of the bed.

I agree with Merlyn that some of its characteristics will be more apparent with a new flush, such as the color. In addition to looking at the leaves, examining their collars can be helpful. It is somewhat reminiscent of an Encephalartos longifolius × horridus i am growing.

Random sign of life from one trunk of a quadruple king palm I'd long ago given up on/written off as entirely dead, but just hadn't yet gotten around to removing: