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It looks like the WFO Plant List is updated in this manner: Washingtonia filifera var. filifera: https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-0000333904-2025-12 Washingtonia filifera var. robusta: https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-0000333906-2025-12 Washingtonia filifera var. sonorae: https://wfoplantlist.org/taxon/wfo-0000801443-2025-12 The hybrid doesn't seem to be placed just yet:

https://ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2025-10/Chrysalidocarpus andersenii and C x lafazamanga PalmArbor FINAL 24 Oct 2025 .pdf I came across this published article that is officially naming Chrysalidocarpus Lafazamanga as a hybrid and the original plant that it came from (non-hybrid) is described as Chrysalidocarpus Andersenii (named after Jerry Andersen who has the parent plant here in Hawaii). Since I have not seen this talked about here on PalmTalk, I wanted to post this so people can discuss. I know many are growing Lafazamanga. I have 2nd and 3rd generation plants here in my Hawaii garden. I find it interesting that a hybrid can go on to produce generation after generation of viable seed. Not just hit or miss, but 100% germination rate. I have experienced this in my 2 Hawaii gardens over the past 8 years of growing these plants here. I grow many Chrysalidocarpus hybrids and rarely get germination from seed on them. I would love more information from those of you who are more educated in botany to chime in on how this all works! This article states that there is most likely only one Chrysalidocarpus Andersenii, but that is not true as other growers here in Hawaii have it. I know @realarch had one seeding in his Hilo garden up until recently. He cut it down, but has young plants that he sprouted from it before cutting it down. He gave me 2 of them a few years back, so I have 2 of them here in my garden. Anyone else here on Hawaii growing this palm that is now described as Chrysalidocarpus Andersenii?

After the loss of my giant live oak, I’ve been replanting the area, which is now in shockingly harsh full Alabama sun. The spot previously occupied by a Trachycarpus fortunei that bit the dust is now available. (I was told by a landscaper that windmills, especially the young ones, are iffy in this 8B climate, with the combination of sustained heat and occasional droughts.) Anyway, I’ve decided to replace it with a butia, the bluer ( or silvery, if you prefer) the better. Butias are slow, but they do well here. I’m OK with the odorata, but open to suggestions for other butia species/hybrids that may put on size a little faster, and sources that supply them. I’d be happy if it eventually looked like this one, thriving on neglect in a dicey part of town: I’m giving myself until March to find that special butia, and then, if all else fails, I’ll go the conventional route and choose the best-looking odorata from a local supplier. Worst-case scenario would be a big box butia, but that’s okay, too. Your thoughts?

The new thing is: Washingtonia filifera var. Filifera Washingtonia filifera var. Robusta Washingtonia filifera var. Sonorae

Phoenicophorium borsigianum, a Seychelles palm. Tim

Thanks for posting!

Crumbling cones and spring flushes in Jan 😵‍💫😂😵‍💫

Beccariophoenix alfredii or maybe madagascariensis (fronds are very big), Butyagrus (?), Butia spp. , Beccariophoenix alfredii

I once drove through the mountains on a trip from Cincinnati Ohio to the Harrisburg PA area in the first week of May. Trees were green to start the trip. Then in Somerset area everything was still brown. Didn’t green back up again till past Bedford.

You’ve got a great piece of ground up there with beautiful rich soil. You will have it turned back into rainforest (which it would have been originally) in no time. Was the property part of an old dairy farm? Once you get some canopy you could try your Hedyscepe. However I know that Oraniopsis and Laccospadix will thrive there. Plus probably another 2000 species. I would say that you are right on the border of Cyrtostachys renda territory there too. It’s an amazing property. Keep us up to date with progress.

I just love standing around watering that’s my excuse at least for doing nothing! Richard

Been gone for a while. Wish they had an app for this site lol But here’s an update on my palms so far this winter in Northern Rio specifically Enchanted Hills. I decided to NOT cover my robustas like I did the past 3 winters and they seem to be doing better uncovered. Thinking probably a trapped moisture issue creating a freeze like effect. I did however get nervous about them being robustas and placed a heat coil around the trunk and loosely wrapped the incoming spear. The rest of the palms just received a burlap wrap around their trunk. I know the windmill probably didn’t need one but being that it is its first NM winter, I did it anyway.

Other Santa Ana coconut - haven't posted in awhile and coconut looks a little rough in January, but still going strong.

Agree with Allen. The minor will be fine, even if it takes a little damage. The only reason to cover it would be to try to prevent it being slowed down at all in the spring because of losing fronds to cold. (Though it may sail through 9F just fine) The windmill will almost certainly benefit from protection. I will defer to Allen on the best ways to protect it. If you check out his video I am sure you will find a way that works for you.

Probably should dry cover and or heat the windmill a bit. Minor is ok. I just posted a vid on ways to protect

Summer rains the best for the garden, it’s like a tropical paradise. Curse winter the palm growers enemy!

Despite the obvious morphological differences was the DNA not glaringly different enough to divide robusta and filifera into two species? I’m not sure how much this changes in practicality but cool to know I guess.

For those numbers no, assuming they are already fairly protected by canopy/structure. I'm not making any decisions until Friday, the numbers are jumping 5-10 degrees up and down by the hour. What a nail-biter 😄

@bruce Steele I sent them to @DoomsDave to try. Harry

I do feel fortunate that no one was injured and there was no property damage. C. Obtusa seems much more sturdy than these . I remember years ago , my palm mentor had one about the size mine was and it fell and only minor damage to one corner of his roof . Then Dave’s warning and I still thought that it only happens after flowering . I was so confident that it would be ok , I was wrong . They should not be anywhere near structures or people. This palm had just opened a very healthy , dark green frond that was beautiful. No sign at all of what inevitably happened. BEWARE!! Harry

I'm afraid the "conventional route" is your best bet to find a particularly blue Butia. At a grower in Florida might be the best way to find one with more to pick from. 12 years ago when I lived in the Houston area I visited 4 different Houston Garden Centers to find a blue one. Once I located an exceptionally blue mature Butia odorata and grew up a seedling from it but it turned out green! They're so variable it's not likely to find a dependable source of blue ones. I don't know if other species are any faster or more likely to be blue. Butia hybrids with Syagrus (mules) are always green and hybrids with Jubaea are likely green also but definitely faster.

I wonder what they are? Really cool palms around the Moana area in Epcot at Disney world in Florida.

Odorata/capitata are probably slight more cold hardy than yatay. The person who might nous banana joe up in islands of British Columbia. I know they had a jubaea which did well and even began to developed a decent trunk, but the wet/damp weather got to it. I have a yatay x jubaea and would like another one. Where you told any prices?

They should be decently established they were planted in 2023... so about full 2 growing seasons on them

wow harry !!! I remember messaging you about this & this is crazy it happened. I won't ever own a Urens... don't have the space.😅 This is my warning. My obtusa is in the ground & I am worried, but it doesn't seem as troublesome as urens. & not as risky of falling over. This situation could of been a lot worse !

Your soil mux sounds pretty good forbb be indoor growing. Your choice of palms to grow inside , they get rather large and difficult to hold back in regards to growing out of control. Perhaps a Dypsis minuta or a small growing palm to begin with would be a better choice. A little chamaedorea such as tenella a much better choice and you should be able to find one somewhere.

You’ve had some good rain over there. Enjoy.

A nice gift of some seeds has seen them grow to fruition. Definitely a beautiful little tree worth growing, a great understory plant fitting in well. Thanks Gary!

@Highdesertdave Very nice pics! We are fortunate enough to have a mild winter so far (fingers crossed), so that's another reason why the washingtonias are doing better. Plus they are wrapping up there establishment stage so there roots are stronger. Heat cable is a great idea since it provides a little extra warmest on colder nights. Also, if there is an arctic blast coming our way, you can always wrap burlap around it (or throw a frost cloth over it) to trap the heat in during the event. Then take it off once temps warm back up. Wrapping the Trachycarpus aren't a real concern as they are cold hardy and like a bit more moisture. Your Butia is doing great as well. Good job on your yard and keep up the good work!

Our weather in Santa Ynez valley feels more like Santa Barbara this winter but just about the time you plant subtropicals a winter with hard freezes will return. I got a nice little crop of tangerines a couple weeks ago which isn’t always the case here in the valley close to the river( low ground ) . I was wondering Harry if you got any Jubaeopsis to germinate yet ?

Well fellow Texans, time to drag this thread kicking and screaming back up in the list. I’m watching this coming weekend’s frivolities start to take shape so we can see where we end up when we’ve got hindsight a week or so from today. I’m sure I can’t be the only one! A please feel free to contribute for your part of Texas! Here is the 7-10 day (depending on what the given app easily provides) forecast for my location in San Antonio. First is Wunderground, then Accuweather, Apple, NWS

Oh man. Prediction for CS went from 28F low to 20 low overnight so I am suddenly finding myself in the [Awww shite, not again!]-mode. No doubt it will hit the teens again next week for me (I have seen this movie now every year. Will end up being a big rain, then clear skies). Luckily, I have almost accepted that I live in a 7b/8a climate a few years back and I have increasingly less to worry about (yay Sabals). It will suck to have another Spring with much recovery growth and damaged fronds.

Not a problem John... I hope he does well with the Dodgers... But I understand your frustration... And I want to apologize for the Rams beating the Bears yesterday... Exciting ending to the game. 😉 .... Butch

Coconut seems to handle frost better than a lot of other stuff. The bad damage on it was from 27 and 6+ hours below freezing last winter unprotected

Good stuff, a lot of craftwork beads went to all corners of the globe. Out of 12 packs only one didn’t make it. I won’t name the country but it’s very third world and I wasn’t surprised it didn’t get there due to corruption. But good stuff glad you got something going, treasure them they will be your forever palms, outside in the shade in summer time and you know the winter rules indoors!

These are from a really blue one growing in Del Rey (just south of Fresno), and the owner there said seeds came from Mexico, but couldn't tell me where. These all sold out. I had a similar batch last year they sold out pretty quickly too. I'll try to get pics of the mother plant.

Here are a few of many palms that are at the Rio Grande Zoo. Sabal and Trachycarpus are what they have planted throughout the grounds.

This isn't good. If the AO does hit -4 or lower, chances for a significant freeze are more possible area wide for central Florida and beyond. Yes Delilah, those are freezing temps near Homestead on the Euro AI model Jan 30th. Keep your head on a swivel.

Any size, the bigger the better, I will be doing a SoCal road trip in March. Thanks !

Here I offer the three books by David Fairchild. "Exploring for plants" 1930 edition, no dust cover ; "The World was my Garden", 1939, paper dust cover in poor condition; and "The World Grows round my Garden", 1947, vinyl dust cover All three for $35 plus $15 slow shipping, or $25 faster shipping, the offer is for the three together, I won't sell just one or two. USPS anywhere in the contiguous 48 US states, PM me for my PayPal address, Thanks !

Great books to start or continue a collection. I only have the third, 'The World Grows Round My *Door' and it was my introduction to the mind of Fairchild's plant fandom and his residence, The Kampong. I don't have the dust jacket on mine though. One of my favorite sub-plots of the book was Fairchild's obsession with obtaining the Red Jade Vine, Mucuna bennettii, and how so many attempts to get it came up empty. Ryan

The books are sold, thanks for reading.

Cocos nucifera opening a new frond

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

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

Naini Tal x Waggie would be my guess. There is a story on DC Tropics with pictures of Bulgaria, Waggie, and Nainital planted next to eachoter during the cold winter of 2014. The Waggie bit the dust first, then the Bulgaria , The Naini Tal survived. The coldest it got as +5 f. but the cold spell was sustained .

👍👍👍👍 Not a betting man, but,... Happy to: Bet 2$ that thing tries to throw an inflo. in the next 3 years.. .. Bet 8$ one future flowering attempt results in a nut ..of some sort. Add 3$ if even one ...one... future nut produced ends up being viable.. In other words... ..that thing looks great.. ...and on its way to great things ...if the owner / any future owner leaves it alone👍

Damn that was a beauty, I remember the pics when you planted it. Sorry for that one.

There is much variation even among a group of fortuneis.