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The cascade palm, an old favourite that has been around for some time now. A fantastic ornamental palm, perfect for a small hedge or a nice fill in for a corner or anywhere in the understory. Makes a great patio container palm, has somewhat of a cool tolerance. A landscapers dream Paolo that’s as tough as nails. A great all round chamaedorea that’s ver forgiving to a growers blunder or two!

When I first moved to Florida, I planted a Bismarckia in mid2010 and a sabal uresana in summer 2011. Uresanas are often mentioned as alternatives to bismarckia in 9a. These palms have stood next to each other over the years making for an easy growth comparison. Bismarckias are generally regarded as fast growers and uresanas are said to be slow. First, Bismarckia several months after planting a 5 gallon bought at a big box store. Everything but the spear had heavy mold spots so I kind of treated it as a rescue. It seems to have that purplish hue after winter that is often associalted with a whiter leaf. It adapted fast to sun after being tortured inside the box store with palms stacked in a pile around it. It put 5-6 new leaves out the first year. late july 2010 bismarckia then about a year later I planted a sabal uresana "icy blue" I bought from tejas tropicals in texas. It was a strap leafer and I put it in a pot. About 6 months later it was ready to go into the ground as the pot was root bound. A little over 2 years later in sept 2013 both had grown well. IN this pic the uresana looks a bit bigger than it was (relatively) since it was closer to the observer. It had turned darker with less "icy blue" color but was clearly not just a green sabal. The uresana was about 6' overall and the Bismarckia was closer to 10' in this pic At this point the bismarckia was trunking and growth was accelerating and here is the pic from june 2015. The uresana not trunking was putting more leaves for a bigger crown About 4 years later the uresana had lengthened it leaves and had gone into trunking mode. It went skyward chasing the bismarckia but still 6-7 feet over all behind the biz in height Last week I took another pic and noticed about a 10' gap even though the uresana had sped up and grown to about 25' tall. compared with 35' for the bismarckia I thought it was interesting that the growth burst of each happened at trunking, as we are often told by the literature. Yes even sabal uresana grows well after trunking. I also though it is interesting to note that Sabal Uresana has a wider crown, that was a surprise. I had always thought Bismarckia would be wider as it throws more shade but its a couple fee less in width of the crown. The Uresana crown is more open though, and it took a lot less damage than the Bismarckia in hurricane Milton(oct2024). Part of the lesser damage suffered by uresana could be due to less wind damage as there are higher wind velocities at height, but also part might be the Uresana having an open crown with smaller leaves that have less wind drag. I do think Uresanas will have more blue than mine in a drier hot climate. Bismarckias are very versatile, they don't need much fertilizer and mostly they are self shedding. Just keep them happy and the weevils wont come to dinner(I had a sick one attacked by weevils and killed). I treated the Uresana same as Bismarckia, limited fertilizer compared with my other palms The Uresana has persistent leaf bases which are still strongly attached near the ground. Since I do the trimming, I am happy that Uresana is a slower grower, as the Bismarckia is now too tall for me to trim from the ground. And the Bismarckia(female) is a mess, dropping 150-200 lbs of seed a year. I just got done raking up half a trash can full of Bismarckia fruits, and there is at least that much still hanging on the tree. Uresana has not fruited yet at 15 yrs. Sabals are notorious for liking heat to grow fast and they both had plenty of Florida heat. For those thinking about Sabal Uresana, its not Bismarckia fast but its more of a medium grower for me after trunking.

Thought I’d bump this thread and post an updated photo. So far so good, still going strong. Tim

Thanks Harry, she lived 19 years as princess, she actually designed the garden I was just her gardener!

It is difficult to assess just how big this Encephalartos horridus × woodii is in a photo without a human for scale. Looking up at the top.of the new flush when I walk by it, reminds me why this is often my favorite cycad growing in my garden.

I see green hopefully it pulls through somehow. For reference here is a large coconut in port Isabel Tx zone 10A that survived like 23° in 2021 .

Yep the governments have a lot to answer for, Australia could become almost totally self sufficient, yet we choose to import stuff like it’s going out of fashion. And a lot of it has too do with trade agreements with other countries. So the government can get tax’s. Not listen to its people or the environment crying out. If not for the people standing up and having their say governments would just tax the living daylights out of us all.

Get two that’s what I did, one is not enough! 😂😂😂

Could be some type of beetle larvae or a moth larvae, possibly even a cricket.

Well, it’s never too late! If you can get past the seedling stage, they are actually pretty tough. Ten years? I probably won’t know a palm from a rose bush! Frightening eh? Tim

I did actually pull off the smallest one and cut it open just to see if anything was in there. The knife sliced right through it, but there was definitely something in the middle. It was a white/tan inner part that was different from the green flesh around it. It seemed to be slightly harder than the flesh too (still could squish it though). Hopefully that was a developing seed.

Sobralia xanthaluca starting to bloom with this flower today.

For years, this wonderful palm masqueraded as Trachycarpus wagnerianus, but, as it turned out, it was botanically described from a cultivated specimen (a no-no) and never known from the wild. This is simply a seed cultivar of Trachycarpus fortunei, albeit a truly fine one. In addition to proving very winter hardy, it makes a 20' tall trunk exactly like typical Trachycarpus fortunei, except the stiff round leaves are stunningly beautiful and much shorter...18" diameter compared to 33" diameter for typical Trachycarpus fortunei.

i can ship probably 25-40 deepening on location

Do you know if this palm is still there since they rebuilt the botanical building? I don't remember seeing it in the last few years, but I definitely remember it from yesteryear. I've been looking for seed ever since and now RPS has it and I ordered it.

Here’s that coconut today. Slight bit of green showing in the center, so there is a chance.

That is definitely not Spain and not Mallorca! 100% not

Beauty Tim. I'm a bit late to the party but am giving them a go. Fingers crossed we're both around in 10 years so I can give you an update..

So long Sari! Sorry for your loss . Sail on ……. Harry

Three more great winners! Basselina eriostachysCalyptrogyne ghiesbreghtiana Hedyscepe Canterburyana

And finally sari the cat who used up all of her nine lives a week ago passing away in the wifes arms.

Always time for a few more pics!

Still alive @happypalms

There are a number of flushes working there way through my California garden right now. I wish I could spell the old abbreviation for California with the Encephalartos species names, but I am not growing any ferox so lack the "f". I detest the term some use as a substitute for the state, which is "Cali" but without the "f" that is what I'm stuck spelling: C = for Encephalartos caffer A = for Encephalartos arenarius L = for Encephalartos lehmanii or longifolius I = for Encephalartos ituriensis Back in the day, before the postal service implemented the two letter state abbreviations, we wrote "Calif." for the abbreviation on mail. Anyone remember using that abbreviation and how much a stamp cost in that day? On a slightly different note, I can't help thinking of the tragic outbreak of ebola virus currently happening in the Ituri region when I look at my two E. ituriensis.

Mid May Hi -lights: Surprise seed pods forming on the Yellow Adenium.. Who pollinated it? and could the timing have been such that it crossed w/ the bigger flowered specimen next to it? ..Regardless, First time i've ever seen pods on any of my specimens and will be the first time starting these from seed, once they're ready.. Adenium X " Thai Purple Jade " ..the " named " half of that specimen.. starting to flower, as this round of flowers on it's partner half start finishing up.. G. coulteri = Gearing up for round #2 ..3 out of 4 of 'em at least.. Speaking of... If handled right, afterwards, appears these can transplant well ...at an early age at least. Is the seedling that popped up in the front yard. Moved because it will get wayy too big for that spot. Bursera microphylla v. " Waterman Mtns form " ..The supposed, natural cross between it and B. fageroides from far S. AZ... starting to flower.. Tough to see but the flowers possess both male and female parts.. Some husky Hurcules at a local nursery.. Notice the cuts on these, which tells you ...yes, they can be cut up, and re- rooted, if necessary.. The lone survivor from the " Canna Experiment " last year.. ..Speaking of..... >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

" Slaughter Pink " Blushing a bit in the heat.. J - 105 ..< Cat Calls > Whata' banger.. Crab Spider can skitter off to somewhere else though, lol.. TLD < Thornton Lemon Drop > opening in the heat. Scent is exactly as you'd expect.. beautifully lemony.. Note the difference between how it and Celadine < on the right > present their flowers.. Tons more flowers, and tons more on 2 other branches, to go. Cinnamon Swirl, Not pictured, on the way. Appears, for the moment at least, Divine will be late ..or maybe skip a season?? ..this year. Others? ..we'll see. That said, San Pedro Du Lac X?, on deck, next.. Last of the Bougainvillea yanked ..Good riddance 'ye thorny, out dated, hort. atrocity mess.. You don't die in vein however, as your thorny, drying branches slung in various areas, and across sections of the block wall, shall stab trespassing cat feet with erect enthusiasm as they try to enter the yard.. Large Leaf form of Calliandra haematocephala replacement adjusting nicely, even thru the heat.. In time, it will properly block late afternoon sun beaming into the yard here this time of year. Not pictured ..While it weeps a bit during the hottest portion of the day right now, tender -est bits n' pieces still plump, rather than burnt and drying out ..Plant itself looking normal after the sun sets = deep soakings are working as it settles in and starts initiating new root growth.. Compelled, ..and just for the heck -of -it, ventured into 109F mid afternoon heat to put the tape measure to the R. P. ..just to see where we're at as we enter the hottest / driest part of the year / await the arrival of the best time of the year < Monsoon Season > Considering it has been ..roughly.. a year since it hit the dirt as a ~approx 8 -10" tall, 1gal, a little over 4ft of growth, after being planted, last year, + 15.6" of new growth added since ..uhh, early / mid - March < new growth added so far this year, above the section i'd painted to protect just before it woke up > = Not bad, -at -all.. Other than seed, no way i'd pay money for one of these ..or any other tree that grows as fast.. Now that the top is just above the height of the stick next to it, peeking over the back wall at the neighbors across the alley, We'll see how much growth is added by the end of what could be a perfect summer /early fall growing season ahead.. Side note: While it tries, constantly, all signs of side branching that try and form as the top moves upward are pinched. I'll do this until the bottom of the top has cleared 7 - 8ft in height.

Hey Nathan, here's my Chilopsis 'Sweet Bubba' blooms yesterday. It's still small and the blooms have been sparse so far. How does Sweet Bubba do over there? Is it floriferous?

More neighborhood Plumeria.. Pink specimens could be something like Slaughter ..or Courtade Pink.. Lighter in color than the darker / brighter hued specimen noted elsewhere on Sunday. Not a Rose or Sweet 'Tader fan but have to admit both seem to accent these two Plumeria quite well.. Yellow flowered specimen on another side of this property.. Mid Spring = Waterlily Peak ..#1.. Nymph. X " Colorado " in this case May need to check on the " feral " Mex Yellow Waterlilies in a different area.. As warm as this winter was ..and March ofcourse, i wonder if some Tropical Night Bloomers spotted in a park nearby might be up already. Not so sleepy Cassia Fistula.. Wil that effect how it flowers this year??.. Ficus religiosa.. ...And Poinciana in this yard.. Same 3 trees in a yard across the street. Side eye of the day: ..This pine half a block up from the house has been steadily dying since ...last spring.. Yet ..whomever owns / maintains the Apmt. complex has yet to get the effected limbs down ..something a smart person would have already.. If they don't remove 'em before the winds of Monsoon Season arrive, it will be interesting to see what happens when that occurs.. Got plenty of proof to share w/ those parked under / nearby should they fall and damage property.

Right - On - Time J's, And a Sleepy Golden Shower.. ...Near some nice T's ( Tipuana ) ..and some early P's We'll see whether or not this is the year for a majority of the rest of these.. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Other neighborhood Plumeria.. " Red Bird " Season off to a fiery start... and accompanying, papery - barked Gold.. >>>>

Cocheima fraileana.. While Calla Lilies are kind of ho -hum, ..though nice of course, Deep Purple looks quite nice on these. Datura wrightii : Trimmed a little to remove some ground hugging branches a few days ago, and this is i get.. After the sun went down... 1st " Surprise " Plumeria inflo of 2026, Plumeria X " Novelty / Cinnamon Swirl.. " Because it's arms are a touch thin atm, was not expecting anything on this specimen until ..at least.. next year. Lets see how accurate the description for it's highlights are.

Next week, our hardy palm enthusiasts head for Vietnam. I can't make it this year but it doesn't keep me from learning more about the critically endangered palms in Vietnam. Vietnam’s vegetative biodiversity has been severely impacted by decades of war, rapid industrialization, and illegal logging. While the country has successfully increased its total “forest cover”, much of this is compromised, consisting of monoculture plantations (like acacia or rubber) rather than rich, biodiverse natural forests. The damage” in Vietnam is no longer just about the quantity of vegetation, but the quality of the ecosystem as well. Current problems include:· Fragmentation and “Empty Forest” Syndrome: While green cover exists, many forests are fragmented. Intense snaring and hunting have removed seed-dispersing animals (monkeys, birds, small carnivores) leading to “empty forests” (where trees and palms cannot naturally reproduce or move seeds across the landscape. · The Rise of Monocultures: Large areas have been replanted with exotic species like Acacia and Casuarina. These grow fast and provide timber but offer almost no habitat for native wildlife and fail to support the complex undergrowth found in primary jungles. · Endangered Flora: According to the 2024 Vietnam Red List the number of threatened plant species in general has risen to 656. · Soil Degradation: In areas like the Central Highlands and Coastal Dunes, the loss of original vegetation has led to severe soil erosion and a loss of the “seed bank”,…the natural store of seeds in the soil that allows a forest to bounce back… Vietnam is a biodiversity hotspot for palms, but many species are restricted to small “refugia”. The most critical locations for endangered palms include: Region Notable Endangered Palms Key Habitats Central Vietnam (Quảng Ngãi, Thừa Thiên Huế) Truongsonia lecongkietii, various Licuala species Steep, moist slopes in the Truong Son (Annamite) Range. Northern Limestone Karsts (Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình) Guihaia grossifibrosa (Dragon Scale Palm) Clinging to the sheer cliffs of ancient limestone "towers." Southern Highlands (Đà Lạt, Lâm Đồng) Pinanga and Calamus species Subtropical montane forests often threatened by coffee plantations. National Parks (Cúc Phương, Bạch Mã, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng) Multiple endemic rattan (climbing palms) Dense, undisturbed primary rainforests. You cannot rebuild without the original genetic material. Locating and protecting the remaining “mother trees and palms” is a top priority as they are sources for indigenous seeds. There needs to be a move away from commercial nurseries that foster monocultures. Local nurseries would focus on Framework Species by growing off a mix of indigenous trees and palms that grow fast and have big crowns to shade out weeds, nurture seedlings and attract seed-dispersing wildlife. Connecting fragmented patches of forest will also allow wildlife to move about dispersing seeds. This gives you a quick overview of how Vietnam is working to bring back ecosystems that were lost due mostly to human excess and war. Those of you going to the Vietnam biennial are taking a trip of a lifetime!

Unsolicited opinion but I lived in Asia for a while (N China)... F*** the law, please collect seeds. None of those countries value preservation of species over leveling an area and turning it into a factory or coin farm. Countless plants species we still have are because people with knowledge on them knew that for the greater good ones biodiversity, they had to have some interventionist who took material, studied them, and put that knowledge into practice through propagation. Just because our species may have caused pollinator extinction, doesn't mean those plants aren't worth keeping around. Plus, pollinators aren't always so exclusive. Where I live is practically the opposite side of the world as Stangeria, for example but we also have bugs here which pollinate them without human intervention. I grow a lot of Stapeliads too, Frerea indica is the most primitive, critically endangered in its native India due to extinct pollinator. I've had it be pollinated several times in California, by obviously totally different insects. Never say never with plants. As long as the species still exist, there is a potential for natural continuation. I the meantime we just have to keep them alive. Probably an unpopular opinion, but mindful poaching is necessary. Sorry, not sorry. I've seen too many extinctions in my life already to preach otherwise.

Some updated photos of some previous shots from this thread. Nice that these palms don’t get very tall, one can enjoy them longer. (Super model shovel for scale) Tim

Hi Pete, your Tanga's are beautiful, in fact, all of them are beautiful. Mine are doing well here in spite of warmer overall temps and picking up speed. Mine have developed a bifid terminal segment rather than an entire leaf. I planted out back in early 2013 from 1 gal. and they have been steady growers. One was always a 'runt', but it's still a handsome palm. Here are a few pics. The first four are Tanga One and the fifth Tanga Two. Tim