Variegated Sabal Palmetto Seedlings

[PalmatierMeg]

Another topic for your consideration. In February, I bought about 100 seeds of variegated Sabal palmetto from Seabreeze Palms. Most of them have germinated. I know only a minority (what %?) will show variegation, but when? Most of my seedlings have put up one tiny leaf and all appear to be green. Do variegated Sabals grow slower than green ones? Some of my seeds are going gangbusters (1-2" tall) while others are just now germinating.

Any/all info about this variety appreciated.

If/when I pinpoint variegated plants, I'll be left with green seedlings that might carry recessive genes for variegation. I'm a softy who can't bear to kill these little lives I've nurtured so judiciously. I'm pondering giving them away (only in US). Is there any interest? Nothing will happen before fall, as my husband will be unemployed all summer & we'll have to scape by on my pitiful salary.

[Exotic Life]

Hi,

Is it fore sure when a variegated palm give some seeds, that the seedlings also been variegated? I know from a Chamaerops when they have a different look then others the seedlings don't have always the same look.

Robbin

[PalmatierMeg]

Interesting question. I don't know. Can someone answer it?

[palmtreesforpleasure]

None of mine have come up variegated, maybe later leaves might show some, the first 2 leaves have not

regards

colin

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Meg, i have a Variegated S. palmetto here at Jackass Flatts, and have germed seed, to no avail......i usually give up if i see nothing by the 3rd or 4th leaf.

[Creekside]

I harvested about 1500+ seeds from a highly striated Sabal palmetto in November or December. I tried some on bottom heat and some without, (the ones on heat mats germinated much sooner,) and once growing, I tried some in shade and some in full sun. The ones that are in the shade are still all green. However, in full sun, I have about 10% or more that are clearly yellow, either all of the leaf or part of it, (with the remaining seedlings in the same compots being all green.) After several weeks in the sun, the yellow seedlings began to burn, so I just moved them into the shade. I plan on rotating all the compots in this way.

[FRITO]

very interesting, I was curious about these seed. Catherine, any chance of getting a seedling when I come down in two weeks?

also post pics if available. are these seed from the same palm that Seabreeze collected from?

[Creekside]

Luke, I don't think it's the same tree. You might be able to pry one out of my hands...

[PalmatierMeg]

I've kept mine indoors, applied bottom heat while weather was cool but not the last couple weeks. I guess I better pot them in small groups when all have produced at least one leaf, then put them outside. Maybe the variegation trait doesn't manifest until they are exposed to sunlight.

[Creekside]

That would be my assumption, as the difference in the sun/shade groups is remarkable. It will be interesting to see what these do as they age!

[freakypalmguy]

My experience is the same as Catherines. Some have come up with yellow leaves, but they burn very easily. I have had a bunch of the yellows kick the bucket. They are obviously tender at this age.

Matt

[Laaz]

Taking palm seeds from a variegated palm such as a palmetto will very rarely produce a variegated seedling. Good luck, but I doubt any of the seeds from these trees will produce a variegated seedling. I have germinated thousands of palmetto seeds from three different variegated trees & have not gotten a single variegated seedling.

[STEVE IN SO CAL]

Variegation typically is reproduced vegetatively, not through seed. There's a guy selling variegated agave seeds on Ebay, and there has been some screaming from agave collecters at Ebay, but no response. The guy still goes on selling these seeds, and people keep bidding on them.

[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

This is only a guess, but I would think that if someone could plant two or more variegated S. palmetto's, in a clump, next to each other, there would be a better chance of getting variegated seedlings. I'm not sure if a sibling cross, of two variegated seedling from the same mother, or a cross of un-related variegated palms would work best. For anyone who has the resources to do this, I would try both sibling clumps and clumps with variegated sabals from totally different sources. The clump that produced the most variegated seeds would of course be the correct cross. If you don't care to figure out what cross works best then plant two variegated siblings and one variegated from another source, together, and that would give the best chance for variegated seedlings. Of course just planting all green sibling seedlings from a variegated mother may produce some variegated offspring but the number of variegated seedling would be low to maybe none at all.

[buffy]

Speaking of: Has anyone had any success with the seeds Christian harvested in the fall? None of the seeds that have germinated for me look promising. I emailed Christian to see if he's had any luck. I know it's a crap shoot, but certainly worth a go.

Another note: From what I've read, the chimera occurance is typically viral in origin. An extremely small percentage of seeds contract the virus. It is also noteworthy that gardens with variegated plants tend to increase the occurance of variegations appearing regardless of the species. Can't remember where I read that.

Edited April 28, 2008 by buffy

[deezpalms]

Variegation is a virus that may harm or never harm the host plant. Therefore I confer with Steve in So Cal. Variegation & viruses are transmitted vegetatively by leaves, stolons or rhizomes & NOT by seeds. If any seedlings end up being variegated at all then they have contracted the virus

hint~ think of the most commonly grown variegated palm, Raphis

they have multiple trunks and rhizomes that can be removed & replanted to start another plant.

[Creekside]

I understand that, but I have heard that a much larger percentage than usual (of seeds from a variegated palm vs. seeds from a green one) will germinate as variegated, and that is just what I've found. Unfortunately, the yellow seedlings do die quickly, although I still have some that are not yet faltering. Maybe they die due to an inability to photosynthesize. I've heard a fungal theory for a cause of variegation, also. Could there be many sources for stress to the embryo (that triggers variegation?) And...can anyone define the difference in plants between variegation and chimeras? I believe a chimera contains two different sets of DNA. I have a compot of seedlings from a queen, which I suspect of being a chimera, and there are two which are both yellow and green and are as robust as the green ones. Sure, it's a crap shoot, I know...

On eBay, there is a seller or two that have been hawking variegated Caryota seeds. Buyers tell me none have even germinated for them. In one ad, there was a photo of a compot of seedlings that were all striped. It didn't look like it was photoshopped, but...I'm thinking it must be. Has anyone else seen that?

[SouthFLA]

Found this small cluster of varigated sabal palmetto in SW Florida today. Several adults and multiple juveniles growing in close proximity. I collected about 1000 seeds that I'll put in liners to see what percent are green vs varigated. I wager that a large percent will be varigated because of their close proximity to each other. There were native cabbage palms a little ways away though. The adjacent property owner knows very little about them other than that they are unusual. Unfortunately, they are all directly below high voltage electric facilities so the local utility will cut them down when they grow a little taller.