Dypsis basilonga (True)

[Pez]

Jerry is the palm to the right of the D. basilonga is what turned out to be the fake D.B.?

If you're referring to the palm on the far right, its a prestoniana. I did buy a fakey basilonga a few years back which ended up being a madagascariensis type. Ended up giving it away but I should have held on to it. It had some nice coloration, but was more or less just a madagascariensis. ??

[Bill Austin]

Thanks Jerry I see now, your prestoniana and carpoxylon are looking very healthy.I have two of he fakey in the ground from small seedlings they are in the mad. complex but different just starting to show some wood. I would like to see some others if they are out there.

[Jeff Searle]

Jerry,

It's really nice to see these species do so well for you. I often wonder when customers buy these and take them home, how well are they treated and care for and more important, what kind of success their having.

[grant b.]

2 years since the last bump. anymore success stories for this one? are we going to see seeds again soon?

[LJG]

Grant here is mine from the plant seen in 2009 post. It is slower than Sanitlucei for me. It also loves to get some fungus on the leaves and Rachis. Both mine in the ground get the fungus. I wonder what others experience here in Cali.

As far as seeds, Marcus plants are flowering. So expect plants in the near future.

[grant b.]

thanks for sharing the update len. some report that its a fast grower and some report its slow. im not growing basilonga, but have found that saint lucei is pretty prone to fungus as well. the fungus on yours could be causing the slow growth, but it still looks good in the picture. it looks like yours has put on girth but not much height.

[LJG]

Actually, the opposite. Height but no girth Bad picture.

Grant were the people that said they are fast live in California? If so, heck maybe that leaf fungus is slowing things.

[Gtlevine]

MIne has been fairly quick, looks beautiful now. I will post a photo later.

[palmislandRandy]

Mine croaked. Not a great palm for me in South Florida, but it could have been the location. Just too much water. I'll try another one in a drier area. I replaced it with a dwarf Areca catechu that's doing quite well. Location, location.

-Randy

[Gtlevine]

Mine croaked. Not a great palm for me in South Florida, but it could have been the location. Just too much water. I'll try another one in a drier area. I replaced it with a dwarf Areca catechu that's doing quite well. Location, location.

-Randy

I saw them in habitat, only at the very top of Mount Vatovavy which is cool.

[Jeff Searle]

Gary, Cool? There was no cool temp's when we were all up there. It ain't that high up. I can't figure out why these don't prosper here in south Florida, but I seriously doubt it's because of the lack of cool weather. Mine has been planted for about 5-6 years now, and while it's certainly nothing to brag about, it is alive.

[grant b.]

only one or two people have told me they were fast in California. most of the people on the forum who said they were fast were in Hawaii. they have added that they were extra fast even for Hawaii though.

so they come from some elevation? do they need humidity AND cool temperatures? im becoming more confused with everyone's reports on this sp.

[palmislandRandy]

Mt Vatovavy is only 1,500 feet or so. Not much of an elevation.

.

[Gtlevine]

Jeff your right it was not cool, but it did feel much cooler than other locations in south madagascar.

[Gtlevine]

I promise to get a pic of mine. It definitely grows at a good clip here in inland so cal set in a shady location.

Gary

[LJG]

I promise to get a pic of mine. It definitely grows at a good clip here in inland so cal set in a shady location.

Gary

I think this was my mistake. Too much sun, too fast for SoCal. Gary's looks a lot better in shade. I guess we should treat this like a Saintlucei and let it grow into more sun.

[Gtlevine]

Here is my Dypsis basilonga in So Cal. From ground to top of leaf is 8' now. Ive only had it in the ground around three years from a small plant so it is doing quite well. It is a very elegant palm and really thrives in my climate.

[DoomsDave]

Ow my neck!

[Gtlevine]

Try again

[LJG]

Looks great Gary

[Jeff Searle]

I agree, this looks beautiful Gary. Glad to hear it's doing well as this is a pretty rare palm in cultivation.

[BS Man about Palms]

I dun seened it in person... very purdy palm indeed!

[grant b.]

that's what i'm talking about. awesome. I cant wait to see more of these in cultivation once Marcus's trees begin to spread.

[Gtlevine]

Thanks everyone for the compliment, it is a really pretty palm. My only regret was i only planted one of these.

[JD in the OC]

Lol. You're too much Dave

[Geoff]

Many may have seen Marcus's plants recently, but just in case not all have, here they are this winter

[Gtlevine]

Jeff has it all.

[Matt in OC]

Bump. I'm curious how tall yours is Gary. Any other updates?

[DoomsDave]

Udpates?

Anyone?

(Whimper.)

[akamu]

Excuse me for the bump but any updated pics would be great. As I am going to start over with this species soon. Thanks 

[Tracy]

13 hours ago, akamu said:

any updated pics would be great. As I am going to start over with this species soon.

I have a pair that I planted in 2017/18.  Both in shaded to filtered light spots with summer mid-day sun.  The first one I planted did better, I think I actually planted the second one too high.  The second one was a little wobbly and I ended up using green gardening tape and a couple of stakes to support it so it is coming back from getting knocked around a little.  I won't post for the second one, but here is the other one.  First photo is from May 2018 when I got it in a pot (one of those Palm Society auction items we both were bidding on), second photo planted in March 2018, and the rest are current photos from 3/4/2020.  Give it part shade or filtered light and you should be fine.

[akamu]

That's looking really good Tracy  pretty good growth also.The first one I planted got end of the day sun and it never look good definitely going with more shade on this one.The pics of  the ones grown in Hawaii seem to have more color in the crown I am guessing it's a climate thing not a variance in form

 

 

[Harry’s Palms]

An old thread with great info on my new double I just planted. I am about 15 miles from the coast and it is planted in filtered shade from some larger canopy . It sounds like it will tolerate Southern California well . Mine are still young but already acclimated to outdoor life. We shall see in the coming months. Harry

[quaman58]

This has been a very difficult palm for me to grow; they seem fine in pots, but once planted in ground they just stall.  Tracy's looks great and last time I was at Matt's in San Diego, he had a really nice one growing. Well grown ones are very attractive.

[WaianaeCrider]

Planted 2 a few year ago from Jeff in 1 gallon pots.  One in deep shade that is just a skinny thing.  The other gets full sun at times and is doing really nice.

This one gets the sun its pushing 4 feet.

Shade grown

[Harry’s Palms]

I think I may spear mark my recent Dypsis that I have planted. I planted 3 different types . They have only been in the ground a couple of days , watered the day after planting . It seems that there are mixed results in Southern California on this particular one . We’ll see, Harry

[WaianaeCrider]

3 hours ago, WaianaeCrider said:

Planted 2 a few year ago from Jeff in 1 gallon pots.  One in deep shade that is just a skinny thing.  The other gets full sun at times and is doing really nice.

This one gets the sun its pushing 4 feet.

Shade grown

OOPS.  The first third and forth picture go together.  LOL 

[Tracy]

20 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

An old thread with great info on my new double I just planted. I am about 15 miles from the coast and it is planted in filtered shade from some larger canopy . It sounds like it will tolerate Southern California well . Mine are still young but already acclimated to outdoor life. We shall see in the coming months. Harry

My Chrysalidocarpus basilongus were planted at similar size.  One got hit by something dropping on it when still relatively young, so the setback going into winter was insurmountable for it.  The other one has thrived.  My challenge now is that it is growing at a similar pace as an adjacent Pritchardia, and Chambeyronia houailou.  It looks nice but the trunks are all about 5 feet apart in a row, so it makes it difficult to get a full photo.  I have a fence on one side and a walkway down the side of my house so its too large to get a straight on photo, except for just portions of the plant.

Photos at least provide insights on size and leaf structure.  This is a species that grows very differently here than in Hawaii.  Specimens in Hawaii all have much more girth in the trunks, while all I have seen in Southern California are much skinnier palms like mine.

[Harry’s Palms]

@Tracy mine is in a similar situation. Fence on one side , walkway on the other and next to a freshly planted Dypsis Plumosa. Harry

[realarch]

First off, glad to see how well these grow in California, looking good!

This is a great garden palm, not too big or small, attractive habit, and unusual color. The grey/green leaves with their long basal pinnae are especially striking. Another bonus is the rose color on the crown shaft after shedding the leaf sheath eventually turning to powdery white. IMO, planting in multiples, rather than singles, just enhance the unique characteristics of this palm.

Here are a few pics of the grouping of three in the garden. Note the orange handle shovel in the first photo for scale. Been in ground for 8 years from 1 gal. pots. 

Tim