Livistona benthamii

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Last weekend I purchased a Livistona benthamii from fellow palm enthuiast (and board poster) Nature Girl. I'm not going to plant it in the ground until the threat of frost passes next spring, but I've little experience with this species. I know it's from Tropical Northern Australia, but Riffle and Craft report it good in zones 9-11, and Ed Brown III reported its good to about 20F (-6C), or a degree or two colder. Merrill Wilcox reported that it eventually failed in Gainesville, FL. Can others expound on their experiences? Whose had one long-term? What kind of winter weather has it endured? I'm on seasonally swampy ground which should be to it's liking but I'm trying to understand if it's going to die in the first winter, or if it'll be OK until we have an unseasonably cold winter with temps below 20F. Also, is it going to be ugly every spring after experiencing a few nights a few degrees below freezing?

[mike in kurtistown]

I grew them outside in the ground for many years in the Orlando area. They are one of the more cold-hardy Australian Livs like rigida and muelleri, but in one bad winter (2000-01) some of the leaflets fried while the petioles and hastula remained green. I imagine you could lose them in an unseasonably cold winter in Jax.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Mike, I see that Dec 2000 and Jan 2001 did have a few series of cold days. Orlando airport was considerably "warmer" than Jacksonville's airport.

[gyuseppe]

with tests done by my friend, Livistona benthamii,

was less resistant to frost the Livistona saribus,mariae ,rigida.

is less resistant to freezing of Livistona saribus, Mariae, rigida.

(sorry my english)

[Walter John]

If you can grow it under some form of canopy, you should be right. That's how they grow usually in habitat as I understand.

[ron@springhammock]

Mine have handled temps down to 26F and frost with no damage. For some perspective, a nearby Phoenix pusilla was fried to the trunk last winter. I planted them as one gallon plants a few years ago and they've been very slow. A L. saribus was planted a year or two later and it's well over eight feet while the L. benthamii is still barely knee high though has plenty leaves.

[Geoff]

I have seen Livistona benthamii grow all throughout Florida (though not very northern Florida) without any problems, and it grows great in Hawaii... but for some reason it really struggles here in California... don't know if it's the chronic cold (that would be my guess) or lack of humidity (my second guess). I have tried it over and over and it always croaks. Same with L carinensis. There are mature examples of both in California, but not many. Both are extremely slow growers here.

[peachy]

Until they are quite large, L. benthamii dont like sun. Mine handle cold winter nights and have survived a minus 5C. Direct frost will burn them badly and possibly even be fatal if they recur to often. Keep it under the canopy or shade of some kind,, plenty of water and it should be okay. (hopefully) They are quite slow growers too.

Peachy

[ron@springhammock]

I'm relieved to see I'm not the only one with slow benties. Fortunately, they're very pretty little palms.

Until they are quite large, L. benthamii dont like sun. Mine handle cold winter nights and have survived a minus 5C. Direct frost will burn them badly and possibly even be fatal if they recur to often. Keep it under the canopy or shade of some kind,, plenty of water and it should be okay. (hopefully) They are quite slow growers too.

Peachy

[Gtlevine]

I have one in the ground in So Cal that gets mostly full sun. It seems to be doing very well for me and is growing steadily.

Gary

[Walter John]

ooh, that doesn't look like mine.

[peachy]

Gt, that looks more like a L. fulva. At that size benthamii are usually much much finer

Peachy

[ariscott]

I don't think it is L. vulva either, Peachy... It doesn't have that bronze underneath the leaves...

Regards, Ari

[Walter John]

I don't think it is L. vulva either, Peachy... It doesn't have that bronze underneath the leaves...

Regards, Ari

Hi Ari, the bronzy under leaf fulva colour doesn't happen till a little older. Peachy is close or on the money, looks fulvaish to me. The Livistona kings, Daryl and Michael will know for certain.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

A slow growing Livistona that prefers shade and plentiful moisture. I think I can do that. I have a Copernecia alba thats in too much shade and stays too wet. I'll relocate it and plant the L. benthamii. It'll be shaded by L. saribus and L. decora and it'll have access to water in a pond very nearby. It'll also have some natural overhead protection from frost. Thanks everyone! Motivated by good success with L. decora, I really enjoy cultivating Livistonas.

[Gtlevine]

You are all correct, mine is not Benthamii. I searched through my records and found that the one I pictured is Rotundifolia, my Benthamii is the one that died in my greenhouse during the fires.

Gary

[DoomsDave]

I have two little babies, and I was wondering what to with them. Now I know.

So, thanks K-in-So-J, for your post.

[ron@springhammock]

Here's my L. benthamii. There's a Rhapis mutlifida just above it.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Ron, how fast is that L. benthamii growing?

[Walter John]

Any more L. benthamii photos around ? Anybody else growing these guys ?

Here's my one and only.

[ron@springhammock]

Keith, it's slow, check my comment in post #6.

Walt, yours looks like it's about the same size as mine, maybe little more robust, how old is it?