Germinating palm seeds

[bgl]

As we all know, there are many ways to germinate palm seeds. Most of them are pretty straight forward with little or no imagination involved. For those who like to experiment, here are a few ideas to try out.

First one: plant Verschaffeltia splendida and Phoenicophorium borsigianum close together. The Verschaffeltia is going to be much faster growing. When it begins to produce fruit & seeds some of them are going to drop on the smaller Phoenicophorium, and some of those will end up in the cracks where the petioles are attached to the trunk. And they will germinate right there, creating a unique look.

[bgl]

Number two - and this will work with just about any palm. Add bromeliads to your garden. Preferably tons of them. Plant them below your palms. When the palm seeds drop, they will fall into the moist, or wet, parts of the bromeliads and germinate right there. Here's a group of Aechmea fasciata with Hyophorbe indica seedlings growing in them.

[bgl]

And once you get into this "alternative germination approach", there's no end to the possibilities. Here's an exciting approach - plant a Dypsis pembana (but this will work with any fast growing palm) close to a Bismarckia nobilis. The seeds from the pembana will drop into the cracks of the Bismarckia where the petiole meets the trunk. Same idea as in post #1, but a completely different look.

[bgl]

Of course, for those who may not want to experiment there's always the old fashioned way - just let the seeds drop on the ground and germinate right there. But where's the sport in that?

Here are some volunteer seedlings: Actinorhytis calapparia, Chambeyronia macrocarpa and Areca vestiaria.

And feel free to add more photos of different and interesting germination ideas!

[DoomsDave]

How about the Elephant Bird Method?

Where you swallow the seeds and, well, you know, afterward . . .

OR!

Simulate the conditions. I'd heard about that method being tried for Jubaeaopsis caffra seeds, and Lemurophoenix halluexii, but don't know how that worked . . . .

[Tyrone]

I've had Washies come up in my Hyophorbe indicas. If I let them grow it would be an interesting look until they drop off.

Best regards

Tyrone

[Kris]

Very interesting topic and iam learning...

[tikitiki]

This is not close to fair. Most of us can not get them to grow in pots.

[Gtlevine]

These are great methods if you live in Hawaii.

[MattyB]

Very creative Bo!

[BS Man about Palms]

These are great methods if you live in Hawaii.

Amen!