A very rare Livistona

[Gtlevine]

I took a one day field trip to the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Desert CA. I posted some pics in the Travel Log, but I thought this picture is worthy of posting here as well. It is a 20 year old Livistona carinensis at the Living Desert reserve Palm Desert CA. It is probably the largest specimen outside of habitat and one of the very few in the United States that is larger than a seedling. For those living in So Cal or visiting, the Living Desert is a wonderful place with so much to see, you should all take the family out there some time. Besides having desert gardens from all over the world, they have lots of desert animals from different continents and a fabulous nature walk with native species in habitat.

Here is the Livistona carinensis

[merrill]

Hi, GT:

I found L. carinensis very difficult here in NO. Florida. It seemed to require a dryer climate like yours.

Best Wishes,

merrill

[John in Andalucia]

That's an excellent photo Gary. I'm looking for L. inermis since I got hooked on Livistona. I'm making notes too!

[Geoff]

Nice plant but not even closest to the oldest/largest in southern California. Here is Ralph Velez's in Westminster... gone through a fire so some black on trunk and leaf bases cut sort of close.. but this thing is well over my head.

[Gtlevine]

Fantastic Goeff, I did not know of anyone growing one. Too bad it was burned up, it looks like it was quite a palm.

Gary

[Morabeza]

Great to see these Garry and Geoff. It's my understanding that the Huntington's L. canariensis produced seed last year.

Waimea Valley Botanical Garden has some trunking specimens, and Koko Crater BG also has a trunking one.

[Ken Johnson]

There are quite a few in South Florida that are mature. Teddie Buhler had a seeding one and distributed many seeds. Even before that may people had one.

I think it is the only Livistona native to Africa.

[Geoff]

unless there is a palm hiding somewhere I don't know about (very possible) the Huntington's L carinensis are way too young to make seed. This is the largest one I have seen there.

[Eric in Orlando]

There is also a nice specimen at Fairchild Gd. in Miami, near the auditorium

http://palmguide.org/image.php?image=73398A_2003012842964

[Jeff Searle]

This actually is not a very rare palm. They have been around for several years and like Ken stated, he's known of at least one growing down in Miami for several years. Mine's still small ( 4' ) and has been planted at least 5 years.

[Mandrew968]

Can anyone speak to this palm not liking humidity? With more than a few, living in South Florida, I would think this is a misnomer...

[Jonathan]

That's an excellent photo Gary. I'm looking for L. inermis since I got hooked on Livistona. I'm making notes too!

John,

you could try these people Livistona seed though I know nothing about them. Just spotted their website by accident the other day.

Cheers,

Jonathan

[sonoranfans]

Can anyone speak to this palm not liking humidity? With more than a few, living in South Florida, I would think this is a misnomer...

I have one that needs to be transplanted out of a 3 gallon badly. I had two brahea claras, two brahea dulcis a Livistona mariae and this carinensis sitting in a dry area(no overhead water) in my yard this year. the carinensis seems to slot between the braheas(dont like humidity much, but tolerate it with some spotting on old leaves) and the mariae(no problem). When I first got the carinensis it was getting overhead water, and it didnt like that, so I moved it and its keeping pace growth wise with the mariae so far.

[Mandrew968]

Thanks for the info, Tom!

[JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA]

The next meeting in Nov. for the PSSC is in Palm Springs. Should be more information soon.