Thrinax radiata

[SubTropicRay]

Can Thrinax radiata be grown in shade? I lost an 8 foot tall specimen (planted in 1998) during this year's freeze but hard-headed me will try this one again. This time, I'd like to grow it under high oak canopy where the frost can be kept at bay. Can these grow well in shade?

Thanks in advance,

Ray

[Kumar]

Hi Ray, this particular Thrinax (i.e. radiata) is sold in the 'Suitable for indoor' category of the nurseries here - so shade should be OK.

[Lowey]

It should be fine under some canopy Ray

[pilou]

It should be fine under some canopy Ray

In Thailand, we have this palm under full sun (or half / half)... not sure it will be happy under shade...

Pilou / http://asie.online.fr/palmiers/index-palmiers.html

Edited July 18, 2010 by pilou

[Ken Johnson]

Ray I understand your dilemma and unfortunately you may lose another palm either way. In the long run "zone pushing" this palm will kill it. Yes it will grow under an oak. As you know, when in the shade it will make bigger and thinner leaves. These leaves are susceptible to cold damage too.

You should be able to find radiata cheap so maybe a few new ones planted in different locations will give you a chance that one will still be alive after the next bout of very cold weather.

[Tampa Scott]

Go for it Ray. I have one planted in a shaded location. This last winter was the first time it was damaged by cold in the 10 yrs I have had it. Here it is as of today...

[NatureGirl]

Can Thrinax radiata be grown in shade? I lost an 8 foot tall specimen (planted in 1998) during this year's freeze but hard-headed me will try this one again. This time, I'd like to grow it under high oak canopy where the frost can be kept at bay. Can these grow well in shade?

Thanks in advance,

Ray

Ray, I can't believe you lost one of those to cold. I've never seen T. radiata suffer from cold. How low did you go over there?

[Steve the palmreader]

No problem mon

[SubTropicRay]

This was a first for me too Charlene. Forget the absolute low, it was the 12 days of unforgiving temps that did it in. Coccothrinax argentata, Leucothrinax, C. crinita and Pseudophoenix sargentii all nearby were pretty much unaffected.

Well Ken, you've pretty much just guaranteed its success here for me. Nothing drives me more than someone telling me I can't do something. Yes, perhaps I'll lose it but if another 20 years pass before we get this again, it'll be worth it. The stuff that shouldn't have survived under the oak did better than expected so it's not a foregone conclusion it will die the next time we really freeze. This same type of thinking is why south Floridians still try Cyrtostachys and Pigafetta and that's just as silly a proposition.

[Al in Kona]

Ray, Shade or sun you should grow it again. Besides the chances of another cold one like last winter is likely to not happen again for years. Get two, one for the sun and one for the shade. I have two but both are in full sun here. The larger one fruits each year - very eye catching with its long white infructesences hanging down.

[Eric in Orlando]

Ray, they will grow in shade just fine. And it does help prevent frost burn. Thrinax radiata can tolerate some cold but the foliage is very sensitive to frost. We have a specimen that was planted out in 1990. It is growing under very old and large camphor trees so it gets bright, filtered shade. This past winter it was damaged but is growing back fine.

[SubTropicRay]

With all of these specimens around central Florida that did survive, I'm wondering if I didn't copper fungicide mine to death. I did drench the bud more than twice. It was planted in 1999, had some good size and should have survived. It may be another late season surprise. We'll see