Where are people growing Kerriodoxa elegans?

[kylecawazafla]

Hello Everyone! I figure Kerriodoxa is relatively new in cultivation, so I thought that this is quite noteworthy! There is a Kerriodoxa growing on University of Florida's campus unprotected (despite being a nice microclimate) that seems to be indifferent to a cold winter! It has no damage at 27.9 F (-2.3 C)! How does this palm do in other "marginal" climates? This palm is from "Tank" who said that it has seen even lower temperatures! Does it seem to handle climates that don't have long hot and humid summers?

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Hey Kyle,

I have a small one in a semi protected shady area on the north side of my house.

I planted it as a tiny 4 inch plant 2 years ago, its now about 5 gal sized.

It is slow growing.... but keeps chugging along without any damage from our heat or cold.

It only puts out 2 leaves per year..

btw..

We had a low of 28f yesterday morning... no damage.

Jeff

[buccaneers37]

I have one that's been in the ground for 1 1/2 years. It is under canopy. It saw 18deg. last year & lost 2 of its three fronds. It put out three new ones this year & looks very healthy. It has seen consecutive nights of 24.8 & 26.1 with no damage.

Wayne

[Kailua_Krish]

I have 3 outdoors in Ocala but I have been protecting and heating them until they get more established. Once they get extensive root systems however they will for the most part be on their own!

-Krishna

[tank]

Kyle,

I suspect that lower than 25F and you will start to see major damage. Also, this plants seems to handle cold well, but it does not like frost at all. Hopefully most of the new stuff will make it through this year and put on some size this summer.

How is the Acrocomia doing? All of the ones I planted out got torched, although I suspect they are still alive.

Caryota no. 2?

[MattyB]

It seems that this plants requirements of being planted under canopy is helping it survive some really cold temps. Good news. I've got mine under 75% shade cloth until the surrounding plants create more shade. Maybe by the end of next Summer it'll be ready to be unveiled. Then it'll have to contend with the rabbits.

[tank]

Rabbits are bad, but nothing is more destructive than a University of Florida grounds keeper.

[Eric in Orlando]

We have them growing here. They handle brief dips into the upper 20sF under tree canopy with little or no damage. Last year they had moderate damage, not from the absolute low (29F) but from the duration and amount of cold we experienced.

[Eric in Orlando]

We have them growing here. They handle brief dips into the upper 20sF under tree canopy with little or no damage. Last year they had moderate damage, not from the absolute low (29F) but from the duration and amount of cold we experienced.

[tank]

We have them growing here. They handle brief dips into the upper 20sF under tree canopy with little or no damage. Last year they had moderate damage, not from the absolute low (29F) but from the duration and amount of cold we experienced.

Hopefully it will be another 20 years before we see last years conditions again.

[carver]

I've had mine about 3 years as a 3 gal. with last winter being the worst, minimal to no damage. I agree canopy helps keep the frost off them. About three to four fronds a year, even pushing out a frond right now. The wind seems to be the toughest on them. No major damage just making them a little ratty on the ends

We had a beach themed party in Oct. so I brought it out for some atmosphere it has since put on a new frond and like I said pushing a new one now.

[merrillwx]

Hi, Kyle:

How large is Kerriodoxa at U. F?

Hi, Tank:

Which Acrocomia are yours at your home?

Best Wishes,

merrill

[tank]

Merrill,

The Acrocomia seeds were bought from Rare Palm Seeds as A. totai. They've been defoliated at 14F last year in 3 gal pots and at 22F this year in the ground with overhead protection. They seem to be OK into the mid 20Fs. Hopefully they will bounce back.

[kylecawazafla]

Hey Jeff! That's awesome that you're growing one in Modesto! I see this palm as a potential palm for me to try in Marin County whenever I get the chance to go back. What ever happened to your LHI Banyan?

Jason, unfortunately your Acrocomia died in the fall! I don't know what happened to it, but it turned orange and then brown. There is another Acrocomia right next to it that is a different "type" (it has broader and more succulent leaflets) that is actually still fine. Your Caryota is also doing well! No damage to it either... thank goodness! I'm still so sad about the last one, since it was my favorite palm to check on. Your Trachycarpus and Phoenix are also doing well.

It's cool to see other people have experienced how much cold this palm can handle! Maybe it will soon be more popular in cultivation.

Merrill, the palm at UF is about two feet tall and the equivalent of about an overgrown 5 gal plant.

[spockvr6]

We have them growing here. They handle brief dips into the upper 20sF under tree canopy with little or no damage. Last year they had moderate damage, not from the absolute low (29F) but from the duration and amount of cold we experienced.

Hopefully it will be another 20 years before we see last years conditions again.

Heck, last year is practically here again based on my weather station stats The year was started and ended on similar terms.

[sur4z]

I really don't have alot to add to this thread that hasn't been said. But I too have one growing on the north side of my house in South Florida and it is under a second story balcony. It made it through last January's 11 days from hell (frozen over) and the cold nights so far this year (it's suppose to be 39F tonight). I wasn't so lucky with my P.pacifica which had 10 feet of wood and was on the southeast part of the property with the north wind blocked by the house. It croaked a couple months ago..RIP...it was a beautiful tree. My white elephant has been in the ground for about 3 years and is a beauty. It's only defects are a little cold burn on the tips and frond splitting caused by the wind. I realize it is a specimen and I'm OK with that and I realize it will never reach it's potential if it was in habitat under a natural canopy.

[JEFF IN MODESTO]

Hey Kyle,

My lhi banyan was doing good.....too good!

It grew to about 15 ft in 2 years.

I panicked when I realized the thing was gonna take over my tiny front yard.

I gave it away.

Axel from cloudforest came over and transplanted it to Santa cruz.

Jeff

[Moose]

I find it amazing how cold tolerant this species is. Especially when you take into account its native origin and how thin the leaf lamina is.

[SanDimas]

BUMP....

Anyone with updated pics and story to share?

Axel, hows that banyan tree? any pics?

I have this one also under a patio awning. It gets direct west sun after 5pm.

Thinking of moving it northside since Im getting brown on the tips.

Mines only 5 gallon size and cant wait to see it grow.

(Andersen Garden)

Cheers. Ritchy

[Kailua_Krish]

Mine are still growing well and the leaves get bigger every year!

[Alicehunter2000]

Bump

[SubTropicRay]

Mine was exposed to 26F under canopy in 2010. The plant had no damage.

[Kailua_Krish]

No real updates with mine. They're bigger now, there were pictures of them in the cold hardy forum.

[quaman58]

BUMP....

Anyone with updated pics and story to share?

Axel, hows that banyan tree? any pics?

I have this one also under a patio awning. It gets direct west sun after 5pm.

Thinking of moving it northside since Im getting brown on the tips.

Mines only 5 gallon size and cant wait to see it grow.

(Andersen Garden)

Cheers. Ritchy

Wow, I had no idea they got that big. I was thinking Sabal minor-ish size.

[Mandrew968]

I think these palms are more drought tolerant than we first thought; the one I have is in nealry full sun and never is watered and also has a bit of wind to deal with at times--she looks ratty but keeps on. I am just daring her to give me a reason to rip her out, but she seems to know the rules of the game...

[sur4z]

Mine is still hanging in there but not getting bigger

[Tropicdoc]

want one now seeing the cold reports. Looks like a juvenile livistona to me.... which is beautiful. Would look great under live oak canopy with some alocasia or philodendron.

[Josh-O]

Mine was exposed to 26F under canopy in 2010. The plant had no damage.

Ray, do you have any pic's of yours?

[Palmə häl′ik]

Mine made it through the 2010 winter aswell...

.....still chuggin along in Brandon, z9b slash9a

-Ray.

[Pando]

I have two I got last year as 1g plants. I put one in the ground, the other one is in a pot. Both have been outside through the cold snap we had a few weeks ago and there are no issues.

I'm going to try one as an indoor plant, carefully. I think it is also more tolerant against bugs due to the white leaf undersides.

Beautiful plants, I hope they will grow!

Edited January 13, 2015 by Pando

[sashaeffer]

Two small ones, potted and always inside but in totally different locations and envirnoments. Both happy but very slow growing.

[MattyB]

Mine is doing pretty good. It now stands about 4 feet tall. Fans are 32" long x 42" wide.

[bgl]

Some real good looking Kerriodoxas here! Considering the fact that this is a true rainforest palm - loves high humidity and high rainfall - it's good to see that it's growing so well even in areas that are less than optimal.

[Moose]

Great palm that looks so delicate but is surprisingly tough. In South Florida, they can even be neglected for a few years and suvive just fine. I speak from personal experience.

The Moose edition under a Mango / Avocado canopy planted July 2011 as a 3 gallon

[DoomsDave]

Kerries do better than you think here in Cali, as Matty's post attests.

They are slow, but they're steady and they'll take a lot more sun and cold than you think.

If you have a protected spot and you're in the OC or coastal SD, LA or Ventura, try some.

[Tyrone]

I've got a couple I brought down with me to my new location in pots and although they don't look pristine they seem to be doing OK in a shadehouse. I really should pot them up and give them some love. They just don't want to die, which is great. When I eventually get my rainforest established these will have to sit in a very shady extremely wind protected spot to look good. They should like my heavier soil too. I visited this species in habitat in Thailand and the rainforest was very wet and muddy.

[richnorm]

On 1/23/2015 at 12:38 PM, Tyrone said:

I've got a couple I brought down with me to my new location in pots and although they don't look pristine they seem to be doing OK in a shadehouse. I really should pot them up and give them some love. They just don't want to die, which is great. When I eventually get my rainforest established these will have to sit in a very shady extremely wind protected spot to look good. They should like my heavier soil too. I visited this species in habitat in Thailand and the rainforest was very wet and muddy.

I'd be keen for an update Tyrone! Looks like I may be able to get my hands on one!

[Tyrone]

Both are still going in pots on my north facing verandah. I plan to keep them in pots and when I get a tunnel house going they will go in there in big pots. I doubt they would be happy in the ground here. Not enough consistent warmth in the air to get strong growth here. 

[realarch]

Just a, ‘jaw dropping’, palm and boy, if you can grow it, don’t hesitate. The only drama I want in my life would be in the garden, and Kerriodoxa does it well.

Tim

[richnorm]

Holy moly!