Liculala ramsayi

[richnorm]

I have a four footer to plant. I think our heavy clay won't be a problem but am in a quandary about how much sun exposure it could take. Our climate is cool so I want to maximise heat without burn.

cheers

Richard

[Mr Cycad]

They grow in clay in habitat (my place), with an acidic pH. Being a rainforest species, some shade is probably appropriate, although I have plants that get a few hours of direct sun, and they are powering! Hope that helps.

Edited November 27, 2011 by Mr Cycad

[richnorm]

They grow in clay in habitat (my place), with sn acidic pH. Being a rainforest species, some shade is probably appropriate, although I have plants that get a few hours of direct sun, and they are powering! Hope that helps.

Thanks Kurt, and I see our rainfall at 1200mm is not likely to be a problem! My plant has formed those strange breather roots like you see on mangroves. It will gets loads of summer irrigation.

[bgl]

Richard,

Again, my experience is that they take full sun from very early on. And lots of rain is a good thing. I get more than 3,000 mm a year here.

Bo-Göran

[ariscott]

not full sun here... Mine in under 50% shade until the tree is growing overhead. They will burn in full sun in Darwin.

Regards, Ari

[DoomsDave]

whoa! 4 FEET!

FILTERED SUN IN SO-CAL

Pictures?

Please?

Pretty Please with a double coconut on top . . .

[richnorm]

Thanks all. This is a wonderful resource. I will go for a damp spot with morning sun and tree fern shade which can be gradually removed later if required. Yes, pictures to follow when wife returns with the camera. Palms are like buses here, you wait ages to buy something new then three come along at once.

[Walter John]

I've got 3 in morning spring/summer sun, then are shaded from just after midday. They are reasonably happy, bit of burn on the smaller guy. Water once again is the key, they are after all a North Queensland palm, check out the climate for Mission Beach, NQ.

[Mr Cycad]

Where are you located richnorm? That will determine how you have to plant it (I'm on my phone, and can't see your location). Like Ari said, they would get fried there, and Bo says they are good in full sun, but we know those growing conditions are not the average.

Wal is correct. Water is the key with these ones. In the Daintree (and the few down at Mission Beach), they are growing in saturated boggy soil which rarely dries out (pH of 5 at my place, with litterally thousands in my backyard) - lowland freshwater rainforest swamp which is inundated during the wet season! They grow elsewhere too in a few different situations, and up in the mountains, but relish the former IMO given the sheer numbers in the lowlands from the Alexandra Range in the south up to Cape Tribulation.

[Daryl]

I saw this one growing in full sun the other day. Sunburn didn't seem to be too much of an issue, only on older leaves, but I think it would be better if it had more protection from wind as it was torn up pretty bad.

Daryl

[Justin]

I would recommend filtered light. I think they can do fine with full sun if given regular and thorough water, but having seen them in their native habitat, they fill in the secondary canopy - taking all the light leftover from the tall trees. In Pahoa, I planted them near some very tall Eucalyptus deglupta, and they seem very happy with this setup.

[richnorm]

Thanks all. She's in. cheers R

[Phil]

I remember Dypsis Dean's story of how his Licuala ramsayi in Encinitas, CA languished for years until he pruned an overhead Avacado and gave it some sun. Then it started growing really well. Here in San Diego they do like some sun. You can see from the photos below in habitat that they grow into the full sun in Queensland.

Phil

[ariscott]

I think that's the key... they grow into full sun.... If you plant them in full sun while young in most places, I don't think they will be that happy.

Regards, Ari

[Mr Cycad]

Ari, you are correct! They don't normally start off in full sun (in habitat), and if they did, they would be crispy real fast. I found out the hard way just after we bought our place. We only made it up a few times a year initially as we lived down south still, and I planted a heap out in the clearings thinking they'll be fine as it's a rainforest and they'll will take care of themselves! I was so wrong. Gardening in the rainforest is not as romantic as you'd think (and it does get dry here for a couple of months every year believe it or not). I lost all but one! All said, it would have been a different outcome if I was there to maintain them back then...

One of the survivors. This one must be coming on 5 years old since planted (and must have been a few years old when bought). I've never watered it, but I put this one in a shady spot on the edge of a clearing...

Down the back of my place along the creek where they thrive and make up the bulk of the understory alongh with Archontophoenix, Bowenia, Calamus, Lepidozamia, Normanbya etc

Richnorm - I see you're in NZ now - wow. Is anyone else growing these over there? Where are you located?

[Gary]

Ari, you are correct! They don't normally start off in full sun (in habitat), and if they did, they would be crispy real fast. I found out the hard way just after we bought our place. We only made it up a few times a year initially as we lived down south still, and I planted a heap out in the clearings thinking they'll be fine as it's a rainforest and they'll will take care of themselves! I was so wrong. Gardening in the rainforest is not as romantic as you'd think (and it does get dry here for a couple of months every year believe it or not). I lost all but one! All said, it would have been a different outcome if I was there to maintain them back then...

One of the survivors. This one must be coming on 5 years old since planted (and must have been a few years old when bought). I've never watered it, but I put this one in a shady spot on the edge of a clearing...

Down the back of my place along the creek where they thrive and make up the bulk of the understory alongh with Archontophoenix, Bowenia, Calamus, Lepidozamia, Normanbya etc

Richnorm - I see you're in NZ now - wow. Is anyone else growing these over there? Where are you located?

Kurt-Rich is not too far from me and you have seen pic of my place.I have germinated this species several times and they survive as seedlings outside for a year or so and pop off one by one from neglect.I think they would survive with a little care as what i have germinated survives but doesnt grow whereas in controlled conditions the story wouldbe differentWhile I believe in planting palms inground when small many others try to hold off until much larger size and then plant inground

[Mr Cycad]

Hey g'day Gary!

Yep, I agree - get em the ground as soon as you can! And that's it too - in controlled conditions, I'm sure they'll be fine with lots of love and care!

[Walter John]

How's it going Rich ? Mine have been going really well with one of the three languishing behind for some reason. The weather here so far in 2012 has been ideal for this species.

The bigger two have opened leaves recently, let's go to the video.

The bigger guy which was a transplant from previous address just over 2 year ago.

The second plant

[richnorm]

G'day Wal. Yep, she's doing well considering our lousy "summer" this year. Some of the older leaves have brown-tipped a little but she came straight out of a hot-house so no surprise. The new growth is a really good colour and has not suffered in the high winds we have all too frequently experienced of late. The true test will be winter of course!

Here's a pic taken today just for you.

cheers

Rich

[Dypsisdean]

I made a crucial mistake planting one of these in shade in coastal SoCal, and it languished for years until I took down the tree that was shading it. Then it finally grew as it should. I would think full sun in your location would be the call.

[MattyB]

I have a small one in a few hours of inland sun and it's ok with it once it acclimated

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Beautiful, I wish they'd grow here but no-go. Way too cold in winter...................