What is the ultimate clumping screen palm...

[NApalm]

What's happening palmsters?

I'm digging out some D. lutescens and am left with some gaping holes. I need some clumping specimens to provide some privacy. We're talking full sun/part shade in the sub-tropics. The palms around will be moisture loving palms so soil will be moist most of the time. I've already got P. coronata and P. dicksonii and A. vestiara and triandra. Any suggestions will be welcome. Thanks for your time.

Oh, and expect some pics of the end result soon

[Jeff Searle]

Caryota mitis makes a great screen for this type of situation. Also some of the species of Ptychosperma.

[NApalm]

Ahh, good suggestion Mr Searle. Man, that was quick.

[Walter John]

Is height a concern ? You may only need lower screening.

[bgl]

Euterpe oleracea is another possibility. Fast growing and each clump will end up with 15-20 stems or so. I have planted them 4 ft (1.2 m) center-to-center and in a few years that will end up being an almost impenetrable hedge. They also grow pretty much straight up so you won't have a problem with them spreading horizontally. I.e. getting wide.

Bo-Göran

[NApalm]

Thanks for the tips guys. Height isn't a big issue Wal. There will be one D. lutescens left in-ground so they should get fairly big themselves.

[Kennybenjamin]

Sounds to me like you already have a couple of the better ones in P. coronata and A. Triandra.

If its thickness you are after it's hard to go past C. Mitis but sometimes they look great and other times very ordinary?

Unfortunately I don't think that E. oleracea is very suitable for our part of the world, would be nice if it was!

Not the thickest but one of the nicest IMO is D. lanceolata or if you have room consider some of the Arenga sp. A. undulatifolia is massive but beautiful, or A. australasica or A. engleri clumps ( I think? )

[Eric F]

How big are the gaps? Too small for Acoelorrhaphe wrightii?

[Mandrew968]

If you are going for many different palms working together to make the screen, then Syagrus stenopetala(now being called orinocoensis) might not be your best bet, but in terms of replacing Dypsis lutescens, I think it's the superior choice. You might wanna look into Ptychos like Mr. Searle mentioned--gorgeous and some are more sun tolerant than you might think. Of course, there are still many types of dypsis that cluster and take full sun. If you don't get any cold, try out a lipstick?

[paulgila]

i like the c.mitis suggestion. the different leaf shape will add interest.

[MattyB]

Throwin' out some ideas:

Licuala spinosa

Wallichia densiflora

[paulgila]

throw em back.

[DoomsDave]

Dypsis baronii, psamophilla; Rhapis, esp. humilis (though they do spread).

Arenga engleri, tremula, or any of the other clumpers, though they'll need occasional grooming after blooming.

Ptychosperma macarthuri, lineare, and other clumpers.

And others . . .

[NApalm]

Great suggestions there gents. Plenty of research to do. I WISH i could go with a lipstick but sadly it's just too cold here. I'll hack away at the old Dypsis and prep the site for some planting over the weekend. Cheers again for the tips

[njoasis]

Best I have ever seen has been Caryota mitis. Dense foliage down to ground level can't be beat--very distnct!

[Jeff Searle]

Though not a clumping palm by nature, Chamaedorea cataractarum is commercially grown as such and really makes a beautiful screen when used in numbers. They always seem to stay a nice dark, rich green in color, and has a soft look to them. Their ultimate height is around 8' or so, so if your looking for something taller, this might not work. But...they can be used with other palms to plug in and achieve that fullness. I have several planted in an area at the house and I love them.

[Walter John]

Though not a clumping palm by nature, Chamaedorea cataractarum is commercially grown as such and really makes a beautiful screen when used in numbers. They always seem to stay a nice dark, rich green in color, and has a soft look to them. Their ultimate height is around 8' or so, so if your looking for something taller, this might not work. But...they can be used with other palms to plug in and achieve that fullness. I have several planted in an area at the house and I love them.

Good call Jeff, and arguably a fuller screening than lutescens anyway.

[DoomsDave]

Cat palms can make a really dense hedge. Check them out if you can. You may end up with the hedge of doom you later remove.

They need lots of water, but that sounds like what you've got.

They're certainly pretty, no doubt about that.

[NApalm]

Rule no. 1 of palmtalk, never talk about palmtalk. Rule no. 2, never talk about palmtalk. Rule no. 3, post pictures when you start a thread.

My bad. Here's the promised destruction. You can make out the orange remnants (sp?) from the D. lutescens.

You can also spot the hotboxTM containing a Areca macrocalyx planted at the completely wrong time of year.

That's all for now. I'll post more pics when the final screener is chosen. Thanks for watching

[Eric F]

I look forward to seeing that Areca some time if you can keep it alive

[NApalm]

Haha, it's struggling a bit Eric. Bit of sunburn from a deliberate hole in the top op the hotbox. That's been covered and seaweed treatments every other day. I reckon it should pull through. Just need some warmer days.

[paulgila]

any word on an official decision yet?

[NApalm]

Not yet. So many choices, so little space. You can bet your bottom dolar that i'll post some pics and info when the decision is made. I'm actually thinking about perhaps a croton or something like that for added colour and screening at the back and a solitary palm at the front! Tough call

[Jakkrit]

My choice is Oncosperma tigillarium. This is the good clumping palm for full sun but need big space for land scaping.

[NApalm]

Thanks for your suggestion Jakkrit. Unfortunetly i dont have the space for that unit. MEGA clumper

[Jeff Searle]

Love the idea of adding crotons for a splash of color. Look forward to seeing the "after" pictures.

[Eric F]

Unfortunately the next several nights are going to be a big test for that Areca. Let's hope it doesn't drift any lower than forecast! I've lost an Areca ipot and Oenocarpus mapora this week (both in 200mm pots) to a 5C night. My own fault for not bringing them in when I could have!

[Daryl]

That's bad new Eric...

NApalm have you considered Rhapis? It can make a great screening plant.

Also, those C.cataractum are very drought hardy here.

Daryl

[NApalm]

That c. cataractum would work pretty well. Cheers for the tip. I thought about the Rhapis but the fact they spread has put me off a little. As for that A. macrocalyx. It's gonski. Brown and crispy. Note to self, dont plant marginal palms that arrive barerooted, in winter.

[NApalm]

I thought it's time i post the finished product of this corner (for now). In the end i decided a Ptychosperma schefferi would be a winning screener, with some cordylines, a Heliconia rostrata and a Zingiber 'giant yellow'. Oh, plus a pond went in which is looking a little worse for wear at the moment but is on the improve. Here's the pics..

What was this... (Areca macrocalyx didnt make it Eric)

Is now this..

Another view looking up...

D. sambiranensis in the middle with a small D. psammophila on the right and the Ptychosperma schefferi on the left.

Edited April 25, 2013 by NApalm

[aussiearoids]

A small hedge of Arenga hookeriana would look awesome .

Also Hydriastele pinangoides

[waykoolplantz]

Copernicia Glabrascens might be the "ultimate" you seek

[DoomsDave]

mAYBE A VARIEGATED caryota mitis?

I assume you don't want spines . . .

Any of the clumping Chamadoreas, too. Hooperiana (a bit short 2 m)

so many

yeah yeah, I know, you planted already but . . .

minds can change and winter comes o'er the lea . . .

[NApalm]

Yeah. Nice suggestions. Ive often thought the yard was full then found room for just one more palm. Those suggestions will probably inspire more plantings. Haha. Thanks for the tips

[NApalm]

I was going through some old threads about screening palms and found this one and i realised i never revealed the winner. It was Ptychosperma schefferi. Still loving it. Once again i have to thank the good people of PT. Where else can you through up a scenario and get some of the sharpest palm minds on the planet throwing ideas at you?