Variegated Palms

[Tampa Scott]

I need advice on growing variegated palms. I have tried several variegated palms in the past, without success. Are they known to be more difficult to grow?

[Vari805]

got any you want to part with?

[Tampa Scott]

Nothing much left to part with. I only have left a 6 year old variegated xbutyagrus still alive that I am try to make happy.

Edited September 8, 2012 by Tampa Scott

[Tampa Scott]

Forgot the photo....

[Vari805]

very nice!

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

Variegated plants, palms or otherwise, are by their very nature unhealthy (because of diminished chlorophyll), and are therefore an anathema to the tenants of natural selection…… although many of us (my self among you) desire to circumvent natural selection and keep the trait going….

Nevertheless, though not a fool’s game, it may end up being a marginal exercise in futility, although we all might find the effort worthy in the short term ......…

Rusty

[Moose]

  On 9/8/2012 at 8:30 PM, Rusty on Pine Is. said:

Variegated plants, palms or otherwise, are by their very nature unhealthy (because of diminished chlorophyll), and are therefore an anathema to the tenants of natural selection…… although many of us (my self among you) desire to circumvent natural selection and keep the trait going….

Nevertheless, though not a fool’s game, it may end up being a marginal exercise in futility, although we all might find the effort worthy in the short term ......…

Rusty

LOL - like an albino deer, doomed to not make it Rusty?

[Rusty on Pine Is.]

  On 9/9/2012 at 4:33 PM, Moose said:

  On 9/8/2012 at 8:30 PM, Rusty on Pine Is. said:

Variegated plants, palms or otherwise, are by their very nature unhealthy (because of diminished chlorophyll), and are therefore an anathema to the tenants of natural selection…… although many of us (my self among you) desire to circumvent natural selection and keep the trait going….

Nevertheless, though not a fool’s game, it may end up being a marginal exercise in futility, although we all might find the effort worthy in the short term ......…

Rusty

LOL - like an albino deer, doomed to not make it Rusty?

Ron, the only thing that could be more genetically maladaptive would be a red bullseye on that field of white!!!!!

[PalmatierMeg]

Survival rate should be relative to the amount of variegation, i.e., a little bit of variegation might be easily survivable, more not so much. I had an Agave americana pup with about 90% variegation. It lived a short life and endured a lingering death as it grew. At some point the 10% chlorophyll couldn't support the growing plant.

I've heard that variegated palms tend to be more sensitive to sun, esp. here in FL so my first suggestion is to keep them in partial to full shade. I have half a dozen variegated Rhapis excelsa planted in my shade garden that almost never see sun but Rhapis are shade lovers anyway.

I have a variegated Adonidia that is now taller than I am. Originally I planned to keep it in a pot but it was outgrowing them every couple months so I relented and planted it in the back yard. It is protected by the house on the north and under canopy of my Dypsis pembana, Ptychosperma elegans and at one time, Dypsis leptocheilos (which it has outgrown). It gets some sun in the afternoon and seems to like that. So far it has survived winters with this protection supplemented by flannel sheets when temp drops toward freezing. However, it is getting too tall to cover. I would also venture that a variegated palm damaged by cold has fewer resources, i.e., chlorophyll, to help in its recovery. In that respect, such plants should be more prone to die from its injuries or be killed the following winters.

Adonidia merrillii - variegated

[sarasota alex]

Scott, variegated Sabal palmetto should in general do great for you. They would be in habitat in your yard.

[Tampa Scott]

  On 9/9/2012 at 9:02 PM, PalmatierMeg said:

Survival rate should be relative to the amount of variegation, i.e., a little bit of variegation might be easily survivable, more not so much. I had an Agave americana pup with about 90% variegation. It lived a short life and endured a lingering death as it grew. At some point the 10% chlorophyll couldn't support the growing plant.

I've heard that variegated palms tend to be more sensitive to sun, esp. here in FL so my first suggestion is to keep them in partial to full shade. I have half a dozen variegated Rhapis excelsa planted in my shade garden that almost never see sun but Rhapis are shade lovers anyway.

I have a variegated Adonidia that is now taller than I am. Originally I planned to keep it in a pot but it was outgrowing them every couple months so I relented and planted it in the back yard. It is protected by the house on the north and under canopy of my Dypsis pembana, Ptychosperma elegans and at one time, Dypsis leptocheilos (which it has outgrown). It gets some sun in the afternoon and seems to like that. So far it has survived winters with this protection supplemented by flannel sheets when temp drops toward freezing. However, it is getting too tall to cover. I would also venture that a variegated palm damaged by cold has fewer resources, i.e., chlorophyll, to help in its recovery. In that respect, such plants should be more prone to die from its injuries or be killed the following winters.

Adonidia merrillii - variegated

Meg, I have had a few other variegated palms over the years and just could not get them to live past a couple of years. I have this one in full shade this year. The big problem is that the palm declines in the winter months here. Some times I feel I sould just toss it, but I always hope it will surprise me and really look good.

[Tampa Scott]

  On 9/10/2012 at 1:23 PM, sarasota alex said:

Scott, variegated Sabal palmetto should in general do great for you. They would be in habitat in your yard.

Alex, I hope to get one someday, just have to find one. I saw one a few years ago growing in the wild down the Port Charlotte way. Edited September 10, 2012 by Tampa Scott

[Jakkrit]

Here is my variegated A.pinnata. Because Thailand is an extremely hot country so most of my variegated palm have to protected from the sun light , especially the time around 12:00 - 15:00 O'Clock.

The white variegated need more humidity than the yellow variegated. I have only this easy technique.

[buccaneers37]

Here are my two variegate palms. My Rhapis is in full shade and has been in the ground for at least 7 or 8 months and seems to be growing fine. My palmetto is in full sun and, as of yet, hasn't shown any signs of not adapting. It's been in the ground a couple of months

[PalmatierMeg]

Love the variegation pattern on your S. palmetto. Also would love to have one like it for my 3-lot site but they are so expensive.