Tahina spectabilis

[Don Little]

This past weekend a friend showed me a picture of one that's planted down in Miami. It was easily as big as the one planted at NongNooch, about 10' tall. I was shocked to see this!

Jeff, can you get a copy of the photo and post it. It would be great to see

[Kris]

Here's an video of the one growing in our roof top tropical garden

Love,

Kris Achar.

[Peter Pacific]

These are beautiful palms. The only problem is finding the space for...five!

Thanks for posting the pictures everybody.

Peter

[Kris]

Here's a still of that palm...

Love,

kris.

Edited May 19, 2013 by Kris

[John in Andalucia]

A healthy-looking specimen, Kris! I remember when seeds first became available, and they sold out so quickly. I think RPS still has them from time to time. Seeing yours makes me want to grow a few. It's still a "new" species that commands regular updates.

[Kris]

Dear John,

you are right.And i believe that it can easily grow well in hot tropics,where coconuts,talipot & palmyra palms grow.But in cooler regions & desert like areas i don't know how this palm will fair.

Lots of love,

kris.

[JANAIY]

I am looking for Tahina spectabilis seeds and/or seedling/young plant. Anyone can give me some info where to find?

[PALM MOD]

17 hours ago, JANAIY said:

I am looking for Tahina spectabilis seeds and/or seedling/young plant. Anyone can give me some info where to find?

A little bird told me that seeds may be available again soon - and some may even be obtainable through PalmTalk. Stay Tuned.

[Merlyn]

18 minutes ago, PALM MOD said:

A little bird told me that seeds may be available again soon - and some may even be obtainable through PalmTalk. Stay Tuned.

[screams in DoomsDave]!!!  I thought about getting one of these years ago, but no one really knew the cold tolerance of this new (to us) palm.  MB Palms had a pretty big one go through our 1 hour 25F dip in January 2018, so I'm thinking that I've got a chance of growing one in my borderline 9b/9a location.  I'm still apparently horrible at sprouting seeds, but I'll definitely try to get a ~1g size palm if they become available again!

[Meangreen94z]

From what I’ve read they are a difficult Palm initially, even in an ideal climate. I guess once they are in the ground and established they can handle some adversity. Given their limited availability I’ll leave them for those that stand a chance at success. 

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

4 hours ago, PALM MOD said:

A little bird told me that seeds may be available again soon - and some may even be obtainable through PalmTalk. Stay Tuned.

Great like a needed a better reason to check the For sale section more frequently haha 

[sonoranfans]

I think tahina and corypha are the two palms that are so big they will just eat up a small yard.  35'+ wide crown means they need space.  Yean I wish I had a bigger yard, but the  yard maintenance I do have is already exhausting at times.  This palm may need 30' spacing or more, but that would be a sight, of a grove of them!  

[waykoolplantz]

How bout a grove of Talipots with a Tahina at point

[waykoolplantz]

1 hour ago, waykoolplantz said:

How bout a grove of Talipots with a Tahina at point

 

[waykoolplantz]

On 9/28/2012 at 8:01 PM, Moose said:

 

Mike - how good are they growing? How significantly bigger is the one near the pond?

Yellow 6’ tape measure for relative size

[realarch]

A monster for sure!! What a specimen.

Tim

[sonoranfans]

I would definitely need a bigger yard!  No words to describe it!

[JANAIY]

2 hours ago, waykoolplantz said:

Yellow 6’ tape measure for relative size

Its a straordinary palm, its beauty is just mind blowing, at least for me. I will definitely check out for seeds here and all over www.  But the seeds are quite difficult to find since those palms will have it only 1 time in their lifetime and nobody knows yet how long they take to bloom. I am  patient and positive minded and sure I will find seeds.

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

Everyone who has the right climate for these should be growing one at all cost =) @waykoolplantz nice specimen palms you got growing 

[Merlyn]

20 hours ago, waykoolplantz said:

Yellow 6’ tape measure for relative size

Is there a tape measure in that photo?  I can't find it!    I have a "baby" Corypha from PT member Carver, and put it in the ground in November.  They look similar enough that they almost have to be a close genetic relative.  So I'll just have to suffer along with my Corypha until more Tahina are available.  I'll find a spot to plant one...I guarantee it!   

[JANAIY]

1 hour ago, Merlyn2220 said:

Is there a tape measure in that photo?  I can't find it!    I have a "baby" Corypha from PT member Carver, and put it in the ground in November.  They look similar enough that they almost have to be a close genetic relative.  So I'll just have to suffer along with my Corypha until more Tahina are available.  I'll find a spot to plant one...I guarantee it!   

I found Corypha seeds and just might get them since they seem similar. Same here, I will find a spot as well! Just have to plan it very well. 

[JANAIY]

On 12/30/2019 at 5:42 PM, Merlyn2220 said:

[screams in DoomsDave]!!!  I thought about getting one of these years ago, but no one really knew the cold tolerance of this new (to us) palm.  MB Palms had a pretty big one go through our 1 hour 25F dip in January 2018, so I'm thinking that I've got a chance of growing one in my borderline 9b/9a location.  I'm still apparently horrible at sprouting seeds, but I'll definitely try to get a ~1g size palm if they become available again!

I am testing myself atm with some ordinary palm seeds to see if I get them germinated. You have to practice to learn from mistakes. 
I am new To this and affascinated in growing exotic palms. Let’s see how it goes. At the end we have so much knowledge online to be assisted! 

[SouthFLA]

I bought this Tahina from Jeff S. maybe 5 years ago. It has taken off in a very sunny corner of my yard. I have deep sandy soil and I don't irrigate except in extended dry periods. Responds very well to Lesco 8-2-12 every 4 months. The only negative is the leaf miners seem to really like this palm - I don't treat them, just prune off severely affected older fronds. This is a great palm for south Florida. Highly recommended.

[waykoolplantz]

soon youll wish it was 5 feet further into property

love the Attalea

[Central Floridave]

Here is my tahina 8 years later from 2012. Basically zero care from me since. In more shade now.  Still not dead yet. I think it is dwarfed by now, which is fine by me.  

[sonoranfans]

These palms take a long time to get huge, anything from a seedling is possibly 30 years out from the big palm it will be.  Some palms are like that. If you dont have the time and can't buy a juvenile one its a next generation palm.   Its a magnificent palm and its very important to preserve it for those future generations.

[Tracy S]

On 7/8/2020 at 7:13 PM, SouthFLA said:

I bought this Tahina from Jeff S. maybe 5 years ago. It has taken off in a very sunny corner of my yard. I have deep sandy soil and I don't irrigate except in extended dry periods. Responds very well to Lesco 8-2-12 every 4 months. The only negative is the leaf miners seem to really like this palm - I don't treat them, just prune off severely affected older fronds. This is a great palm for south Florida. Highly recommended.

@SouthFLA - that is a beautiful palm in yard filled with gigantic palms. You sure you can't add a Corypha in there somewhere? And maybe a Borassus?

How big  was the Tahina when you planted it? You said it was approximately 5 years ago. I am trying to compare the growth to @Central Floridave and  @sonoranfans experience. I thought these palms shot up pretty quickly. Yours certainly looks robust. What is your experience?

[SouthFLA]

Hello Tracy, I have a small corypha just outside that photo on the other side of the yard. A borassus is on my list for the future.

My tahina was maybe 14in overall when planted - 7 gal container I think. I rate this palm as a fast grower in my area (North Miami) as it measures around 20ft overall today. It loves full sun and lots of heat in the summer but still grows moderately well in our mild winters. I won't comment to others claims about water because I don't irrigate and mine does just fine. Yours should do well with direct sunlight and plenty of quality fertilizer.

Advice: Don't buy cheap fertilizer, it needs to be slow release with plenty of micronutrients. Spend a little extra for the good stuff.

[SouthFLA]

17 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

These palms take a long time to get huge, anything from a seedling is possibly 30 years out from the big palm it will be.  Some palms are like that. If you dont have the time and can't buy a juvenile one its a next generation palm.   Its a magnificent palm and its very important to preserve it for those future generations.

I respectfully disagree with you. Mine is only a few years old and about 20ft overall now. Ensure direct sunlight and plenty of quality fertilizer and you will have good results.

[sonoranfans]

So, maybe 40' tall in 20 years in an ideal climate.   Its been more than 10 years since they were introduced here on palm talk, we should see quite a few huge ones, say 30' tall then, right.  Maybe they are out there and the old timers who are growing them dont come on here anymore.  A tahina should get 40-50' wide in crown, so I was thinking 40' tall at least to be at its best.

[Tracy S]

Thank you both for sharing your experiences with this palm.

@waykoolplantz @Jeff Searle and others that are growing this palm,... how would you characterize the growth rate?