Metroxylon salomomense

[Cindy Adair]

This is one of my favorites! I believe the seed or a seedling was from Noel Pecunia leading to Sherry Ballester planting it on what is now our farm years ago.

Noel recalled paying $5 per seed. He said he doesn't have any Metroxylons left because they aren't as happy with the drier/saltier air and full sun in Aguadilla where the Copernicias and Coccothrinax flourish.

The pictures don't really show the steepness of the hill this tree enjoys. We need to use the nearby torch gingers for hand holds and in the wet season it's a bit tricky. The seat of more than one pair of pants got muddy as I slid harmlessly down the hill.

Photography is a challenge too, but here are some recent shots. It could use some cleaning up, but getting a ladder to that spot would take more time than we had to spare.

If you want to compare to 2010, try this link: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/23119-metroxylon-salomonense/ or look at my avatar.

I'm still looking for a small M. amicarum that won't die after flowering. Please post any photos you have of this genus (and any leads on M. amicarum....)

[doranakandawatta]

Cindy

This are our Metroxylon vitiense, last april:

repotted in december 2013, from seeds sown in august 2013:

I'll have to find the good place where to plant, do you grow them in wet soil, or in normal garden-jungle soil?

[Dmcdonald]

Very impressive palm. How do you think these would do in central Florida?

[Cindy Adair]

My "garden jungle soil" is often wet, but being on a hill, it drains quickly too.

As to hardiness, Palmpedia says zone 11, but under M. amicorum which is supposedly the hardiest species in this genus, reference is made to possible success in Miami.

I personally have no idea, as this is my only one and I wouldn't dare kill one by planting it in Virginia! It doesn't sound promising for central Florida either, but I'm sure someone on this forum knows for sure.

[waykoolplantz]

From our experience M Vitiense is the only "cold hardy" one. We lost all the others in our Jan 2010 cold spell. On the other hand our twin Vitiense are flowering and seeding

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

Mike, how big and what species did you have when they succumbed in 2010? I have a small amicorum that I am growing in the nursery with the pot standing in a water dish to keep its feet wet. It loves wet feet but did suffer a setback from this last year's relatively mild winter. I will plant it out in our soon to be built "Rain Forest Garden", probably next spring.

I have heard warburghii has a little more cold tolerance and will work in South Florida. Anybody with experience?