Copernicia ekmanii

[Gileno Machado]

During this last IPS Biennial in South Florida I was very impressed by this Palm, seldom seen in landscaping projects even in Florida

[Gileno Machado]

I wonder if there are fruiting specimens in USA now...It must be a rare species even in native Haiti, at the moment.

Gorgeous Palms, aren't they?

[mike in kurtistown]

I agree with Gileno, this is a spectacular landscaping palm. Here is a pic of the one at, I believe, Punta Roquena:

Here is my take on the one shown at the home of the landscaper, who also did the landscape at Punta Roquena:

These landscapes were included in a tour conducted for south Florida palm societies in the late 1980's or early 1990's, so they are fairly mature landscapes. The landscapes are well-planned to set off the plants, so taking great pictures is no more than aim-and-shoot.

[avanza]

Smooth as jade.

Thanks for the pictures.

[Really full garden]

I have a friend in Homestead,Fl who has a very large one near his entrance gate.I first saw it many,many years ago before Bismarckias were everywhere and was so impressed by the bright white glow it had in full sun.A very spectacular palm !

[Kris]

Nice visuals. .

Thanks and love,

Kris.

[virtualpalm]

This is definitely a great species--especially when grown in full sun. We are growing quite a few of these in the field here in Homestead. Here is a photo taken a couple years ago.

[palmislandRandy]

Here's a couple more we saw on the biennial in the Keys & another in Palm Beach. Strikingly beautiful palms.

-Randy

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

What a stunning palm! Looks a lot like a brahea armata, but with some extra "something" that I can't put into words.

Edit: Oh yes, now I know how to say it: kinda like a brahea armata "lisa", or brahea armata meets pritchardia.

[Peter Pacific]

Hola Gileno, great palm! As I am writing this, I have this palm on my wish list for Floribunda...I won't cross it off! Beautiful.

I hope you had a great trip.

Peter

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks everyone for sharing all the photos.

These were in the "not for sale" area in Noel Pecunia's nursery in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. He grew them from seed and they are lovely!

[NatureGirl]

I love this palm also, but is by far the wimpiest as far as cold-hardiness goes of all the Copernicia I've grown. Lost a fairly large, beautiful white one here in Satellite Beach in winter of 2010 when we had 29F. Not one of my other Cop's were even touched. But, I'm going for another, have a 7gal I'm going to plant soon.

[Al in Kona]

Thanks Gileno for bringing this beautiful silver palm to everyone's attention. After I saw some of those beautiful Copernicia ekmanii in those S. Florida gardens we visited during the IPS Biennial, I was happy that I had one small one growing in my garden in Kona, Hawaii. Maybe one day mine will be as big and showy as they were. Here's mine .

[Cedric]

Wow its lovely. I really like those whispy leaflet tips that give it the twirly silver spun look, do they move in the slightest breeze? I love movement in a garden.

[Moose]

I wonder if there are fruiting specimens in USA now...It must be a rare species even in native Haiti, at the moment.

Gorgeous Palms, aren't they?

There are fruiting specimens now however they are planted among other flowering Copernicias at Fairchild. Copernicias freely cross so getting "true" C. eckmanii seed is dubious. They are rare beautiful palms. Seed needs to come from isolated species. Besides Jody with the huge big $$$$ field grown ones. This guy would gladly sell you a real deal Copernicia eckmanii: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/user/272-caribbean-palms/