California Adonidia merrillii

[cagary]

After a few years in the unheated greenhouse, last April I moved my triple Adonidia merrillii outside and planted it in the ground. Its very near the house in a very sheltered location. Any hope for it's survival? Any one else have one in California?

[Hammer]

I hate to be a downer, but it will be a real long shot. Word on the street is that these palms are even more sensitive to our long, cool, wet winters than Coconuts. If yours make it, I'd plant a grove of Coconuts too if I were you.

[Jim in Los Altos]

I hate to be a downer, but it will be a real long shot. Word on the street is that these palms are even more sensitive to our long, cool, wet winters than Coconuts. If yours make it, I'd plant a grove of Coconuts too if I were you.

At first i was going to say you have a shot at it because i had one outside for several years but now I'm remembering it was a Veitchia arecina. The '07 freeze finally took mine down but I hope for the best for your Adonidia

[aztropic]

I think it has a chance.I've had one planted in the ground here in Arizona for a few years now that I grew from seed.Never really looks that good,gets way more sun than it would like,yet it keeps chugging right along and is definitely alive.(those are its semi fried leaves in the picture) To the left of it is Ptychosperma salomonense,also getting a little too much sun.I have a couple more of this species in shade just 10 ft away and they look fantastic with nice dark green foliage.Also in the pic far left is a bottle palm,and far right,a Cuban royal that I also grew from seed.This is the best microclimate in my whole yard!

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[MattyB]

You've got the best chance Gary. You seem to be able to grow lots of tropicals in your spot.

[akamu]

out of curiosity what is your low temp I have one also that I grew from seed not planted out yet

[Hammer]

Gary I hope you will post often on this palm during this winter. I could learn a lot. Like akamu I have one grown from seed. I've been planning on this being a potted palm. I would love to be wrong!

[Mandrew968]

I think you need to listen to Jeff Goldblum, "your scientists were so preoccupied(you) with whether or not they could(grow an Adonidia) that they didn't stop to think if they should." California is a better place without Christmas palms... it has to be!

[displaced_floridian]

Or, you could listen to Robert Kennedy and say "There are those who look at the way things are and ask 'Why?'

I dream of things that never were, and ask 'Why not' ".

[Capnrey]

Makes me want to give it a try. I am thinking of starting a little 'zone pusher' collection - just to drive me crazy.

[paulgila]

are you positive its adonidia? kinda looks like ptychosperma, to me. they look more different as they get older so maybe it will become more "adonidia-ish" with time.

[jeevesjank]

are you positive its adonidia? kinda looks like ptychosperma, to me. they look more different as they get older so maybe it will become more "adonidia-ish" with time.

I agree, they don't quite resemble the adonidias I see growing in my area.

[aztropic]

They do look different once the trunk thickens up.If someone could post a pic of a 3 or 7 gallon big box special,it would be easier to compare apples to apples...

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[jeevesjank]

They do look different once the trunk thickens up.If someone could post a pic of a 3 or 7 gallon big box special,it would be easier to compare apples to apples...

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

The trunk still looks a bit thicker to me

[PalmatierMeg]

Very prolific here - some people consider them weedy. But it is a palm that loves hot, humid days and sultry nights.

[Mandrew968]

No mistake. Those are the dreaded Christmas palm. Ptycho-NO-sperma

[Funkthulhu]

My adonidia seedlings are outside each year until the overnight drops below 40, then they're in the basement that is seldom over 65 all winter. Still healthy (if slow) as all get out.

I wish you luck! I hope mine stay happy as well.

[akamu]

BUMP how are the adonidias doing Gary and Aztropic been pretty mild winter down here in SD so far

[bubba]

I am in Jeevejank's corner on this one. Adonidia merrillii are ubiquitous here and I have never seen such an elongated and thin Am.Truly looks like a Veitchia of some sort. On the positive side, you will not have to contend with LY, which is well known to terrorize the Christmas Palm in Florida and explains why you only see this palm in South Florida every three (3) feet.

[PalmatierMeg]

At least seeds are abundantly available for continued experimentation. We cut them down and pick them off the ground for green waste pickup. As a side note, I'm beginning to suspect that the dreaded, ubiquitous Class II invasive queen palms may someday be threats from the past because of FW. Either that, or I'm paranoid when I think I see telltale half dead zombie fronds in yards around us. If my suspicions are right we're keeping mum about where the outbreak originated.

[Mike in Nelson]

CA is too dry for an Adonidia to look any good, is it not? Lots of crispy leaflets.

[Pete in Paradise Hills]

CA is too dry for an Adonidia to look any good, is it not? Lots of crispy leaflets.

my wife is from Barranquilla, Colombia, where the temperature is almost always between 90 and 73 degrees (even on a "cold winter night"). After seeing the Adonidias in Barranquilla, I won't bother trying an Adonidia in San Diego. They look beautiful in Barranquilla and would look way inferior in San Diego...

[cagary]

BUMP how are the adonidias doing Gary and Aztropic been pretty mild winter down here in SD so far

For the most part, Winter never arrived here in south Orange County (California). The Adonidias look just like they did in October and are even slowly pushing up their spears. We've only had a handful of days that dropped below 45 degrees. And seeing how we are already in the first week of February, its doubtful that we'll see any real cold weather before things warm up this spring. I have them wrapped in an incandescent rope light that comes on at sunset and goes off around 8 am, but I don't think its necessary this winter, at least.

When I bought the palm it was already about 6 feet tall. It then spent a few years in my relatively toasty greenhouse (In the ground, there is no floor.). I'd say the palm is at least 10 years old. I don't know how a smaller, younger Adonidias would do outside in CA.

[Mitch's Paradise]

Hi Cagary, I wanted to check in with how your Christmas Palm is doing outdoors? I just purchased a 3-4foot one here in the Los Angeles valley where it's to be in the high 80s-mid 90s the rest of the summer.  I have two places on my patio I can plant this in the ground - one would give the entire tree full sun about 6-7 hours per day, and the other option would give it only 4-6 hours of sun on the top half of the tree per day. I am hoping you've had luck with yours outside to give me hope!

[Mitch's Paradise]

Another question: if I WANT to keep the trunk somewhat thin, and the fronds not too extended, it would be ok to put it in the shadier section of my patio? It isn't full shade, but the top of the palm would get long hours of sun when it is about 5 feet tall. As a 3 foot tree, it would a couple hours of sun a day. I just don't want it to die... advice on that? Thanks!!

[Matt in OC]

These have lasted less time for me than a Coconut outdoors. I gave up trying pretty quickly. They do, however, make a relatively easy (but slow) indoor palm.