nice mature Livistona drudei specimen

[Eric in Orlando]

This is a nice Livistona drudei specimen growing at Rockledge Gardens nursery in Rockledge, FL (on the mainland south of Cocoa and about 50 miles east/southeast of Orlando). It survived low 20sF in the Dec. 1989 freeze.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Very nice! How old do you think it might be?

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Nice! I'm glad you posted this tree, Eric. I think the Aussie Livistonas are a better choice for most residential sites than Washingtonia since the aren't as susceptible to disease (at least as it stands today). Plus, it take them much longer to to reach Dr Suess proportions. A healthy robusta looks odd next to a single story residence after 10-15 years though they are well proportioned for use near taller buildings and I like them used in those sites. Unfortunately, that fast growth rate makes robustas a better crop plant for nurseries.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I forgot to say, this L drudei is native to a tropical climate where, I think, temps rarely fall below 50f/10c. Amazing it survives in climates with hard freezes. There is a young one growing under a pine canopy up in Savannah that endured th 09/10 and 10/11 winters with only minor damage.

[KrisKupsch]

They are hardy to light frost & have seen no damage at all, so down to -3C would be fine for them.

[Tropicgardener]

Livistona drudei grows naturally in my valley......... Unlike L. decora (which also occurs around here) It tends to grow in small groups and isolated individuals and even occurs as an emergent in rainforest.

[edric]

Thanks Eric, Ed

[Phoenikakias]

It does look at first glance quite similiar to decora or not? How do we tell such outgrown specimens from both spss apart? Which one is reputedly a faster grower?

Edited February 15, 2015 by Phoenikakias

[Eric in Orlando]

There was a mature specimen at a house in south Orlando in the Rio Pinar area. It was a few blocks from my dads old house. Someone had planted some odd palms in a yard and this was one of them. I'll have to go see if its still there. My dad moved 15 years ago and I haven't been back down there.

They are remarkably hardy considering their tropical origins. That palm by my dads was in the open and saw down to 26-27F back in 1996 and only suffered light burn. We have 6 growing at Leu Gardens and they have fared through upper 20sF with little or no damage.

[Eric in Orlando]

Very nice! How old do you think it might be?

[Eric in Orlando]

I'm not sure exactly how old but probably planted in the mid to late 1980s.

[Eric in Orlando]

Nice! I'm glad you posted this tree, Eric. I think the Aussie Livistonas are a better choice for most residential sites than Washingtonia since the aren't as susceptible to disease (at least as it stands today). Plus, it take them much longer to to reach Dr Suess proportions. A healthy robusta looks odd next to a single story residence after 10-15 years though they are well proportioned for use near taller buildings and I like them used in those sites. Unfortunately, that fast growth rate makes robustas a better crop plant for nurseries.

[Eric in Orlando]

They definitely are. I have always been promoting Livistona decora as a replacement for Washingtonia. They grow fast to 20ft then slow down, cold hardy here and drought tolerant. They can also grow in fairly wet soil.

A good example is in Altamonte Springs down the street from me. Its at an office complex next to that big unfinished glass building along I4. They lined the entrance street with over 100 L. decora in the early 90s. Today they are still only about 20-25 ft tall. Across the street are newer offices that put in Washingtonias about 15 years ago. They are now 40-50 ft tall and beginning to get picked off from lightning or disease.

[Kostas]

Very beautiful specimen Eric and an awesome looking species!!! L. decora is a favorite as well, and so is L. mariae. They have similar looks but L. drudei seems even more tropical looking and nice!