Sabal palmetto cv. 'Lisa'

[Moose]

The Sabal palmetto cv. 'Lisa' that got planted several years ago is slowly growing. The top of the highest palmate frond is about 6 ft. It gets a 12-4-12 palm special with minors 3 times per year. I'm aware that Sabals spend a bit of time developing their underground trunk before they start shooting upwards. The "Lisa' cultivar seems to be slower then a typical S. palmetto.

I admit I am starting to get anxious about its development. I'm not getting any younger and I would love to see this palm start cranking. Any ideas about pushing my Lisa? Anyone got Lisa experience ?

I'm uncertain that higher nitrogen fertilizer is the answer, I don't want it to stretch. It also gets Potassium / Magnesium sulfate (K-Mag) amendments. Not sure if the K-Mag is effective since it is a native and in habitat has done without.

Help me make my Lisa grow

[Ben in Norcal]

Pics if you want me to unlock the secret!

[Moose]

Pics if you want me to unlock the secret!

Dang Ben - you know the secret or you just want to see the Lisa ?

[Josh-O]

lol...

Is it as black setm Sp. Lisa?

[Moose]

lol...

Is it as black setm Sp. Lisa?

Its got no stem - I want a stem. That is the purpose of the thread. Suggestions for pushing Lisa.

Her is a little peek of her ... She is tucked in among (what else) the crotons

[Moose]

A couple more shots of Lisa from different perspectives.

So what is the unlocked secret to get Lisa to start cranking ?

Did I just get scammed into posting her photos with no secret forthcoming ?

[Ben in Norcal]

I like to pee on my favorite palms.

I have no advice, of course. I can't believe you swallowed that hook! But she looks pretty awesome as is - would love to have her.

[Brad Mondel]

At least you have one that large moose. I'd kill for one of those babies.

[Moose]

Agh - anyone else ?

The Lisa was from Meg, planted from a three gallon. A 3 ft deep hole and as wide as a 25 gallon container was made so her underground trunk could expand without restrictions. Planted a couple of years before the Tahina - the Tahina is out pacing the Lisa and accelerating.

[Danilopez89]

I too pee on my favorite slow ones....

Jus sayin

[Alicehunter2000]

That is really a nice Lisa...love how the leaves have not been tattered by the wind.

No advice on how to speed her up....but would have to say that she's pretty awsome at the current size.

[tinman10101]

nice lisa moose! ever considered root competition from all your crotons? i notice my palms that are planted isolated with ample space between companion plantings far exceed growth than the ones i plant in the "congested jungle." i remember when i lived in miami that my mom's crotons where like mini trees with pretty substantial roots. just a thought. in addition ... sabals are so slow as many know ... in cali anyways. meg is the "lisa" queen.

meg if you read this ... hope you are getting stronger and stronger.

cheers

tin

Edited June 9, 2015 by tinman10101

[Josh-O]

I would love to get on of those bad boys in my collection.

How old do you think it is from seed. I have a bunch of Lisa's sprouting and I was told it could take 3 years to tell if they are indeed Lisa.

[Moose]

I would love to get on of those bad boys in my collection.

How old do you think it is from seed. I have a bunch of Lisa's sprouting and I was told it could take 3 years to tell if they are indeed Lisa.

I need to defer to Meg on the seed propagation date. It came to me (I bought a dozen) as strap leaved, just starting to go palmate babies. I think it may have been two to three years before we could for sure they were Lisa. Andrew got one and I gave another to Kip in Miami Springs. Of the 12 - I think 5 were Lisa. Don't recall who the others went to.

Randy did the same as I. He may of had 6 of 12 being Lisa. I know he has two left and no amount of begging can get him to part with them. He has been offered a decent amount of $$$ from "out of state palm lovers" which he has declined. These should do very well out in Southern California. The San Francisco Bay area would probably be its northern successful establishment range.

[Moose]

nice lisa moose! ever considered root competition from all your crotons? i notice my palms that are planted isolated with ample space between companion plantings far exceed growth than the ones i plant in the "congested jungle." i remember when i lived in miami that my mom's crotons where like mini trees with pretty substantial roots. just a thought. in addition ... sabals are so slow as many know ... in cali anyways. meg is the "lisa" queen.

meg if you read this ... hope you are getting stronger and stronger.

cheers

tin

Crotons have masses of very fine roots that don't compete much for water and nutrients. If anything, the masses of roots helps water penetrate the soil. Crotons are shallow rooted plants. The crotons demand nice organic soil and a decent amount of water. Because of this, the area is heavily mulched. Crotons will exhibit lack of water stress before the palm will. If anything, the Lisa is benefiting from having the crotons as neighbors since I water the crotons more often..

[NorthFlpalmguy]

As far as our native sabals go, the fastest way to get a specimen size is to dig it from the wild

I'd push it with fertilizer... sabals are weeds here and dang near impossible to kill unless you try and transplant one with less than 6' above ground trunk. I've seen some faster growth on ones lining crop fields that are fertilized regularly.

[Josh-O]

its good to know that the percentage is about 50-50 they will be sabal lisa.

I have 6 out of the 12 seed I got sprouted. I'm hoping just to get 1 lisa

thanks for the info Moose

[PalmatierMeg]

Ron, you know the Sabal drill: high heat, ferocious sun and bountiful rain

I'm not getting any younger either and still waiting for my largest Lisa to trunk/set seeds. If/when that comes I will make them available here. This mutant palm is like no other and must be preserved.

Your Lisa germinated in spring 2009 from seeds I collected late autumn 2008. (Before anyone clicks on their PM option, be aware the wild palms that gave me their harvest now reside in a Ft. Myers palm park where I no longer have access to seeds except for scrounging through the grass - last time none germinated).

Tin, thanks for your concern. I'm in physical therapy now but still need industrial painkiller to sleep at night. Surgeon says pain may last up to a year - Joy. Hope all your seedlings are doing well - see note to Ron above.

[Josh-O]

thanks for the update Meg

[Moose]

On ‎6‎/‎9‎/‎2015‎ ‎5‎:‎10‎:‎39‎, PalmatierMeg said:

Ron, you know the Sabal drill: high heat, ferocious sun and bountiful rain

 

I'm not getting any younger either and still waiting for my largest Lisa to trunk/set seeds. If/when that comes I will make them available here. This mutant palm is like no other and must be preserved.

 

Your Lisa germinated in spring 2009 from seeds I collected late autumn 2008. (Before anyone clicks on their PM option, be aware the wild palms that gave me their harvest now reside in a Ft. Myers palm park where I no longer have access to seeds except for scrounging through the grass - last time none germinated).

 

Tin, thanks for your concern. I'm in physical therapy now but still need industrial painkiller to sleep at night. Surgeon says pain may last up to a year - Joy. Hope all your seedlings are doing well - see note to Ron above.