Nannorrhops arabica (Silver)

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

To start off with I am very disappointed with this silver variant of Nannorrhops.  1G and 3G specimens burned with frost and 27-28 degrees and I even lost a few, while the smaller 1G green Ritcieana. look great.  I will leave larger ones outside to test next winter which should be larger 5G's by that time.   I don't know how these naturalize in the mountains of Afghanistan if they can't handle high 20's and frost. From what I see our normal winter would 100% completely kill 3G's and smaller.  These are not even Zone 9B when small.

[PAPalmGrower]

On 1/18/2016, 3:15:03, TexasColdHardyPalms said:

To start off with I am very disappointed with this silver variant of Nannorrhops.  1G and 3G specimens burned with frost and 27-28 degrees and I even lost a few, while the smaller 1G green Ritcieana. look great.  I will leave larger ones outside to test next winter which should be larger 5G's by that time.   I don't know how these naturalize in the mountains of Afghanistan if they can't handle high 20's and frost. From what I see our normal winter would 100% completely kill 3G's and smaller.  These are not even Zone 9B when small.

Joseph - the Nannorrhops 'arabica' hail mostly from Iran, with some smaller populations in Oman, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Qatar. They grow in more humid, but still arid, regions.  In many of these areas, there is minimal frost where they grow.  The 'arabica' do not grow in the mountains of Afghanistan.

If you are eager to keep trying the Nannorrhops arabica, make sure your seeds are sourced from the populations in the higher altitudes of the areas around Zahedan in Iran, further in the interior of the country.   Your seed source was likely from populations in the mountains near Makran, in Iran.  This is down on their southern coast and these 'arabica' would have minimal to no cold tolerance.  Both habit and growth are very similar, but make sure you are getting the 'arabica' seed collected from the inland mountains near Zahedan and not the mountains surrounding coastal and mild Makran.

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

That explains a lot. The n. Ritcheana are true zone 7 palms, which must be the afgan population.

[PAPalmGrower]

@TexasColdHardyPalms - correct. Nannorrhops ritchieana can be found in Afghanistan and northern Pakistan and also the Kashmir region.  Whilst, Nannorrhops 'arabica' can be found in Iran, southern Pakistan, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and small populations in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.  Most forms of the 'arabica' are not cold tolerant and do not do well with winter moisture.  The 'ritchieana' are much more cold tolerant. They handle winter moisture a bit better too.  By far, the Kashmir form of ritchieana is the most cold and moisture tolerant.

[Hillizard]

Here's a side-by-side comparison of frond color between my in-ground N. ritchieana (L) with my new N. arabica (R) that just arrived today (via Phil/JM). It'll be interesting to compare their growth rates and hardiness in my garden, or as I like to think of it, my carbon capture & sequestration project.

[Austinpalm]

On 8/15/2018 at 6:50 PM, Hillizard said:

Here's a side-by-side comparison of frond color between my in-ground N. ritchieana (L) with my new N. arabica (R) that just arrived today (via Phil/JM). It'll be interesting to compare their growth rates and hardiness in my garden, or as I like to think of it, my carbon capture & sequestration project.

So is either form noticeably faster growing? Am guessing that N. ritchieana is hardier?

[GoatLockerGuns]

My Nannorrhops ritchieana "Green Form" survived last February's Texas freeze no problem with temps at 6F and 9F, and 4+ days straight below freezing.  Only protection was a community pot thrown on top (it was less than a foot tall at the time).  No spear pull; not even any frond damage.

[Fusca]

On 8/15/2018 at 6:50 PM, Hillizard said:

Here's a side-by-side comparison of frond color between my in-ground N. ritchieana (L) with my new N. arabica (R) that just arrived today (via Phil/JM). It'll be interesting to compare their growth rates and hardiness in my garden, or as I like to think of it, my carbon capture & sequestration project.

How has your 'arabica' performed?  Any faster than your ritchiana?  Obvious difference in the cold hardiness?  I just got one myself.

[Hillizard]

1 hour ago, Fusca said:

How has your 'arabica' performed?  Any faster than your ritchiana?  Obvious difference in the cold hardiness?  I just got one myself.

My N. arabica is very slow to get established in my location and only exhibits a fraction of the vigor of my N. ritchieana.  Both made it through the winter ok though.  They are both quite silver in color.  I assume that may change once the arabica gets larger?

[Fusca]

On 8/11/2024 at 4:35 PM, Hillizard said:

My N. arabica is very slow to get established in my location and only exhibits a fraction of the vigor of my N. ritchieana.  Both made it through the winter ok though.  They are both quite silver in color.  I assume that may change once the arabica gets larger?

Interesting, I was hoping for the reverse!  🤔  I guess you haven't seen temps below 30°F with your 'arabica' yet so no freeze damage.  I'm hoping it keeps that awesome silver color as it ages.

[gyuseppe]

live without even a single burn on the leaves,at  - 5.7 degrees celsius,in   january 2017