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Where to find a Coccothrinax argentata

asimegusta

By asimegusta
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

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asimegusta Enthusiast

asimegusta

Posted
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Hi everyone,

I am new here and just getting started in tropical gardening. I would like to plant a coccothrinax argentata palm. This will be my first palm and so I am discovering just how many varieties there are along the way. But this one suits my situation as far as growth and habits and I love the looks.

I went to a local nursery to see if they had any which they didn't. However, they assured that in fact the Coccothrinax argentata has now changed names and is called Thrinax morrissii of which they quite a few very large specimens for sale. I am looking for a small specimen for my new garden so that everything grows up together.

A Latin name change for a plant seemed odd to me so I did some research and according to Flora of America confirms the Coccothrinax argentata has not changed names, but nurserymen often confuse it with other palms like Coccothrinax argentatea and the Trinax morrissii. This experience has made me wary of what nurseries are actually selling versus what they say it is.

So I would like to ask your help.

Does anyone know where I could find to purchase a Coccothrinax argentata with it's typical purple fruit?

Perhaps I'm looking for something too rare and difficult to find?

If anyone is interested here is the article I refer to: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=222000033

I appreciate any help, thank you.

Lydie

 Charlotte Harbor area, Mangrove waterfront, Elevation: 9ft.

 

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PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

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You were lied to. Coccothrinax argentata and Leucothrinax (formerly Thrinax, so the guy was an ignorant liar) morrisii are different genera and species. I don't know where in FL you live but you should check out local garden club sales/galas as a source of A. argentata. Commercial nurseries and garden centers won't usually carry this native because it is so slow growing and not considered "exotic" enough. Also, some IPS member nurseries and palm societies have sales that feature rare and uncommon palms. You should check those out as an educational tool and source.

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Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

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DavidLee Collaborator

DavidLee

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Hi Lydie,

Coccothrinax argentata is a nice choice. I planted a couple at my aunt's house. Yes you have to carefully select your sources of this palm because Coccothrinax can hybridize easily with each other. Coccothrinax argentata is a native to the Bahamas and along the east coast of South Florida from Boca Raton to the Keys. I imagine it is extinct most of its historical range due to urbanization.  I seen few of them growing wild at nurseries in the Redlands in Miai Dade County. I also seen some them that were rescued growing on Miami oolite limestone. Coccothrinax argentata are tough as nails. They are both cold and drought tolerant. They even bloom and make fruit as tiny palms in one gallon pots. I bought those in the photo at  Caribbean Palms Nursery in Loxahatchee. I doubt the owner Mike Harris has any that size in the photo but imagine he has some nice ones. Those in the photo are around 10 years old. 

image.jpeg

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Palmaceae Grand Master

Palmaceae

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Welcome Lydie,

For your enjoyment here are some very mature Cocothrinax argentata growing wild on Bahia Honda Key in the Florida Keys.

See this post;

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/46821-florida-keys-palms/#comment-720039

 

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Lived in Cape Coral, Miami, Orlando and St. Petersburg Florida.

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asimegusta Enthusiast

asimegusta

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Wow,  looking very beautiful!

Neophyte question: What's Miami oolite ? 

Lydie 

 Charlotte Harbor area, Mangrove waterfront, Elevation: 9ft.

 

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PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

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This is my C. argentata that I planted from a 1g pot in 1993. I bought it at a garden center in Estero but never again saw another one there. Its trunk is 30" tall and it is 4' overall. I believe it is a form that grew on the FL mainland rather than the keys or Bahamas. That variation attains only a 36" trunk after many years. It is absolutely bulletproof in my climate, has never even cold spotted or sunburned. This native palm deserves to be planted much more.

Coccothrinax argentata, Cape Coral, FL. Approx 25-27 years old56c255f6ba335_Coccothrinaxargentatamothe56c25657b9f40_Coccothrinaxargentata0212-56c2565f77f9c_Coccothrinaxargentata0312-56c25668e0e3d_Coccothrinaxargentata0412-

  • Upvote 1

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

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asimegusta Enthusiast

asimegusta

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Beautiful!, Meg!

Locally, I haven't had luck so I just keep Googlin. :D 

I just found an interesting resource for native plants, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center which has a search function to find specific plant information for native plants including palms, and lists suppliers on the plant data sheet. Pretty awesome!

It found me a native nursery not too far South of me, that may have Coccothrinax Argentata, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Nursery. Looks like a beautiful place to visit in any event. I'll give them a call tommorow.

The more I research, the more I discover palms are really a whole world unto itself! :P

Lydie

Edited by asimegusta
spelling

 Charlotte Harbor area, Mangrove waterfront, Elevation: 9ft.

 

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PalmatierMeg Grand Master

PalmatierMeg

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There is a native plant nursery just south of Page Field in Ft. Myers. I don't know whether it carries C.a. because I stopped looking for them after I got mine. You should find a phone # on the internet. If they don't have them in stock they may be able to obtain one. When I was looking for native quailberry, they responded to my request and have carried them ever since.

The Palm Beach Palm and Cycad Society has sales spring and fall at Mounts Botanical Garden. This spring the sale will probably be on Palm Sunday weekend. I usually make the trek to both sales. I know I've seen Coccothrinax argentata offered there before. When someone posts the official date, maybe you can PM him with your request. Several sellers come from nearby Loxahatchee nurseries and may have them.

Meg

Palms of Victory I shall wear

Cape Coral (It's Just Paradise)
Florida
Zone 10A on the Isabelle Canal
Elevation: 15 feet

I'd like to be under the sea in an octopus' garden in the shade.

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asimegusta Enthusiast

asimegusta

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Good Idea to check out plant sales, I just saw the posting here for the Searle Brothers Nursery 'Ganza in March. Looks promising.

Lydie

 Charlotte Harbor area, Mangrove waterfront, Elevation: 9ft.

 

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Yunder Wækraus Veteran

Yunder Wækraus

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Posted
5 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

This is my C. argentata that I planted from a 1g pot in 1993. I bought it at a garden center in Estero but never again saw another one there. Its trunk is 30" tall and it is 4' overall. I believe it is a form that grew on the FL mainland rather than the keys or Bahamas. That variation attains only a 36" trunk after many years. It is absolutely bulletproof in my climate, has never even cold spotted or sunburned. This native palm deserves to be planted much more.

Coccothrinax argentata, Cape Coral, FL. Approx 25-27 years old56c255f6ba335_Coccothrinaxargentatamothe56c25657b9f40_Coccothrinaxargentata0212-56c2565f77f9c_Coccothrinaxargentata0312-56c25668e0e3d_Coccothrinaxargentata0412-

This is truly one of the most stunning palms from anywhere in the world. Yours looks fantastic!

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DavidLee Collaborator

DavidLee

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I think they use to be. Those are are at wholesale native plant nursery at the Redlands. I am not sure if the owner still has them or if he wants to sell them. Last time I checked he didn't. That could of changed by now. That photo was taken November 2014. I willing to bet they are still there.

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asimegusta Enthusiast

asimegusta

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I finally located a C. Argentata at a nursery near Ft. Myers, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation and Nursery.  I brought it home yesterday and now it's in the ground. It's a little guy but

looking very healthy with a new frond peeking up.

 Charlotte Harbor area, Mangrove waterfront, Elevation: 9ft.

 

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asimegusta Enthusiast

asimegusta

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Here's a picture of the coccothrinax. argentata, just after I planted it.

 

coccothrinaxArgentata.jpg

 Charlotte Harbor area, Mangrove waterfront, Elevation: 9ft.

 

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