Hyophorbe indica in FL - planting advice needed

[PalmatierMeg]

About two years ago I got a green and a red H. indica from Floribunda. Not long after, I read somewhere (can't remember where) that H. indica does poorly in FL. Mine have been in pots and doing well so far. But I wonder if planting them in Cape Coral's infamous alkaline sand/shell rock will be a death sentence. Also, can they take full FL sun? Right now they receive some morning sun but are tucked under a Dypsis, Archonotophoenix and banana plant. Because I was on a photo kick this morning I included them.

H. indica green

H. indica red

 

 

[Palmaceae]

Hello Meg,

I have a small one in mostly sun and it doing pretty good. Its been in the ground since last summer and it burned a bit when I first planted it because of the sun exposure but is now growing out of it. Time will tell how well it does in our soil.

[Cocoa Beach Jason]

I have a green indica that I planted out about 2 months ago in my alkaline sand. Looks good so far but 2 months is nothing so I will have to wait and see. 

[Josh-O]

Keep us posted on how it does Meg  

i have a really big fruting specimen in front of my house here in San Diego county

[IHB1979]

Looks great! 

I've had several go to palm heaven. From germination they grew fantastic until about 1.5 years old. Then a slow decline and death.

We had a very wet summer and that's when the decline/death occurred. Maybe too wet? It's a beautiful palm and I'll try again soon.

[Palms4Steve]

Here in Sydney they would have to be one of the fasted growing palms that I have growing.

[Cape Garrett]

On 4/28/2016, 7:09:33, PalmatierMeg said:

About two years ago I got a green and a red H. indica from Floribunda. Not long after, I read somewhere (can't remember where) that H. indica does poorly in FL. Mine have been in pots and doing well so far. But I wonder if planting them in Cape Coral's infamous alkaline sand/shell rock will be a death sentence. Also, can they take full FL sun? Right now they receive some morning sun but are tucked under a Dypsis, Archonotophoenix and banana plant. Because I was on a photo kick this morning I included them.

H. indica green

H. indica red

 

 

Mine croaked.  Sum was fine but died after a year.  Mine was larger too with some wood starting when I planted it.

[Hammer]

I have one that was growing like crazy here in SoCal.  As soon as I took the shade cloth off, it got VERY unhappy. 

In my experience this palm likes heat, loves water and must have shade when young.

I am probably going to dig mine and find a shady place for it and hope it survives.  Maybe Florida is different. 

[Mandrew968]

Meg, want good advice? Plant 10 or 12 and all over your yard. Maybe 4 will make it three years. Then way down the road, you may have two that are in the landscape and can be admired. Some palms are just like that for us... lucky these are not expensive.

[Palm Tree Jim]

I am on round two with these palms.

Round 1, I lost a triple to the 2007 weather here in SC. No surprise.

Round 2, planted in shade and doing well. During the winter, I had no irrigation on the plant. The only water it received was from me or mother nature.

Time will tell.....

[palmsOrl]

I just put a 3 foot tall green in the ground about a month and a half ago after being kept in the greenhouse for the winter.  It is doing well so far, but as others have noted, time will tell.  I too have noticed that this species is fickle and tends to decline for seemingly no reason.  I have lost two in pots over the past 15 years and it was not cold related.