Chamaedorea 'Horace Anderson"

[anaheimpalmguy]

I first discovered Chamaedorea 'Horace Anderson' in the mid-1990s at Ingwersen Nursery in Oceanside, CA.  I was there buying some Rhapis excels palms because they had a large stock of them at good prices.  I noticed some vigorous, lush, and full Chamaedorea palms and asked what they were.  I was told they were a Chamaedorea hybrid and that they were hardier than other Chamaedorea species typically used outdoors in Southern California, such as C. costaricana and C. seifrizii, which I had experience with previously.  I don't remember whether they said it was hybridized by Horace Anderson himself or merely named after him (Horace Anderson was a well-known North San Diego County horticulturist who was active in bringing hybrids and new subtropical plants into the nursery trade starting in the 1950s).  The nurseryman told me this hybrid tolerated more sun, more cold, and was all-around tougher than the other species.  So I bought some 15 gallon and began growing them in various landscapes in San Diego and Orange Counties and have some 20 years of experience observing them.  The photos show some of those examples.

In my experience they are tougher and more vigorous than other Chamaedoreas and grow fast to develop into full, graceful clumps.  They tolerate half day full sun near the coast.  In fact, a specimen in Anaheim (which is considerably hotter than the coast) receives half day sun  in the summer and has only had some burned leaves once (during a 105°F day in June, 2016).  Two fairly mature specimens planted in a canyon cold sink location in San Diego survived a 26°F frost (in January, 2007), losing all their foliage but only one cane; they became full and lush again within 6 months.  They also seem to tolerate windy locations just fine.

So with all this hybrid has going for it, I was surprised that almost no one seems to know about it.    I found only a few references to it and one photograph on the internet: http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/26090-chamaedorea-horace-anderson/#comment-430749.

Part of the reason for the lack of knowledge about this hybrid may be due to the nursery itself that grows it.  Ingwersen Nursery is a wholesale nursery that grows primarily interior tropical foliage for the trade, but they will also sell to landscapers and contractors.  In the past they have told me that only they sell this hybrid and i haven't seen it being sold anywhere else (and I have looked now and then).  It would be interesting to know if this is true or not.  Also, they don't have a website or any internet presence and don't do any advertising, so they remain pretty much hidden from view.  

This hybrid palm is hardy enough that it could be used a lot more in landscapes if it were more well known and available.  It's pretty much ideal for small-space situations where tropical accents are appropriate.  I hope these comments will bring Chamaedorea 'Horace Anderson' to a wider audience and start further discussion about it.  If anybody knows any more about this hybrid palm or its availability, please chime in!

 

 

Edited September 30, 2016 by anaheimpalmguy
changed photo

[anaheimpalmguy]

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

Fantastic.  I love it.  Does it grow true to its form from seed?  Do the mature plants even produce seed?   How do we get this spread around outside of Cali?   If seeds are available then maybe desiminate them amongst people interested here?    Is here any data about this growing indoors?  What are they hybrids of?   Inquiring palmy minds want to know. :-)

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, anaheimpalmguy said:

I don't remember whether they said it was hybridized by Horace Anderson himself or merely named after him (Horace Anderson was a well-known North San Diego County horticulturist who was active in bringing hybrids and new subtropical plants into the nursery trade starting in the 1950s).

Horace's old home is right around the corner from me, and I seem to recall a few Chamaedorea's in the yard which resembled these.  I walked through the house when the family had it on the market in 2010.  There is a retail nursery on the back side of the house which still bears his name, even though the family has sold it, Anderson's La Costa Nursery.  I don't know if Eric Anderson can weigh in, he's one of the descendants of Horace.  I know Eric is still involved in palms as I spoke to him at the last So Cal Palm Society Meeting.  Horace had a great collection of plants in the yard.

[anaheimpalmguy]

I know Andersons La Costa Nursery well and remember the house you're talking about.  Eric Anderson mentioned in a blog online about a palm being named after his father, but doesn't provide any further details.  In another blog online it was mentioned that he was instrumental in introducing Clivias to the nursery trade.  It would be great if Eric and/or others with any information could weigh in as well.

[Steve Mac]

 Chamaedorea ‘Horace Anderson’

Species notes: Hybrid of C. pochutlensis x C. hooperiana

Crown spread:  1.90 Meter
Overall height:  2.85 Meter
Trunk height (BTH):  varied
Grower’s notes: Fast growing, very full appearance, continual flowering.