Copernicia Hospita

[annafl]

For about a dozen years I've been searching for a nice, blue Copernicia Hospita.  What do you guys think about this one?  Is it blue enough?  Will it get any bluer with more sun?  They're so hard to come by and especially one that's truly blue.  The price is hefty, but after this many years I'm tempted.  Would you say it's blue enough to grow to be a gorgeous plant?  Please advise.  Thanks!

[GMann]

That looks pretty blue. Who is selling it?

But everyone has the blue form, why not be different and grow a green one?

A google image search for Copernicia hospita returns exclusively blue ones. I just came back from a trip to Cuba and thought the green ones were very pretty.

[annafl]

Thanks, Gareth.  For years I've been looking for a blue one and this is the best color I've seen, but I really have only seen a couple.  When I look at images on the internet or Palmpedia I'm struck by how blue many of them are.  I guess I'd like to know if it's realistic to wait for one that's that blue.  Do they even exist nowadays?  This one is pretty silvery and looks very healthy and well-grown.

[sonoranfans]

I wish I was "everyone" and had the blue form of hospita.  The blue hospita is the one of the bluest of copernicias.  That one looks great Anna!  Many blue palms can grow to become more blue/silver in sunlight, not sure about this one.  That tree is likely 6-10 years from seed, that is why they are expensive.  They, like many cuban copernicias are slow growers while young.  If remember  correctly, alkaline soils(dolomite or reef material) may help blue them up a bit as well as sun.  This palm WANTS full sun.  One thing to remember about "blue" and "silver" palms in general, the color is due to wax on the leaves reflecting light that has not passed through the leaf.  They always look more blue/silver with the sun at your back as that means more reflected light(white/blue), less transmitted light(greenish due to chlorophyll) to the observer.  Any light that passes through chlorophyll is going to be greenish, the blue/silver is reflected light from waxy surface and never doesnt pass through much chlorophyll.  Check it out for yourself when you take pics, more blue/silver on a sunny day with the sun at your back. 

 

[LJG]

Looks like a great palm Ana. Love to find one that size here.

[Tracy]

6 hours ago, annafl said:

 Is it blue enough?  Will it get any bluer with more sun?  They're so hard to come by and especially one that's truly blue.  The price is hefty, but after this many years I'm tempted.  Would you say it's blue enough to grow to be a gorgeous plant?  Please advise.  Thanks!

Only you will be able to decide for yourself if it is blue enough.  Relative to whether it will get any more blue, you probably can assess how much sun it was getting much better than any of us looking at the photo.  It sounds like others have already weighed in that more sun = more blue. 

Also as Len mentions, that is a rare find at that size on the west coast, so it would command a healthy price here.  Sounds like you have been looking and being patient but this one is now really tempting you.  If you are that tempted, the question is how will you feel if you wait too long and it is sold before you make up your mind?  Good luck with your decision!

[Silas_Sancona]

^^ Completely agree with Tracy.. sometimes, you have time to "decide" whether or not you want to pull the trigger when the opportunity arises to finally acquire something at the top of your "must acquire, asap" list..

Other times, you might have less than a few minutes to make a decision since there may be many other admiring eyes in the room, more than ready to pull out their wallet. If it were me, that beauty would have been in the car faster than I could think.

I'm still kicking myself for not being able to acquire not one.. but three nicely grown Cow's Horn Orchid which were being offered at a local plant sale last fall. Sure, they might be offered next fall at the same location/ plant sale.. but, it is just as possible such an opportunity won't come around for another couple years. As many other orchid geeks know, this species is rarely offered anywhere.  

I'd say, as long as the important matters (of the money kind) have been checked off for the time being, and these is some extra to put to good use,  get that palm crossed off your list.. and added into your collection.. 

Also curious where you saw it for sale.. the background in the picture looks curiously familiar

 

[topwater]

You've been waiting twelve years?  Buy it, she's a beauty and you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. 

[kurt decker]

Anna, that's as good as it gets. That's a slower than average Copernicus. No brainer. Get it.

[foxtail]

BUY IT!!!!!!!

[Dave-Vero]

Gareth's photo is better than mine.  You've found a pretty specimen of a beautiful species.  This is about as blue as I saw.  I remain kind of overwhelmed at the Copernicias; I think this is C. curtissii.  

[kwtimo]

Anna, I would buy it.  The palm is showing good traits, and should only improve with age.  As the other member suggested above, you can make that soil more alkaline to potentially bring out more color.  Full sun is a must.  I picked one up similarly colored as the one you pictured, yet substantially smaller than that about a half year ago, and am looking forward to watching it grow and color up over time.  In the mean time, it is roasting in full sun in an oversized container waiting to be planted.  

I was in a similar situation, albeit for a much shorter period of time over, whether or not to purchase a smaller C. fallaensis.  I'm glad I did it.  And for what it's worth, I have also had some Coccothrinax azul that looked far better and more blue after they had been planted and had gotten established than they ever did in the container.  Go For It!

[annafl]

Oh, wow, it was so fun to come back to this thread!  Thanks all of you!  I feel so much better about this palm.  I hope it's still available.  I was just nervous because of FOBO (fear of bluer options), but that's never realized in the past.  Thanks for helping me decide.  I feel good about it now.  Thanks again, Tom, Len, Tracy, Nathan, Dave, Kurt and Tim!

 

8 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

^^ Completely agree with Tracy.. sometimes, you have time to "decide" whether or not you want to pull the trigger when the opportunity arises to finally acquire something at the top of your "must acquire, asap" list..

Other times, you might have less than a few minutes to make a decision since there may be many other admiring eyes in the room, more than ready to pull out their wallet. If it were me, that beauty would have been in the car faster than I could think.

I'm still kicking myself for not being able to acquire not one.. but three nicely grown Cow's Horn Orchid which were being offered at a local plant sale last fall. Sure, they might be offered next fall at the same location/ plant sale.. but, it is just as possible such an opportunity won't come around for another couple years. As many other orchid geeks know, this species is rarely offered anywhere.  

I'd say, as long as the important matters (of the money kind) have been checked off for the time being, and these is some extra to put to good use,  get that palm crossed off your list.. and added into your collection.. 

Also curious where you saw it for sale.. the background in the picture looks curiously familiar

 

 

8 hours ago, topwater said:

You've been waiting twelve years?  Buy it, she's a beauty and you'll be kicking yourself if you don't. 

 

7 hours ago, kurt decker said:

Anna, that's as good as it gets. That's a slower than average Copernicus. No brainer. Get it.

 

7 hours ago, foxtail said:

BUY IT!!!!!!!

 

20 minutes ago, kwtimo said:

Anna, I would buy it.  The palm is showing good traits, and should only improve with age.  As the other member suggested above, you can make that soil more alkaline to potentially bring out more color.  Full sun is a must.  I picked one up similarly colored as the one you pictured, yet substantially smaller than that about a half year ago, and am looking forward to watching it grow and color up over time.  In the mean time, it is roasting in full sun in an oversized container waiting to be planted.  

I was in a similar situation, albeit for a much shorter period of time over, whether or not to purchase a smaller C. fallaensis.  I'm glad I did it.  And for what it's worth, I have also had some Coccothrinax azul that looked far better and more blue after they had been planted and had gotten established than they ever did in the container.  Go For It!

Oh, wow, it was so fun to come back to this thread!  Thanks all of you!  I feel so much better about this palm.  I hope it's still available.  I was just nervous because of FOBO (fear of bluer options), but that's never realized in the past.  Thanks for helping me decide.  I feel good about it now.  Thanks again, Tom, Len, Tracy, Nathan, Dave, Kurt and Tim!

11 hours ago, Tracy said:

Only you will be able to decide for yourself if it is blue enough.  Relative to whether it will get any more blue, you probably can assess how much sun it was getting much better than any of us looking at the photo.  It sounds like others have already weighed in that more sun = more blue. 

Also as Len mentions, that is a rare find at that size on the west coast, so it would command a healthy price here.  Sounds like you have been looking and being patient but this one is now really tempting you.  If you are that tempted, the question is how will you feel if you wait too long and it is sold before you make up your mind?  Good luck with your decision!

12 hours ago, sonoranfans said:

I wish I was "everyone" and had the blue form of hospita.  The blue hospita is the one of the bluest of copernicias.  That one looks great Anna!  Many blue palms can grow to become more blue/silver in sunlight, not sure about this one.  That tree is likely 6-10 years from seed, that is why they are expensive.  They, like many cuban copernicias are slow growers while young.  If remember  correctly, alkaline soils(dolomite or reef material) may help blue them up a bit as well as sun.  This palm WANTS full sun.  One thing to remember about "blue" and "silver" palms in general, the color is due to wax on the leaves reflecting light that has not passed through the leaf.  They always look more blue/silver with the sun at your back as that means more reflected light(white/blue), less transmitted light(greenish due to chlorophyll) to the observer.  Any light that passes through chlorophyll is going to be greenish, the blue/silver is reflected light from waxy surface and never doesnt pass through much chlorophyll.  Check it out for yourself when you take pics, more blue/silver on a sunny day with the sun at your back. 

 

 

11 hours ago, LJG said:

Looks like a great palm Ana. Love to find one that size here.

 

Edited January 26, 2017 by annafl

[kwtimo]

Not to confuse things any further, but if whitish blue is what you are going after, you might want to consider Copernicia ekmanii as well. It is one of the nicest colored Copernicias in my opinion

[annafl]

I just love the shape of the hospita and fallaensis more than the ekmanii.  Isn't that one even slower and more expensive?  I'm getting too old as it is, Tim, to be able to see this good sized hospita growing up!  I think I'm going to go for it.  Thanks!

[Kris]

Dear Anna,

I want to add a point here.most if not all the plants and palms are green in colour.So if you are going to buy that palm which has a beautiful colour will certainly add more beauty to your garden.

Bismarkia silver form and the Brahea Armata are attractive only of their silver/blue leaf colour.

So dont think too much,just buy it,Before any other palm collector buys it.

Love,

Kris.

[GMann]

It looks really nice and I am assuming that all the ones in the background are green so this one looks to be a one off.

It looks like a nice size to start with. Is it a 25 gallon?

There are quite a few places in South Florida that sell them blue, big ones too. But they are not cheap.

[annafl]

7 hours ago, GMann said:

It looks really nice and I am assuming that all the ones in the background are green so this one looks to be a one off.

It looks like a nice size to start with. Is it a 25 gallon?

There are quite a few places in South Florida that sell them blue, big ones too. But they are not cheap.

Gareth, bluer than this one?  I'm in Sarasota, so I don't have the luxury to go from nursery to nursery in South Florida. It's a very long day trip back and forth, so I'm limited in what I can see.  I think this is a 15g. 

[Zeeth]

11 hours ago, annafl said:

I just love the shape of the hospita and fallaensis more than the ekmanii.  Isn't that one even slower and more expensive?  I'm getting too old as it is, Tim, to be able to see this good sized hospita growing up!  I think I'm going to go for it.  Thanks!

I was going to say the same thing about the C. ekmanii. It's got a nice color, but it's too shaggy for my tastes. C. hospita and C. fallaensis are about as good as you can get for a fan palm (more so the C. fallaensis).

[GMann]

15 hours ago, annafl said:

Gareth, bluer than this one?  I'm in Sarasota, so I don't have the luxury to go from nursery to nursery in South Florida. It's a very long day trip back and forth, so I'm limited in what I can see.  I think this is a 15g. 

For a 15 gallon that one looks like a real beauty. It is already developing a trunk, which is why I figured it was a 25 gallon. I'd say buy that one. It looks very blue to me. I assume you want something that you can easily lift and plant yourself rather than one that has to be professionally planted right? In which case that one you found is as good as you are going to get.

Ken Johnson has some very big blue ones, but probably too big to lift yourself, see his facebook page pictures:

https://www.facebook.com/KenJohnsonPalms/

Edited January 27, 2017 by GMann

[annafl]

Wow, that one is gorgeous, but huge!  It looks like it could be 5 or more feet already.  Wouldn't that be fun.  Not the price, though!  Thanks for the photo, Gareth.

[BPK Palm Addict]

Ana, how about an update?