Mature Chuniophoenix hainanensis

[Eric in Orlando]

This mature Chuniophoenix hainanensis is growing in a local collector's garden. I have never seen a mature specimen before. It is approximately 25 years old. Great cold hardy palm with a tropical look. 

[Eric in Orlando]

[realarch]

Nice looking palms, that ole Bill Austin has some nice ones in his garden. Bill?.........

Tim

[Eric in Orlando]

Another palm that should be more widely grown. It is slow when young but is hardy to at least 26F. 

[DoomsDave]

They are GLACIALLY SLOW. I have a couple in the ground, still alive, at least.

[JubaeaMan138]

Agree with Dave . The one I got from Dave last year is alive and well. It has not done a darn thing at all though !!! Slllllooooowwww

[richnorm]

Yep, super slow without heat.  Growth rate best measured in years per leaf not leaves per year!

[Really full garden]

They are slow here as well. They remind me of massive Rhapis palms.

[Sandy Loam]

I wonder how old the one in the photo above is?  I love it, but I don't have an extra fifty years on my hands to watch one grow. 

That photo should perhaps be sent to Palmpedia for posting on the page designated for Chuniophoenix Hainanensis. 

Eric, where is that specimen located?

I recall researching this palm at some point and I though it was reputed to tolerate well below 26 degrees.  Doesn't it take  the high teens Fahrenheit?  I must look again, but I thought that I had read something a while back which characterized this palm as extremely cold-hardy.

[Kailua_Krish]

36 minutes ago, Sandy Loam said:

I wonder how old the one in the photo above is?  I love it, but I don't have an extra fifty years on my hands to watch one grow. 

That photo should perhaps be sent to Palmpedia for posting on the page designated for Chuniophoenix Hainanensis. 

Eric, where is that specimen located?

I recall researching this palm at some point and I though it was reputed to tolerate well below 26 degrees.  Doesn't it take  the high teens Fahrenheit?  I must look again, but I thought that I had read something a while back which characterized this palm as extremely cold-hardy.

I think that was Chuniophoenix nana, my understanding is this one is much less hardy

[Dave-Vero]

My "big" one is very slowly puttering along, about 5 feet tall.  Leaves are decidedly miniature compared to the Leu palm.  I planted two babies to keep it.company.  I need to drop up to Leu--missed the Central Florida Palm & Cycad Society saturday due to a sleep problem.   

[Eric in Orlando]

I'm not sure how cold it will ultimately take, 26F is the coldest it has been at Leu Gardens since 1992 and the C. hainanensis here was not damaged. I would guess low 20sF. Hainan Island has a mostly tropical climate but there are mountains that go up to 6000ft.

Our oldest one was planted in March of 1996. It is now maybe 5-6ft tall and suckering. The growth rate has increased in the last few years.