The Three Latanias

[PalmatierMeg]

I have managed to find all 3 species of Latania and think this genus could be well served with greater renown. Each species is native to a different island of the Mascarene Islands and all are nearly extinct in the wild because of development. Here in FL the blue latan (loddigesii) is by far the most common and from a distance might be mistaken for a dainty Bismarckia. But it is far less cold hardy - all 3 species are hardy only to zone 10-11. My favorite species is the yellow latan (verschaffeltii) although some people think its color combination of lime green and gold make it look sickly. Unlike its two cousins, the yellow latan has shiny, supple leaves rather than stiff, matte leaves. Red latan (lontaroides) is believed to be the rarest of the 3 species. When small, it shows much more red than when larger but older palms retain red edges on its pinnae. As opposed to the blue latan, reds are much greener. I have a red and blue beside each other and you can tell them apart. I got the red first in early 2010 as a 3g during a record cold winter. In early spring the spear pulled and I thought it was a goner but it came back. It flowered last spring and is male. I got the blue latan a couple years later as a small seedling. It is now almost larger than its red sibling but has never flowered. The yellow latan grows on my garden lot in partial shade. Every fall/winter it is prone to infestations of mealybug that I have to treat with insecticidal soap and imadacloprid drench. The other two species don't have mealybug problems.

These critically endangered palms are well worth trying if you can find them.

Latania loddigesii (L) & Latania lontaroides (R): Blue Latan

Latania loddigesii: Blue Latan

tomentum

trunk

 

[PalmatierMeg]

Latania lontaroides: Red Latan

tomentum

trunk

red edge of leaf

 

Latania verschaffeltii: Yellow Latan

tomentum

[sashaeffer]

I've been able to acquire all three myself but for me will only be a potted mostly indoor palm.

Of  the 3 varieties the Red grows the fastest followed by the Yellow and then "at a snails pace" blue.  Also, the blue is the most difficult to keep happy and healthy looking indoors while the Red and Yellow seem to do just fine.

[NOT A TA]

Very nice trees and great detail pics, thanks for sharing!

That pristine looking Malaise era Mark V is awesome!

[NatureGirl]

I had 3 Large mature Latania's. 2 Red, and 1 Yellow, until the winter of 2010.  All 3 died. Here's an old photo of one of my Reds next to my GH when it was new. Photo from yr 2000.

Of all the Palms I lost that winter, the Latanias hit me the hardest.

[sashaeffer]

Stunning.

[Stevetoad]

Great post. I have a red in the ground that I planted in spring. It’s been outside for a few years in a pot. I’m hoping that it’s first winter in the ground will be kind to it. 

[PalmatierMeg]

Charlene, gorgeous large Latania, So sorry your lost yours in the record cold. I think my red latan barely survived.

Steve, red latans are mesmerizing when young. Too bad they lose most of their color when older. Still great palms.

[LJG]

9 hours ago, Stevetoad said:

Great post. I have a red in the ground that I planted in spring. It’s been outside for a few years in a pot. I’m hoping that it’s first winter in the ground will be kind to it. 

Damn, where did you find that? Nice Man. 

[DoomsDave]

Whoa, dang.

Death here. Just death.

 

[5150cycad]

12 hours ago, Stevetoad said:

Great post. I have a red in the ground that I planted in spring. It’s been outside for a few years in a pot. I’m hoping that it’s first winter in the ground will be kind to it. 

I didn’t even know these could grow in SoCal. Well grown!!! The color is amazing.  Did u buy it from a local grower? I personally have never even seen one for sale at the local nurseries. 

@PalmatierMeg Those are some beautiful specimens. 

[Stevetoad]

10 hours ago, LJG said:

Damn, where did you find that? Nice Man. 

10 hours ago, LJG said:

Damn, where did you find that? Nice Man. 

I got it from "Palm tree Jim" a few years ago. I had it growing in a large cement pot for the past 2 winters and it grew just fine with zero damage. It was starting to out grow the pot so in the ground it went. On a side note the L. victoriae that we dug out of your yard went in the ground this year too. I dont remember exactly how long ago that was but it filled a 7 gal pot with roots.  

[Stevetoad]

7 hours ago, 5150cycad said:

I didn’t even know these could grow in SoCal. Well grown!!! The color is amazing.  Did u buy it from a local grower? I personally have never even seen one for sale at the local nurseries. 

@PalmatierMeg Those are some beautiful specimens. 

No I got lucky and picked it up from "palm tree Jim". He was thinking that his place wasnt hot enough for it. 

[LJG]

3 hours ago, Stevetoad said:

I got it from "Palm tree Jim" a few years ago. I had it growing in a large cement pot for the past 2 winters and it grew just fine with zero damage. It was starting to out grow the pot so in the ground it went. On a side note the L. victoriae that we dug out of your yard went in the ground this year too. I dont remember exactly how long ago that was but it filled a 7 gal pot with roots.  

Awesome man. Can’t wait to see that Victoriae look good in your yard.

[akamu]

I have a red in ground for 4 yrs  smilar in size but I would love to see a pic of your L. Victoriae. That is one stunning palm . I lost the battle on that one I think with your heat you and skills you  have a good shot at growing one good luck  steve  .I would like to try again if you know where to find one

[realarch]

Thanks for the post and great photos Meg! 

Tim

[Eric in Orlando]

Meg, they look great! Latan Palms have always been a favorite of mine. I had all 3 growing well here but they died after the 2009-10 winter. One Latania loddigesii survived. I have seen grown seeds and planted more out. I have one that I believe is a hybrid. One seedling from a batch of Latania verschaffeltii has red petioles besides the yellow coloring.

[PalmatierMeg]

50 minutes ago, Eric in Orlando said:

Meg, they look great! Latan Palms have always been a favorite of mine. I had all 3 growing well here but they died after the 2009-10 winter. One Latania loddigesii survived. I have seen grown seeds and planted more out. I have one that I believe is a hybrid. One seedling from a batch of Latania verschaffeltii has red petioles besides the yellow coloring.

Thanks, Eric. I'd love to see photos of a red-yellow latan hybrid. Better yet, I'd love to grow one to compare with the 3 I have.

[weldertom]

Bravo! 

[mike in kurtistown]

I have all three Latans, but only the yellows (L. verschaffeltia) have been in the ground long enough to have some size. I think this is one of the true unhybridized species, which can be hard to find. The inner part of the petioles and the hastula still have yellow color. One of my four is shown here with 5-gal orange bucket for scale (another in back to the right). I was going to do this days ago, but have been sidelined by a leg injury, then an eye injury. No worries, much better now.