Areca catechu (Post Yours)

[SoulofthePlace]

My Areca catechu:

[bubba]

Here is a juvenile:

[SoulofthePlace]

Progress after 2,5 years:

[SoulofthePlace]

On 3/16/2020 at 9:48 AM, bubba said:

Here is a juvenile:

How old is your AC? Longer internodes must mean the palm receives a lot of hot weather. Mine is like 8+ years old but only has got like 4 rings that are very close together and she is still very short. Can you please post a photo of the bottom part of your palm?

Edited September 1, 2022 by SoulofthePlace

[Las Palmas Norte]

1 hour ago, SoulofthePlace said:

... Can you please post a photo of the bottom part of your palm?

and the top (crown) too.

Can't see much of the overall appearance. Thanks.

[bubba]

Will go back and try to get better pictures of both the lower trunk and the crown. It was planted approximately eight years ago as a pup. This is very close to the gulf stream and it is hot virtually year-round with an occasional cool/cold front.

There is a much older Ac at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens across the Intracoastal that must be 60 feet!

[bubba]

Fast enough?

[bubba]

[bubba]

[SoulofthePlace]

42 minutes ago, bubba said:

Fast enough?

Looks very different from mine. What caused the trunk to become scratched? I guess in a cool climate without 80s F they grow very slow and the rings are layered on top of another, unlike yours which at the same age is many times taller than mine, which at an age of about 8 years from seed still is about 4+ ft. tall.

Edited September 1, 2022 by SoulofthePlace

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Here's mine

[bubba]

Ac Comes in many varieties. In reviewing  Palmpedia, you see numerous Ac dwarfs, which have the same short and stout appearance that your palm has.
 

In Bill Austin‘s garden in Hawaii, there is an Ac variety referred to as alba, which bears a distinct similarity to the Palm pictured in my photographs. 
 

I am not certain that I have an answer to the issue of the scars on the lower portion of the Ac alba. It could be claw marks from vermin scaling the palm to get to its fruit, which apparently is addictive with psychedelic properties.(attempt at humor!)

 

[SoulofthePlace]

8 hours ago, bubba said:

Ac Comes in many varieties. In reviewing  Palmpedia, you see numerous Ac dwarfs, which have the same short and stout appearance that your palm has.
 

In Bill Austin‘s garden in Hawaii, there is an Ac variety referred to as alba, which bears a distinct similarity to the Palm pictured in my photographs. 
 

I am not certain that I have an answer to the issue of the scars on the lower portion of the Ac alba. It could be claw marks from vermin scaling the palm to get to its fruit, which apparently is addictive with psychedelic properties.(attempt at humor!)

 

Mine is not a dwarf. I bought it as a regular Areca catechu from Palmania.es (closed by now) in Tenerife, Canary islands. Attempts to germinate AC dwarf variety seeds failed, probably because the seeds were improperly shipped dried up (not moist) and seedlings purchased did not survive. Only this one lives on where it probably shouldn't — non tropical climate here, but it is planted near a house on a south facing side surrounded by a stone wall. My guess that I dwarf variety would have a thicker trunk. I believe mine just grows slowly because of the cool climate and stoney ground, planted in soil but on top of solid rock below it. There is no heat during summer beyond 77F. Some days with up to 80F probably do not count. What helps it survive probably because there is no frost here not below 45F. If my variety is a different kind of dwarf I am not aware of, or a self made new "Azorian dwarf". Your Areca catechu reminds me of a thick bamboo plant.

[bubba]

The Azores are beautiful and are likely the most interesting in the world for attempts at stretching the limits of what can be grown. Growing an Ac of any variety is amazing, particularly at your latitude. It is likely the most northern Ac on earth!

I have always wondered if it may be possible to attempt a coconut in one of the areas near the volcanic heat. Notwithstanding the cooler temperatures, perhaps the combination of the Gulf stream and the warm roots would break another world record. Bravo at your efforts!

[SoulofthePlace]

2 hours ago, bubba said:

The Azores are beautiful and are likely the most interesting in the world for attempts at stretching the limits of what can be grown. Growing an Ac of any variety is amazing, particularly at your latitude. It is likely the most northern Ac on earth!

I have always wondered if it may be possible to attempt a coconut in one of the areas near the volcanic heat. Notwithstanding the cooler temperatures, perhaps the combination of the Gulf stream and the warm roots would break another world record. Bravo at your efforts!

Thanks. There is no volcanic heat on the Pico island, but they could try it at the St. Michael's island (main island). In addition to the 38th parallel latitude, the altitude where my Areca catechu is grown is 140 m above sea level. Despite it's been planted near a house and being surrounded by stone walls of various heights, its first ~3 years as a seedling it spent in a black hard plastic pot standing on top of a stone wall exposed to winds and made it. Perhaps AC are quite resistant palms or perhaps I got lucky and I hope to produce seeds some day that may become an Azorean variety of Areca catechu.

I try growing and germinating all kind of (sub) tropical palms here and some failed while others linger or survive. The kinds that definitely don't like here are Adonidia "I don't need ya" merrillii and Satakentia liukiuensis, unfortunately. They seem to need year round heat or at least much more heat. Carpoxylon macrospermum, not a chance as well as the Coconut palm — my neighbour tried to grow coconut palms here, to not avail. I wasn't even able to germinate a store-bought coconut seed. Yet I am able to grow the High Plateau Coconut (Beccariophoenix alfredii), which at first died, but after more effort they seem to survive if allowed to grow past their primary seedling phase. What seemed to kill some of the palms was lack of ventilation in my garage and palms catching some disease or pests.

Edited September 2, 2022 by SoulofthePlace

[Las Palmas Norte]

19 hours ago, bubba said:

... There is a much older Ac at Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens across the Intracoastal that must be 60 feet!

That looks like an interesting place to visit. 🙂