Copernicias!

[PalmatierMeg]

The Copernicia genus is spectacular. Even fan palm haters like Copernicias. And their spiny petioles and saw-toothed leaves just add to their charm. You don't want to hug them but you can be in awe of them from a distance. I have over half a dozen of them planted on our property, including two species I collected in the wild on an eco-tour I took to Cuba in 2014. They are not the fastest growing palms in the world but well worth the wait if you have the time. I took the following photos today on Day 7 of our official self-imposed quarantine. If you don't have a mass gathering to attend, have a look.

Copernicia baileyana - my second Copernicia bought off eBay about 10 years ago. Back then any species was hard to find

Copernicia alba - probably the commonest species in the genus

[PalmatierMeg]

Copernicia macroglossa - one of the strangest and most mesmerizing palms in the world. I received this one as a 1g from a palm lover in Punta Gorda, FL. Very slow growing. I hope mine will speed up now it no longer has to compete with my late, lamented Sabal Lisa

Copernicia berteroana - native to Hispaniola and Antilles. I grew this one from seed and really like how its glossy lime green leaves form a "cup."

[PalmatierMeg]

Copernicia prunifera - aka "Carnauba Wax Palm", native to Brazil where it is grown for bluish wax on it leaves

Copernicia baileyana - grown from wild seeds I collected in Cuba in 2014

Copernicia gigas - grown from wild seeds I collected in Cuba in 2014. Similar to C. baileyana but slower growing

[mike in kurtistown]

Really good documentation of your Cops. Enjoyed looking at them.

[Big Eye]

2 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

The Copernicia genus is spectacular. Even fan palm haters like Copernicias. And their spiny petioles and saw-toothed leaves just add to their charm. You don't want to hug them but you can be in awe of them from a distance. I have over half a dozen of them planted on our property, including two species I collected in the wild on an eco-tour I took to Cuba in 2014. They are not the fastest growing palms in the world but well worth the wait if you have the time. I took the following photos today on Day 7 of our official self-imposed quarantine. If you don't have a mass gathering to attend, have a look.

Copernicia baileyana - my second Copernicia bought off eBay about 10 years ago. Back then any species was hard to find

Copernicia alba - probably the commonest species in the genus

That baileyana is simply stunning! Wow! Love me some fan palms like this!

[Palm Tree Jim]

Nice collection!

[sonoranfans]

Very nice, I love copernicias, they are mesmerizing in leaflet patterns!

[TomJ]

21 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

The Copernicia genus is spectacular. Even fan palm haters like Copernicias.

Almost spit out my coffee....  Nailed me to a "T"

Beautiful collection.  Thank You for sharing. Hard to find ones here on the West coast.

Edited March 27, 2020 by TomJ
after tought

[Rickybobby]

Awesome collection!

[Cape Garrett]

Looks great Meg!  My Baileyana is as tall as me to the top of the leaf.  Slow but steady grower here in the cape.  Love the collection. 

[Chris Chance]

Great collection! Gotta love the different Copernicia! I'm hoping to try at least one here but would have to survive winter. 

[aztropic]

Try an alba or prunifera.Those never flinched in my coldest area's.

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[sonoranfans]

Once a bailey gets to around 6' size in the ground it will grow faster given enough palm fertilizer and water.  Mine went from 6' to 14' overall in about 4 years after taking 6 years to get to 6' from a 5 gallon.  If you want a bailey to look nice, it wants more palm fertilizer than other similarly sized palms.  My bailey is my toughest palm to keep from potassium deficiency(yellow spots on older leaves).  I glob on the controlled release florikan palm fertilizer 8-2-12 at 3 month intervals int he growing season for that palm and also for my copernicia fallaensis( which seems to be somewhat less susceptible to potassium deficiency than the bailey.

[Fusca]

16 hours ago, aztropic said:

Try an alba or prunifera.Those never flinched in my coldest area's.

Agreed - growing them both in zone 9a.

[sonoranfans]

I think copernicia alba is a great palm for a warm 9a, but I think they defoliate in the low 20's(22?).  I have a pale blue one that is almost carefree and its beautiful in its own right, and its been fruiting for 2 years with 8+' of trunk.  I got it from Ken Johnson for cheap because nobody wanted it down south.  Its a pale blue, and doesnt have the micronutrient deficiency issues that the bailey or even fallense/macroglossa/hospita have,  but it also doesnt have the stunning moire pattern of symmetry in the leaflets when viewing the crown.  My biggest maintenance issue with alba is the horiffic thorns on the petioles, second only to livistona saribus in my yard.  Baileys have supersharp thorns that are a little smaller than alba but they are are perhaps even more damaging than alba throrns, but the biley eventually self sheds so I dont have to come into contact with the throrns, I just drag leaves to the curb by the leaflets.  So trimming and collecting the alba dead leaves is no fun!  Baileys are good to ~25 F. if you can grow one, its one of the most highly recommended palms for 9B and up florida( rec by U of Florida AG dept).