Rhopalostylis recommendation?

[thallo]

6 minutes ago, Dusty CBAD said:

It proceeded to open 2 much more compact sun grown fronds. One in the winter and then one late spring. These fronds did much better out in the sun.

I’m growing R. sapida and R. baueri cheesemanii “purple crownshaft” in southerly facing full sun in San Francisco. I’m on the breaking line of the fog belt in Hayes Valley (4.5 to 5 miles from the ocean). 

Both palms took almost 2 years to acclimate and push fully site-situated leaves. They do much better being on drip irrigation. The baueri yellows a bit as the summer solstice approaches but quickly becomes green again. There’s a lot of conflicting information on sun for these species but mine seem to love the sun as long as temps remain moderate and humidity is high. I saw many full grown sapidas in seemingly dry, sunny areas of Santa Barbara this summer so my impression is they are fairly adaptable. 

Sapida seems to despise drying winds, in my experience, so water heavily prior to any kind of Diablo/Santa Ana wind events. This is surprising to me because the leaves are much more leathery on my sapida (leaves on the baueri are more like a Kentia … but perhaps that is advantageous?)

[Dusty CBAD]

This is my second year growing palms. My tastes have changed so much in a year. I do think that the right rhopie would do ok in full sun where I’m at. This just wasn’t the right one. In hindsight it was too big and too stretched to be able to adjust effectively. I’ve seen some in full sun that look decent. 

But like the wise vets on palmtalk warned me, they look so much better in some shade. I still love the rhopie look, and I’ve since planted another one, a oceana 5g in a morning sun, rest of the day shade spot. It’s perfectly green and seems rather fast!

If this one would have grown well I’m sure I would have loved it. But honestly, I’m kind of glad it died. I learned so much from this plant. 
 

This spot is probably the most focal point spot in my yard. And now, 2 years in, with more knowledge and a wider pallet, I get to really put in what I now know I want.

 

Edited August 22, 2021 by Dusty CBAD

[Dusty CBAD]

I’m definitely not bummed about is, my first confirmed kill, kind of a new grower badge of honor. 
 

I think this suits the spot a little bit better anyway…

 

 

tribear

[Billeb]

Here’s my Baueri I planted out about 3.5yrs ago during Covid. It was a nice 15G but as you can see, it’s grown great for me. It’s really starting to fatten up and I think in the next year I’ll have positive ring trunk. Let’s see your Rhopalastylis. 
 

little before and after here. First picture is Feb2021, next few were taken last week  

-dale 

 

[DoomsDave]

12 minutes ago, Billeb said:

Here’s my Baueri I planted out about 3.5yrs ago during Covid. It was a nice 15G but as you can see, it’s grown great for me. It’s really starting to fatten up and I think in the next year I’ll have positive ring trunk. Let’s see your Rhopalastylis. 
 

little before and after here. First picture is Feb2021, next few were taken last week  

-dale 

 

Very nice! That looks like a R. baueri Cheesemanii. If it is, it will put on height relatively quickly.

[thallo]

Here are my triple-trunk Rhopalostylis baueri “cheesmanii”  on the left and my Rhopalostylis sapida on the right. South-facing exposure in raised beds in San Francisco.