"Lipstick Queen"....the Hybrid

[Jeff Searle]

This hybrid is growing at the house here in south Florida now for approximately 10 years or so. It has been truly a wonderful palm to watch over the years and is currently around 25' tall. It has been fast and extremely cold hardy, experiencing low 30's F back in 2010. People often ask, what is your favorite palm? By far, it's this hybrid.

[Jeff Searle]

My largest specimen in the ground has now been flowering for a couple of years or so. Two days ago I noticed these "potential" seeds that are holding, and looking like there might be a chance! First, these seeds need to get a little bit larger, then ripen up with color( what color ?) , then collect and inspect to see if they have an embryo.  Then if they look good to go, plant them and wait. And if by any chance some do germinate then it will take several years to see what they mature into. A very long, very low odds of this happening.

[Jeff Searle]

And to prove my excitement?!!! Its permanent......

[John hovancsek]

My mom has one at her house in ave maria FL.  I planted it when I sold my house to move to Hawaii.  She is now selling her house and scared that the new owners won't know how to care for it. I also just had a small one get taken by a pig. I accept the fact that I will probably never find another but still hope your seed is viable  . 

[Jeff Searle]

1 hour ago, John hovancsek said:

My mom has one at her house in ave maria FL.  I planted it when I sold my house to move to Hawaii.  She is now selling her house and scared that the new owners won't know how to care for it. I also just had a small one get taken by a pig. I accept the fact that I will probably never find another but still hope your seed is viable . 

Thank you John.

[redant]

I have 3 in the ground, nothing like yours yet. That's fantastic

[awkonradi]

May I ask what is the cross that produced this hybrid?

[John hovancsek]

Here is my mom's little guy ( compared to yours)

[knell]

it is agonizing waiting on Cyrto seeds to ripen, glad you know to sacrifice a few and look for an embryo before you get your hopes up about viability. would be revolutionary to get a palm like this into cultivation 

Edited July 17, 2020 by knell

[palmsOrl]

Knell, Jeff Searle sells this palm at his shows near Fort Lauderdale twice per year.  The sales span two consecutibe weekends in March and October.  I do not think he ships for retail purchases, but you could certainly double check.

There is also a small plant being sold on eBay, listed as "Cyrtostachys Hybrid".  It looks like the real deal to me based on the photo and comparing it to small plants I have grown and seen in the past.  The eBay palm is quite pricey though and as a result, has been listed for a good while.

I have no idea which Cyrtostachys species the parents of the hybrid are.  If I had to guess, (and this is just a shot in the dark) I would guess Cyrtostachys renda × Cyrtostachys elegans.  This is based on the morphology of the trunk, crownshaft and the look of the crown, which looks more like C. elegans to me in the Cyrtostachys Hybrid.

https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Cyrtostachys_elegans

Of course, the vividly colored crownshaft and petiole color come from Cyrtostachys renda.

https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/Cyrtostachys_renda

Again, this is just my best guess looking at the characteristics of C. renda and the other potential parents.  I have no actual inside knowledge as to the origins of the Cyrtostachys Hybrid.

[realarch]

Remarkable species, a ‘stop in your tracks’ palm.

Thanks for the post Jeff. 

Tim

[PalmatierMeg]

That's a humdinger, Jeff.

[TropicalGardenSpain]

Did it produce viable seed in the end Jeff? I just got myself 2 little ones to try 🤞🏻

[Alberto]

Fantastic palm! 

[Jeff Searle]

On 5/25/2023 at 10:02 AM, TropicalGardenSpain said:

Did it produce viable seed in the end Jeff? I just got myself 2 little ones to try 🤞🏻

Yes, this hybrid does produce viable seeds.

[TropicalGardenSpain]

On 5/27/2023 at 1:13 AM, Jeff Searle said:

Yes, this hybrid does produce viable seeds.

congratulations 👏🏼💪🏻

[Jeff Searle]

On 5/25/2023 at 10:02 AM, TropicalGardenSpain said:

Did it produce viable seed in the end Jeff? I just got myself 2 little ones to try 🤞🏻

Yes it does...

[WaianaeCrider]

On 7/15/2020 at 1:45 PM, John hovancsek said:

My mom has one at her house in ave maria FL.  I planted it when I sold my house to move to Hawaii.  She is now selling her house and scared that the new owners won't know how to care for it. I also just had a small one get taken by a pig. I accept the fact that I will probably never find another but still hope your seed is viable  . 

John,

Dig the pigs get it?   Where did you get it.  Just discovered this palm is real.

[peachy]

On 6/5/2023 at 11:46 PM, Jeff Searle said:

Yes it does...

Now the trick is to breed some with single trunks so I too can have one of these little miracles.  Get to it Jeff.

Peachy

[Brandon39.5]

How can I get one? How do they do with cool winters?

[Ken W.]

Jeff, are you selling these anywhere?

[Villa_Veloco_Mallorca]

On 5/25/2023 at 4:02 PM, TropicalGardenSpain said:

Did it produce viable seed in the end Jeff? I just got myself 2 little ones to try 🤞🏻

Hi Jamie, how are your 2 little ones doing in our Mediterranean climate?

 

[TropicalGardenSpain]

On 8/20/2024 at 10:04 PM, Villa_Veloco_Mallorca said:

Hi Jamie, how are your 2 little ones doing in our Mediterranean climate?

 

Unfortunately not good, they arrived with very little root and did not survive much longer but I am hoping to get another next spring that will have more roots, worth another try for sure. 

[John hovancsek]

I just got this gifted to me and am obsessed already. It is some kinda hybrid but not sure of what. The new leaf opens with a dark reddish hue and they are yellow / orange in color. I can’t wait to see what it will look like in a few years now that it is planted 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Has anyone had any success with this hybrid in cool winter climates like here in California? Has anyone in CA even had the opportunity to try one? 

[Harry’s Palms]

Reading my mind , @Jim in Los Altos. Harry

[JD in the OC]

I asked some of the collectors in SoCal about this hybrid and if it grew out there and the answer was 'No'.  Too bad.  I thought it might have a chance in San Diego.  Even though it doesn't get too cold to hurt them, it's prob far to dry out there.  These guys need humidity.

JD

[waykoolplantz]

mine lookin well by the pond...pic from 2020

[Palm Tree Jim]

I tried these hybrids some years ago in my Southern California garden with no luck.

[JD in the OC]

Bummer Palm Tree Jim 
Seems like anything with the word Cyrtostachys in it is a death sentence in Socal  ☹️

[Palm Tree Jim]

7 hours ago, JD in the OC said:

Bummer Palm Tree Jim 
Seems like anything with the word Cyrtostachys in it is a death sentence in Socal  ☹️

Most likely true, although there maybe someone in the San Diego area that may have one.

On the other had, here in Costa Rica, Cyrtostachys grow like weeds.

[Brad52]

Boy I think I’d drag my wounded butt out to plant one of these beauties!

[JD in the OC]

9 hours ago, Palm Tree Jim said:

Most likely true, although there maybe someone in the San Diego area that may have one.

On the other had, here in Costa Rica, Cyrtostachys grow like weeds.

I asked the top growers in San Diego three weeks ago.  They are a no go out there unfortunately.   I need to create a Dypsis hybrid with skinny trunks and a bright red crownshaft. 💪🏼🌴💄

[Hillizard]

I got one via an online auction a few years ago but couldn't even grow it indoors in a plastic bag: Cyrtostachys renda ‘Theodora Buhler'!!'☹️