Bismarckia Red Petioles

[ahosey01]

The color on my Bismarckia is getting ridiculous.  I have never seen it quite like this.  Anyone know what causes this and how to (if possible) preserve it into adulthood?  Leaves are bright blue and petioles are deep red:

[DoomsDave]

3 minutes ago, ahosey01 said:

The color on my Bismarckia is getting ridiculous.  I have never seen it quite like this.  Anyone know what causes this and how to (if possible) preserve it into adulthood?  Leaves are bright blue and petioles are deep red:

Gorgeous, great question, no clue as to an answer. Mine both did that, though as strikingly.

Great that you've given yours lots of room!

[aztropic]

Cold weather causes it. Sometimes,even the fronds turn purple. No way to preserve it,so enjoy it while you can. Just like the colors of latan palms,this one will eventually be a silver grey color as it matures.

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona

 

[ahosey01]

6 minutes ago, aztropic said:

Cold weather causes it. Sometimes,even the fronds turn purple. No way to preserve it,so enjoy it while you can. Just like the colors of latan palms,this one will eventually be a silver grey color as it matures.

 

aztropic 

Mesa,Arizona

 

Bummer.

Hit 25F up in the spot it's planted about a week or two ago - 0 noticeable damage.  Also hit like 81F later that same day and this thing is in full blasting sun, so maybe that's why it doesn't care.  I'll take the striking color contrast, though.

[Fusca]

1 hour ago, aztropic said:

Sometimes,even the fronds turn purple.

Mine appear to be more red in the photo but in person they're more purple.  They've been this color since I purchased it.  @DoomsDave this is the same palm I had with me when I visited your garden 2 years ago!  It's basically the same size.  I hope it is nearly finished working on roots below ground and starts to grow vertically soon!

[DallasPalms]

I just picked up two Bizzies one is blue and one red @ Christmas Bizzies. We only hit down to 29 here.  I was told they brought these two in - the other one available had leaf damage...

My reading says one is blue form and the other is the more cold hardy silver form but maybe maturity and genetics also

 

[Josue Diaz]

This was my bismark a year ago. The color fades to silver in summer, and intensifies with cold. 

[Keys6505]

I have 2 that grow like weeds that have only been planted since May(-ish).  One is super orange though.  Pics don't do it justice.

[ahosey01]

What a cool trait on these palms.

Have to wonder if my brief dips into mid-20s and then rocket ship bounces back to the 70s or 80s could harden the plant a little more firmly to cold. 

[ahosey01]

Update on this palm:

[Billeb]

Here’s mine when I got it and this morning. It was very red/purple in the petioles but since then I have obviously put it in the ground and summer has nearly come and gone. As others have said, I believe it is the cold that does it. 
 

side note: this thing is growing like a rocket. It’s grown over 18” in height and thrown at least 5 fronds. Must like something I’m doing. 

First pic is Feb and second pic is today. 
 

-dale

[tinman10101]

i dont know about the petiole but it has been suggested in the past that the more red/purple the early baby leaves are, the more silver it will eventually become.  i wont attest to that since i do not have the space or time to field test this theory.  i have seen a special bismarkia with black petioles and not just a baby but full grown one..  pretty cool looking ... i just have to find the pic.  

[Billeb]

52 minutes ago, tinman10101 said:

i dont know about the petiole but it has been suggested in the past that the more red/purple the early baby leaves are, the more silver it will eventually become.  i wont attest to that since i do not have the space or time to field test this theory.  i have seen a special bismarkia with black petioles and not just a baby but full grown one..  pretty cool looking ... i just have to find the pic.  

I’ve heard that but I’m not sure either. This is my 2nd Bismarckia in as many houses and my first one was bought from a 30g. It was not purple at all as I remember. It grew great into what I would call a standard color Bismarckia.  Looking at my newest, it was pretty pink/purple and to me it is a more vibrant silver/blue now than my previous. I bet there is many more factors involved tho. 
 

-dale