Ankle Biters

[realarch]

Such an endearing name, but a perfect description of small, miniature, mostly understory palms. If your garden has a developed canopy, these little guys are perfect as specimen palms or lining pathways. Easy to maintain and slow growing. 

Here are a few.......Dypsis forficifolia which is a very variable species.

 Tim

[realarch]

The first photo is a Licuala triphylla, probably 4" high and has been seeding for years now. 

The second photo is Licuala khoonmengii, cool showy little palms.

[Tracy]

5 minutes ago, realarch said:

.Dypsis forficifolia which is a very variable species.

 

2 minutes ago, realarch said:

Licuala khoonmengii, cool showy little palms.

Tim, any thoughts or knowledge on cold tolerance for these guys?  I only have one the most commonly planted from the Licuala genus here in So Cal, which is Licuala peltata var. sumawongii.  It would be fun to expand beyond that one Licuala and mostly Chamaedoreas for under-story "ankle biters".

[realarch]

Of course, the infamous Licuala mattenensis var. paucisecta, or 'mapu'.

Second photo is one of my favorites, Calyptrocalyx leptostachys. These do get bigger and some in the garden are 3' tall or 1m. 

The last photo is a Dypsis minuta, these are about 18" or 457mm tall. 

Tim

[amh]

great thread.

[realarch]

Tracy, I have no clue about the cold tolerance of these little Licuala. The lowest temperature in my garden over the last 10 years has been about 59 degrees. (15c)

Given moderate temps, I think one of the main factors would be high, year around humidity. Of course, it's off the charts on this part of the island. Standing in one spot for too long, you're likely to start growing moss.

I had some C. tenella planted and the pigs ate all of them, tasty I guess. I do have C. tenella, and C. tuerckheimii in pots. 

Tim

[realarch]

Forgot all about this little guy, Licuala orbicularis. Oh boy, s l o w, but finally starting to pick up some speed. 

Tim 

[WaianaeCrider]

Of al those little guys I only have one....Calyptrocalyx pachystachys  Has given me one new red leaf.

But I do have the same hand pruner you have.   LOL

[Matt in OC]

They don’t look as good but no issues here with forficifolia here @Tracy. I have 2 in the ground for a few years now. 

[akamu]

Dypsis lantzeana new to the garden last spring 

[realarch]

Hey Steve, C. pachystachys is such a cute little palm, but they outgrow the ‘ ankle biter ‘ description

rather quickly. Note the ole shovel for scale. 

Tim

[www.dadluvsu.com]

Tim, we have all the same palms.    18" of rain on the farm in the last 2 days...  Hard to get work done, this thread motivated me to go for a quick walk in between showers...  Nice little new leaf surprise today!  My ankle biters are all in a raised bed around my chicken coop (aka ovulation station)...  Have to be careful of what herbs get planted nearby of the palms get engulfed   Mapu's still live in their pots for now

[Merlyn]

Some great little palms here!  Thanks for sharing!  I have zero shade right now, it'll take a couple of years to get to having palm canopy and spots for some of these.  On my list of ones I'd like to try here in borderline 9b/9a are: Chamaedorea Ernesti-Augustii, Licuala Peltata (I have several Sumawongii seedlings already), L. Ramsayi, Reinhardtia Latisecta Compacta.  All survived the extended 29F at Leu Gardens okay.

Other questionable ones are Areca Gurita, Geonoma Macrostachys, Geonoma sp. "Entire Leaf", Iguanura Wallichiana (may die at 29F), Itaya Amicarum, and Sommieria Laucophylla.

Any idea on if some of these are suitable for a spot that usually gets 1 or 2 nights per year at 26-30F and several nights around freezing?

[Kim]

Tim, I think you've been reading my mind! Appointment tomorrow at Floribunda, and I'm looking for understory jewels. Thanks for reminding me of these little palms. 

My smallest babies are Dypsis pachyramea, and boy are they touchy! Only 4 left of an embarrassingly large number, but those are doing very well, maybe a foot or so tall, and they spread. Maybe someday they will duplicate enough to make up for all those I lost. 

[realarch]

William, it certainly looks like we do.  Are those 'mapu' the same little guys you posted back in 2007? If so, I'd better start amending my will. 

Arthur, sorry, I have no idea about cold tolerance. That's one constraint I've not had to consider living here in Hilo. 

Kim, the mortality rate, for me, among many of these smaller palms is significant. Not to mention the cost involved, but it's the price you pay to get a few robust individuals. 

I usually have to get a half dozen to see one or two survivors. Of course, the larger the specimen the better the chances, but most times you don't have that option.

Tim  

[Tracy]

4 hours ago, realarch said:

Kim, the mortality rate, for me, among many of these smaller palms is significant. Not to mention the cost involved, but it's the price you pay to get a few robust individuals. 

I usually have to get a half dozen to see one or two survivors. Of course, the larger the specimen the better the chances, but most times you don't have that option.

Tim  

That is helpful to know that even in your great climate that batting averages are low, so many specimens are needed.  It puts things into perspective when trying the more cool hardy ones here that you shouldn't expect to try one and give up if it doesn't succeed.

[www.dadluvsu.com]

On 1/27/2021 at 10:06 AM, realarch said:

William, it certainly looks like we do.  Are those 'mapu' the same little guys you posted back in 2007? If so, I'd better start amending my will. 

Thanks goodness no...  Just picked these up from Floribunda a few months ago, they grow alarmingly fast here compared to those I had back in Florida.