Euterpe edulis

[TaylorPlantHunter]

Hello,

I just purchased 4 nice well established 6' tall Euterpe edulis that are just beginning to trunk. They were grown in South Florida under 50% shade. I'm in a fairly cold protected location in central Florida and would like to plant these on the east side of my house which recieves nearly full sun from 9:00 am- 2:00 pm. And afternoon shade. What is the collective opinion on this. I've seen pictures of them growing in full sun but have read they prefer shade when young, are these old enough for these conditions?

[James B]

Nice! I have 3 that are smaller than yours. One receives morning sun afternoon the other is a double that is in all day shade and will remain so until it’s above my house will will probably take 4-5 years. 

[cobra2326]

Supposedly these are fairly hardy, but I would plant under canopy. Palmbob wrote this and he's a reliable resource for SoCal. FL is different because of frost. https://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/MEDITERRANEAN_SURVIVABILTY_INDEX_ZONE_3B:_The_Pygmy_Date_Zone

[mike in kurtistown]

They should spend some time under 30% shade if available, then could go under full sun in a humid environment. I have edulis and precatoria under full day -long sun here in east Hawaii Island. The canopy would be a good idea, though, as a precaution against frost, which I remember from my 10 years in central Florida.

[kinzyjr]

2 hours ago, TaylorPlantHunter said:

Hello,

I just purchased 4 nice well established 6' tall Euterpe edulis that are just beginning to trunk. They were grown in South Florida under 50% shade. I'm in a fairly cold protected location in central Florida and would like to plant these on the east side of my house which recieves nearly full sun from 9:00 am- 2:00 pm. And afternoon shade. What is the collective opinion on this. I've seen pictures of them growing in full sun but have read they prefer shade when young, are these old enough for these conditions?

I grow a small one about 35 miles NW of you.  Mine is the Orange Crownshaft variety and grows in all day dappled light under canopy here.  Keeping palms under canopy here in Central FL really does help when we get frost.  The east side of your house should be a good spot since it will block most of the west and northwest winds.  Do you have any windbreaks directly north of the palm? 

[TaylorPlantHunter]

Thanks for the replies. I'm more concerned about the plants adaptability to going from 50% shade to more direct sun with afternoon shade. I'm not as worried about frost This is the warmest part of my yard having windbreaks in all directions and I'm on the south east side of a 7,000 acre lake and I'm on high sloping ground. This is more like a zone 10a microclimate based on the species that have survived long term in the neighborhood, mango, banyan, jackfruit, Royal palms, etc. I've seen many pictures of these in more direct sun but keep reading about younger Euterpe edulis needing shade.

[James B]

Been 17 years since I’ve lived in Florida and I wasn’t a palm nut back then. What I can tell you is here in California, they do just fine with morning sun and filtered or afternoon shade. You can always keep them in pots for a month or so in a slightly more shaded location before you plant them. Sunrise to 12pm I would not be concerned, if you say 2pm they may get some burn at first but over time they will acclimate. Just expect the leaves to retract in size for a while while they adjust to more direct sun.

[ExperimentalGrower]

Sun exposure you indicate should be ok. They like the water and will dehydrate and brown in the leaves if not given adequate amounts regularly. 

[TaylorPlantHunter]

Is anyone else growing Euterpe edulis who would like to share their experience with this palm?

[James B]

I’m surprised there are not more responses. I’m growing because they produce the healthiest fruit available from a palm. And if you are into edible palms, this is a must have.

[TaylorPlantHunter]

@James B where are you growing the E. edulis? What sunlight conditions do you have it in?

[-2 brian]

I have a small edulis that i planted in a spot that gets direct sun for the first half + of the day, exposed location no canopy/cover, heavier soil & gets / stays pretty wet. One of those palms that I wasn’t sure where to put so I put i this spot that hasn’t been too successful for other palms and wasn’t gonna be concerned if it made it or not. Of course to my surprise it’s done great there, grown from a scrawny 4” to a fat 1 gallon  in under a year. I feel like for me in coastal Southern California they could handle all day sun. It defiantly seems to enjoy wet heavier soil. I also have a few of the orange  crownshaft variety that are in nursery pots ( one I just recently planted out) and get similar sun but not as exposed; I feel they will take the same conditions as regular edulis. Good luck with yours

[James B]

3 hours ago, TaylorPlantHunter said:

@James B where are you growing the E. edulis? What sunlight conditions do you have it in?

Hi Taylor, see my original post above. I’m in Rancho Cucamonga CA. Total opposite of their native habitat. But I have succeeded with more tender palms between water and proper placement. 

[ExperimentalGrower]

I haven’t had the same experience but I’ve been told they can succumb suddenly to unknown fungal issues, and pink rot.

[bubba]

Euterpe edulis grows easily at Leu Gardens in Orlando, Fl ( 9b/10a). It’s more difficult cousin (Euterpe olacera) grows in large clumps at Fairchild Gardens (10b/11?). Do not understand why these majestic and high in anti-oxidants are not grown more frequently in Florida.

[ExperimentalGrower]

20 minutes ago, bubba said:

Euterpe edulis grows easily at Leu Gardens in Orlando, Fl ( 9b/10a). It’s more difficult cousin (Euterpe olacera) grows in large clumps at Fairchild Gardens (10b/11?). Do not understand why these majestic and high in anti-oxidants are not grown more frequently in Florida.

Isn’t Orlando pretty firmly in zone 9b? That begs the question, what kind of cold those palms have seen there. Curious what their ultimate cold hardiness is.

[bubba]

I would defer to Eric (curator at Leu Gardens) but my belief based upon reports from this Board is that Leu Gardens is very close to Zone 10. I am certain he could update you on the precise low temperatures endured by the E. euterpe at LG.

As it relates to E. olacera, I am certain that Fairchild could provide precise low temperatures endured by these specimens.

That stated, I believe Koppen-Geiger is a much better system compared to USDA to define “ what grows”.  What about that place that is a firm Zone 11, where the temperature remains a constant year round 40 F? No coconuts growing there.

[Eric in Orlando]

Hardiness and growing conditions seem very similar to Archontophoenix cunninghamiana. They need shade and consistently moist soil as juveniles, no drought tolerance. Under canopy they have tolerated 28-29F here with minimal damage but they are frost sensitive. I have had young seedlings (1-2ft) get sunburned. Older taller plants probably can tolerate some sun as they emerge from canopy.

[James B]

Im still surprised nobody has pics to share of mature trees in their gardens. 
 

Id post mine but they are only 3 feet tall and still very young. 

[quaman58]

There was a good one in Cardiff Bill's garden that suddenly up & died a couple years ago. My neighbor has a couple beauties'; one is sending out it's first inflorescence (a huge spathe). They are perfect looking. I'll try & grab a picture this afternoon. But they're not a slam dunk for us. I can't imagine them looking great in exposed, dry micro-climes. I live next door & I've killed every one I've ever tried. 

[akamu]

On 3/20/2021 at 12:56 PM, ExperimentalGrower said:

I haven’t had the same experience but I’ve been told they can succumb suddenly to unknown fungal issues, and pink rot.

This is one Palm you do not want to take off the leaf base prematurely they will get the pink Rot I killed the green form this way. So far the orange crownshaft form has performed better for me.  This one started out in dappled light and now receives alot of sun here is a pic from today 

[Eric in Orlando]

Here are some photos of the tallest specimen of Euterpe edulis at Leu Gardens, taken a couple of years ago. It was planted May 2005.

 

 

[James B]

Finally someone saves the day. Thanks Eric!

[TaylorPlantHunter]

@Eric in Orlando,

Thanks for your response, Do you think I could get away on the east side of my house surrounded by windbreaks with 9-1:00 sun and afternoon heavy shade if they were well watered? My only other option is on the north side of my house shaded by a giant Shefflera tree and a laurel oak, this spot Only gets any sun in the late afternoon in late spring and summer.

[James B]

2 hours ago, akamu said:

This is one Palm you do not want to take off the leaf base prematurely they will get the pink Rot I killed the green form this way. So far the orange crownshaft form has performed better for me.  This one started out in dappled light and now receives alot of sun here is a pic from today 

Interesting. Thanks for the feedback! There is a local grower who grows the Orange form, I will have to try one.

[ExperimentalGrower]

3 hours ago, akamu said:

This is one Palm you do not want to take off the leaf base prematurely they will get the pink Rot I killed the green form this way. So far the orange crownshaft form has performed better for me.  This one started out in dappled light and now receives alot of sun here is a pic from today 

This is exactly what I’ve heard and read. Touchy prima donnas they are! Lol

[ExperimentalGrower]

3 hours ago, Eric in Orlando said:

Here are some photos of the tallest specimen of Euterpe edulis at Leu Gardens, taken a couple of years ago. It was planted May 2005.

 

 

Very nice one there. What size was it when it was planted out?

[ExperimentalGrower]

@JEFF IN MODESTO has a maturing Euterpe edulis getting big in Modesto! It’s in a protected spot but this just proves placement in the right microclimate can yield great success. You only get a peek here in this vid (so far).

 

[Eric in Orlando]

15 hours ago, ExperimentalGrower said:

Very nice one there. What size was it when it was planted out?

It was about 2ft tall, in a 3gal. pot.

 

 

[Eric in Orlando]

17 hours ago, TaylorPlantHunter said:

@Eric in Orlando,

Thanks for your response, Do you think I could get away on the east side of my house surrounded by windbreaks with 9-1:00 sun and afternoon heavy shade if they were well watered? My only other option is on the north side of my house shaded by a giant Shefflera tree and a laurel oak, this spot Only gets any sun in the late afternoon in late spring and summer.

Maybe set a couple in that area first , still in the containers. Keep them well watered and see if they burn or not before putting them in the ground.

[Missi]

I just got two one-gallon E. edulis 'Orange Crownshaft' in my latest Floiribunda order. I read they're relatively cold-hardy-ish  I sure hope so!

[Missi]

20 hours ago, akamu said:

This is one Palm you do not want to take off the leaf base prematurely they will get the pink Rot I killed the green form this way. So far the orange crownshaft form has performed better for me.  This one started out in dappled light and now receives alot of sun here is a pic from today 

 Great to know! I've been picking the dried leaf base pieces off my one-gallons to enjoy the orange they're starting to develop. I had better, err, nip that habit in the bud!

[ExperimentalGrower]

5 hours ago, Missi said:

I just got two one-gallon E. edulis 'Orange Crownshaft' in my latest Floiribunda order. I read they're relatively cold-hardy-ish  I sure hope so!

As I understand the Orange crownshaft type is less hardy to frost than the standard type.

[quaman58]

Forgot I had this photo from a couple weeks back on my phone... the palm is about 15' overall. 

[James B]

41 minutes ago, quaman58 said:

Forgot I had this photo from a couple weeks back on my phone... the palm is about 15' overall. 

Wow looks like it’s opening a flower spathe. That’s awesome!

[ExperimentalGrower]

3 hours ago, quaman58 said:

Forgot I had this photo from a couple weeks back on my phone... the palm is about 15' overall. 

Such a nice looking palm!

[Eric in Orlando]

I have never gotten the orange form to live more than a year here. Seems sensitive to our summer heat. I have tried over a dozen in the last 10-12 years.

[Missi]

19 minutes ago, Eric in Orlando said:

I have never gotten the orange form to live more than a year here. Seems sensitive to our summer heat. I have tried over a dozen in the last 10-12 years.

 I suppose that's why I got two, to experiment with. One in pot so I can move it around (until I can't), and one in ground. I will share my experiences with them a time progresses... 

[Eric in Orlando]

Does anyone in Florida have a larger orange form Euterpe edulis in ground?

What about Euterpe precatoria? This is another that doesn't seem to like our long summers and I have tried a bunch of times with no luck.