Licuala Pairing for So. California?

[iDesign]

I'd love to get a pair of Licuala plants... one with rounded leaf + one with split leaf, similar to the photo below.

I originally thought I should get these...

- Licuala ramsayi (for split leaf)
- Licuala peltata var. sumawongii (for round leaf)

But I've done more research and am now really confused by Licualas with a similar look ("grandis", "peltata var peltata", "spinosa", "elegans", etc. etc).

What's the consensus for Southern California as to which varieties to get (assuming your goal is to have a similar-sized pair, like in the photo)?

P.S. I realize my own Licuala pair likely won't be nearly as big as the one in the example photo. But even if they stay super-tiny I'll still love them. I already have a place picked out that's protected from the wind.

Edited April 23, 2021 by idesign123

[Tracy]

3 minutes ago, idesign123 said:

Edited just now by idesign123

I believe that Len answered the question for you with the above photo.

[iDesign]

10 minutes ago, Tracy said:

I believe that Len answered the question for you with the above photo.

Yes, these are the "ramsayi" and "sumawongii", which I saw at this URL - http://www.marriedtoplants.com/landscaping/massive-garden-project-update-1/ (I should probably have included the URL next to the photo - sorry)! The photo and article it came from had me ready to buy those two Licuala types.

I was hoping to order some from https://www.floribunda.xyz/pricelist/ - but they don't have Licuala's by either of those names, and the type descriptions seemed to be pointing more towards the "grandis" (for the round leaf) and "peltata v. peltata" (for the split leaf). I also didn't see the "sumawongii" listed on Josh's price list (Fairview), so started to doubt myself.

I then tried to get clarification from the amazingly useful "Palms for California" website - http://www.palmpedia.net/palmsforcal/Category:Licuala - and that website seemed to be talking down BOTH the "ramsayi" and "sumawongii"... and instead talking up a variety called "spinosa".

Thus the confusion... My initial feel was to go with Len's exact set (ramsayi & sumawongii), but the more I read, the more confused I get. So I was hoping a Southern California resident on the forum would share what pairing has worked well for them (and/or confirm that the original ramsayi/sumawongii pairing is still the best bet for someone wanting a licuala pair).

Edited April 24, 2021 by idesign123

[Tracy]

I never have tried growing L ramsayi, but always wanted to get one, just never found one that I couldn't resist.  I have a couple of the "sumawongii" creeping along in the ground, with one doing better than the other as its more out of traffic, both from the dog and accidental drops from adjacent larger palms. 

[Stevetoad]

I’ve had both for quite a while. They are pretty slow for me. These have been in the ground for probably 7 years now. Planted them as little one gallons. They’ve been trouble free. My L. Sum had water shut off to it for about 3 months recently and didn’t do to bad either. 

[akamu]

You have a lot of options being in carlsbad Here are some of mine 8miles inland and farther south .1 L kunstleri. 2 L. Distans 3L. Ramsayi 4 L. Fordiana 5 L . Aurantiaca 6 L. Samuwongii.  I also have a young L. Spinosa. The L. Fordiana gets about 1/4 day sun the rest are in mostly filtered light 

[Rick Kelley]

I know nothing abut Licuala growth in California, but thought I'd pass along a bit of the Hawaiian experience. One reason you may be having trouble finding Licuala peltata sumawongii for sale online is that Hawaiian nurserymen sell it under the name Licuala elegans. This probably drives taxonomists nuts, but there you go. These are readily available most of the time in Hawaii because they are so popular and the seeds are easy to germinate. I see FB is temporarily out of stock, but I would hold out for the sumawongii/elegans rather than planting grandis. Because they are so slow, I'd recommend buying a larger L. sumawongii locally if you can find one rather than mail ordering a small seedling that will take forever to get any size. I'm not a fan of L. grandis because it has smaller fronds and in my hands is much slower. After many decades it will grow a trunk and make a small tree. This one from HTBG  is probably over 35 years old and that is growing in wet Hawaii! They may never get anywhere this tall in California. L. sumawongii can also get pretty big in Hawaii after several decades, but I'm guessing the photos you showed above approximate the most you will get from these species in dry California.

You have many more options for the split leaf companion. In the tropics, L. ramsayi will also grow into a medium size tree, but again that takes decades and may never happen in California. You might even consider using the split leaf Licuala peltata peltata. That way you can decided if these two very different looking palms you have growing side-by-side really should be considered variants of the same species.

[iDesign]

Thanks all for the incredibly helpful advice!

I'll hold out for a decent sized "sumawongii" (due to its extra-slow growth rate), and also check under the name "elegans" (since some nurseries are calling it that). Then pair it with the "ramsayi", or one of the other split leaf options. But I'll avoid substituting "grandis"  for the sumawongii (thanks for the advice on that).

* The "distans" in the photo by "akamu" is tempting enough I might try that in another area (sooo pretty!).

Great to see such healthy-looking Licualas in my area 

:Stacey

Edited April 25, 2021 by idesign123

[Merlyn]

I have a couple of L. Grandis in pots here in swampy FL, they have done great for a smaller accent palm.  But at around 31F they did take quite a lot of burn.  If you don't get near those temperatures then cold hardiness shouldn't be an issue with Grandis, Sumawongii, or Ramsayi. 

My personal favorites out of the bunch are Sumawongii and Ramsayi, though I am going to have to look into Distans based on @akamu's photo above.  The mostly flat but slightly draping edges is really cool!