Nursery guy told me this was a queen palm... really thinking it’s not. But what IS it?

[chad2468emr]

I asked the nursery owner what kind of dypsis this was, or if it was some other type of palm, and he told me it was a queen palm... I’m thinking dypsis laselliana? Is this just the weirdest looking queen palm I’ve ever seen and he was right, or is this something entirely different than I’m thinking?
 

 

Edited April 24, 2021 by chad2468emr

[ck_in_fla]

27 minutes ago, chad2468emr said:

I asked the nursery owner what kind of dypsis this was, or if it was some other type of palm, and he told me it was a queen palm... I’m thinking dypsis laselliana? Is this just the weirdest looking queen palm I’ve ever seen and he was right, or is this something entirely different than I’m thinking?
 

 

I could be wrong.  But it almost looks like it might be a young Roystonea...

[Tyrone]

It’s a royal palm for sure.

[chad2468emr]

1 hour ago, ck_in_fla said:

I could be wrong.  But it almost looks like it might be a young Roystonea...

 

21 minutes ago, Tyrone said:

It’s a royal palm for sure.

I actually thought that’s what it was the first time I’d seen it months ago! It was sitting way in the back of this nursery and I’d considered taking it then, but ended up not pulling the trigger. When I visited today, I saw it again, but it had grown new fronds and was looking dypsis-ey to me. 

That’s exciting! I’ve never seen one for sale in Central FL so I’m thrilled I got this for just $20, haha. They are not common at all in these parts so I’m excited I was able to find one.  

How fast do these guys grow in pots? 

Edited April 25, 2021 by chad2468emr

[ck_in_fla]

9 hours ago, chad2468emr said:

 

I actually thought that’s what it was the first time I’d seen it months ago! It was sitting way in the back of this nursery and I’d considered taking it then, but ended up not pulling the trigger. When I visited today, I saw it again, but it had grown new fronds and was looking dypsis-ey to me. 

That’s exciting! I’ve never seen one for sale in Central FL so I’m thrilled I got this for just $20, haha. They are not common at all in these parts so I’m excited I was able to find one.  

How fast do these guys grow in pots? 

I'm starting to see them being planted at locations all over town.  Some residential spots and even in some commercial plantings.  I planted one out in my Winter Springs area, Northeast of town, in 2001.  I protected it during those few colder nights when it was small.  It now towers over my home at about 40 feet tall.  Now, my issue is falling fronds.  :-)

[ck_in_fla]

9 hours ago, chad2468emr said:

 

I actually thought that’s what it was the first time I’d seen it months ago! It was sitting way in the back of this nursery and I’d considered taking it then, but ended up not pulling the trigger. When I visited today, I saw it again, but it had grown new fronds and was looking dypsis-ey to me. 

That’s exciting! I’ve never seen one for sale in Central FL so I’m thrilled I got this for just $20, haha. They are not common at all in these parts so I’m excited I was able to find one.  

How fast do these guys grow in pots? 

You should find a favorable spot as soon as possible and plant it out.  This is definitely not a plant you should plan to maintain in a pot long-term.  Make sure you plant it low enough so that all of the roots are below the surface (i.e. a little lower than it is in the pot).  And, make sure it gets plenty of water.  I don't think you can hurt it with too much water.  I have a well and irrigation system and mine gets drenched each time my system comes on.

There is the large one on South Street in Downtown Orlando (right after you get off the Westbound 408) that has been there for a number of years.  And, the City of Orlando has landscaped the Performing Arts Center with large Roystoneas.  These were installed recently and seem to be thriving.

[chad2468emr]

3 hours ago, ck_in_fla said:

You should find a favorable spot as soon as possible and plant it out.  This is definitely not a plant you should plan to maintain in a pot long-term.  Make sure you plant it low enough so that all of the roots are below the surface (i.e. a little lower than it is in the pot).  And, make sure it gets plenty of water.  I don't think you can hurt it with too much water.  I have a well and irrigation system and mine gets drenched each time my system comes on.

There is the large one on South Street in Downtown Orlando (right after you get off the Westbound 408) that has been there for a number of years.  And, the City of Orlando has landscaped the Performing Arts Center with large Roystoneas.  These were installed recently and seem to be thriving.

I’d love to plant it out but in renting right now. I’ll have a home in a year or so and I’m counting down the days to when I can dig around in my OWN dirt but for now it’ll be in a pot. 

[sonoranfans]

2 hours ago, chad2468emr said:

I’d love to plant it out but in renting right now. I’ll have a home in a year or so and I’m counting down the days to when I can dig around in my OWN dirt but for now it’ll be in a pot. 

You should up size the pot to 20 gallon then in 6 months it will be root bound again and suffering.  This is one of the palms you dont grow in a container, and certainly not a very limted size one.  These palms are easy to find in florida, if you can't find them you are looking in the wrong places.  

[chad2468emr]

1 hour ago, sonoranfans said:

You should up size the pot to 20 gallon then in 6 months it will be root bound again and suffering.  This is one of the palms you dont grow in a container, and certainly not a very limted size one.  These palms are easy to find in florida, if you can't find them you are looking in the wrong places.  

Yeah easy to find in Florida as a WHOLE, sure. But I’ve only ever seen them for sale in south Florida where they are a dime a dozen. But I can assure you I’ve never seen them for sale (at this size, anyway. Larger ones I’ve seen at about 2 or so places) at Lukas, Kissimmee’s Finest palms, Uncle Jutty’s, South Semoran Nursery, Vander Pol, Palm Gardens, or Brentwood Nursery. I’m probably missing a couple off the top of my head. I’m pretty thorough in checking for things that aren’t so commonplace, which is why I snagged this as soon as I realized it wasn’t something I can typically find in these parts, even if I was 100% in what it was. If there’s some secret source of royals near Orlando that I’m not aware of, feel free to let me know because I’m sure they have other stuff I don’t see commonly. 

It was in a 7 gallon when I got it and it’s already potted up to a 15 after I’d read how fast their roots grow and how much moisture they like. It’ll get repotted again once it’s root bound just like every other palm I own would. Nurseries sell them in containers so I’m sure it won’t collapse and die in a year to a year and a half from now. 

[JLM]

The nursery guy really needs to do some research....

[chad2468emr]

3 hours ago, JLM said:

The nursery guy really needs to do some research....

He was an older, southern guy who was very nice but definitely did not know what he was talking about, haha. I wasn’t 100% sure what this palm was, but it definitely wasn’t a queen palm. 

[banthony720]

10 hours ago, chad2468emr said:

Yeah easy to find in Florida as a WHOLE, sure. But I’ve only ever seen them for sale in south Florida where they are a dime a dozen. But I can assure you I’ve never seen them for sale (at this size, anyway. Larger ones I’ve seen at about 2 or so places) at Lukas, Kissimmee’s Finest palms, Uncle Jutty’s, South Semoran Nursery, Vander Pol, Palm Gardens, or Brentwood Nursery. I’m probably missing a couple off the top of my head. I’m pretty thorough in checking for things that aren’t so commonplace, which is why I snagged this as soon as I realized it wasn’t something I can typically find in these parts, even if I was 100% in what it was. If there’s some secret source of royals near Orlando that I’m not aware of, feel free to let me know because I’m sure they have other stuff I don’t see commonly. 

It was in a 7 gallon when I got it and it’s already potted up to a 15 after I’d read how fast their roots grow and how much moisture they like. It’ll get repotted again once it’s root bound just like every other palm I own would. Nurseries sell them in containers so I’m sure it won’t collapse and die in a year to a year and a half from now. 

Cool find in the Orlando area, I know what you mean. Its hard to find cool stuff around here especially in a small size.   But you can find them easily in St Pete. Some nurserys hold on to that stuff so they can charge more for the bigger ones. I have yet to germinate a seed (working on it right now Archie cunninghamianas), but if you don't have a yard yet... Now is the time to go to St Pete or Sarasota and find some seeds. That way when you get your house next year and stick em in the ground you can say you grew it from seed. 

[D Palm]

That is definitely a Royal Palm. That size Royal, potted for sale, are rare finds in Florida. I live in N Florida and travel all over the state for work. I picked up one late Spring 2020 that size at an off the wall nursery in S Florida and planted it in my zone 8b yard.  It’s still alive even though it’s tattered, pushing new growth. Here is a pic I took the other day.  I have never seen a Royal being sold at a big box store in FL, and I have visted many to pick up tools/parts for the job. Nice looking Royal! 

Edited April 26, 2021 by D Palm