My Jubaeopsis is flowering

[Patrick]

My Jubaeopsis is throwing up a spike! First one ever for me. I thought I would share. I bought this as a 5 gallon in 2007 from Phil in Encinitas. Upsized it o a 7 gallon, then finally planted it in 2010 I think? Just a guess on when I actually planted it. The memory is a bit hazy as beer kept the front yard renovation progressing steadily through whatever year it was...

This palm is in my front yard, facing to the south next to my driveway and close to the house. When I first planted it, the first few years were tough because earwigs would go up in the crown and overwinter and eat all the new growth in the spring. I had to buy a systematic (Merit 2F) to eliminate the pests. The second trunk showed up in about 2014 and the same pest problem manifested and the same treatment solved the problem. I think I'm through winters 2 or 3- maybe more where the bugs have not come back, thank goodness. The Cassia trunk you see to the right is providing shade these days, though the Cassia was said to stay small (don't they always say that?). Everything seems pretty happy with the part sun/ shade since it's a steady, high 90's dry heat through the summer.

 

Enjoy! Please feel free to spoil the ending of the movie for me by telling me what to expect. Thank you.

Brick for scale

The soon-to-be flower, reverse angle from the last 2 images

 

[WaianaeCrider]

Wow, my two have been in the ground for over 15 years, and are bigger than yours and no sign of an inflorescence.

[Jim in Los Altos]

Patrick, Are you sure it’s an inflorescence and not just the palm splitting into another stem. It’s seems way too young to be flowering. 

[Will]

This palms splits in 2 stems?

[Patrick]

It could be splitting, but it's a solid spear,-I would think I could see some leaf lines in the emerging spike if it were a split. The top of the spike seems a little hollow/ squeezable like there would be something inside once it opens up. I will investigate further this afternoon.

 

Shoot, hopefully my palm isn't super stressed and flowering because of it. 

 

Stay tuned...

[The Germinator]

I am not a big fan of clumpers but this one is on my bucket list.... Thanks for sharing your success. You have me Googling Oakley now.  Here is a web pic of the one at the Catamaran in San Diego.

[Josue Diaz]

Amazing! the emerging mystery spear in your photo doesn't look like a frond. Fronds on mine emerge pleated and begin to expand and open up very early on.  And is that some sort of papery sheath on it? 

[Patrick]

Germinator- I've been out to The Catamaran to check that thing out- beautiful palm. The whole place is outstanding. The yhave a Sabal mauritiformis in the back that was really nice as well. It persuaded me to plant mine!

Josue, Yes, I will have to inspect better this afternoon. It's dried out material, whatever you want to call it. you can see towards the base of the palm where it is still green.

 

The growth on this emerging spear was so robust I just figured it was an emerging flower....

 

Stay tuned!

[Patrick]

Well, after double checking, it IS going to be a flower.  The spike was hollow, squeezable, and I could feel the future flowers about halfway down the spike. Interesting it's so early relative to others' experiences...

[Josue Diaz]

That's incredible! congrats! Hope it makes seeds for you. 

 

 

[Patrick]

Thanks Josue, we'll see what happens!

[DoomsDave]

Mine's blooming too, flowers open, though they're hard to see.