Ravenea julietiae?

[Tracy]

I have noticed that when the spear splits as a new leaf is about to open that the spear never splits "cleanly" like most palms.  There is always some tearing with remnants on both the opening spear and the new emerging one that splits off.  Just curious if anyone else has noticed anything like this.  Photo examples below along with a couple of the base to show its size now.  Getting the crown of leaves is difficult to photograph due to other plants and objects in the way.

[Billeb]

@quaman58 Here’s one I snapped a picture of a few weeks ago and it’s fantastic.  Posted it on IG but can’t even remember if I posted it here. This picture was taken from a garden in Fullerton.  Hmmmmm, who’s house could it be?? 🤔

 

-dale 

[Tracy]

3 hours ago, Billeb said:

Here’s one I snapped a picture of a few weeks ago and it’s fantastic

Dale, thanks for sharing that one.  How long are the leaves on it, the perspective is a little deceptive to tell.  The base looks very similar in size to my larger one.

[Billeb]

1 hour ago, Tracy said:

Dale, thanks for sharing that one.  How long are the leaves on it, the perspective is a little deceptive to tell.  The base looks very similar in size to my larger one.

Tracy, it’s a big boy and a very deceptive picture. The chain link fence behind is 6ft. I’d say the plant is 12-15ft tall easy.  Trunk is fat too. Similar to a big boy Dypsis I’d say. 
 

The plant behind is nice looking Dypsis Heteromorpha. Yours is a fuller plant with more offspring. The property was full of some of the nicest examples of palms, aloes and cycads I’ve ever seen. Including the largest Pyriformis in Southern California. 
 

@Palmiz…..how big do you think the Ravenea was? 

-dale 

 

[Palmiz]

4 hours ago, Billeb said:

Tracy, it’s a big boy and a very deceptive picture. The chain link fence behind is 6ft. I’d say the plant is 12-15ft tall easy.  Trunk is fat too. Similar to a big boy Dypsis I’d say. 
 

The plant behind is nice looking Dypsis Heteromorpha. Yours is a fuller plant with more offspring. The property was full of some of the nicest examples of palms, aloes and cycads I’ve ever seen. Including the largest Pyriformis in Southern California. 
 

@Palmiz…..how big do you think the Ravenea was? 

-dale 

 

Yes I think your right Dale, that thing was at least 12-15' and real fat. Wish I took more pics, the Xerophillias were nice as well. Everything was nice in the garden.

[Cindy Adair]

On 12/19/2021 at 5:52 PM, Cindy Adair said:

I am enjoying this topic and all the great photos! Thanks!

I have only one and it was attacked two years in a row by the rhinoceros beetle, but happily it seems determined to live.

I really like the cycad imitation look of this palm.

One day I hope to have more or at least that my attempt at a three layer beetle barrier lets this palm grow bigger...

 

3 1/2 years later here is an update of mine. Definitely slow, but still happy it’s a beetle survivor. 

 

 

Wish I had more of these…

[Tracy]

The older beast and the younger, future beast.  This Ravenea, whether the "real" julietiae or an imposter, seems to like my growing conditions.  As with my older one, the younger one is pushing sequentially longer leafs with each new one and will continue to do so until they get to the mature plants leaf length.  Then they seem to just beef up at the base with no end in sight as to when it will form trunk.  It reminds me a bit of my Encephalartos laurentianus which actually has formed some trunk, but has similar length leaves.

[Tracy]

I just had some guests come by for a short garden tour and my friend Josh noticed something that I missed.  My Ravenea julietiae is pushing out it's first flower spathe.

Since this genus has male and female plants, it will also be a revelation on which sex my plant is.  It will be several years before my other one catches up and i find out if I have both sexes or two of the same.

[BS Man about Palms]

Wow, pretty interesting to have spathe and no trunk.

[Tracy]

8 hours ago, BS Man about Palms said:

Wow, pretty interesting to have spathe and no trunk.

Yes, I wasn't expecting that either.  I don't know anyone else growing one locally that has flowered, nor does Josh.  Hopefully we will see more in the not too distant future. 

I assume this is normal for this species but will defer to those with older specimens for their experience. 

[Billeb]

@Tracy, Your plant looks awesome! Mine has been painfully slow. It could be one of the slowest in the garden for me. It’s growing and not dead so guess I should be happy. 
 

-dale 

[Tracy]

1 hour ago, Billeb said:

@Tracy, Your plant looks awesome! Mine has been painfully slow. It could be one of the slowest in the garden for me. It’s growing and not dead so guess I should be happy. 
 

-dale 

I hope you don't have eves extending too far out from your house there.  It will eventually be a monster for that space.

Yours looks similar in size to my younger specimen.  My younger one took some time to establish but seems to have picked up it's pace recently.   Hopefully yours will too.

[Darold Petty]

Dale, what are the two other plants at the center and left side of this image ?    Thanks

[Billeb]

1 hour ago, Tracy said:

I hope you don't have eves extending too far out from your house there.  It will eventually be a monster for that space.

Yours looks similar in size to my younger specimen.  My younger one took some time to establish but seems to have picked up it's pace recently.   Hopefully yours will too.

Funny you should say that. Currently there is a balcony above it but that is planned to be taken out in the coming years. Whenever we get around to it. I’ve succumbed to the realization a few placements are not ideal and will have to make decisions later. I can enjoy those plants for years tho. I complain this guy is slow but it’s probably for the better. 
 

 

1 hour ago, Darold Petty said:

Dale, what are the two other plants at the center and left side of this image ?    Thanks

Darold, the plant next to the Ravenea is simply a Crinum Lily and next to it is a Scott Pratt plumeria. 
 

-dale 

[Tracy]

The spathes are continuing to push out slowly.  Given how long the spathes on my Ravenea glauca are, I suspect these will get much larger before I get the reveal as to whether this is male or female.   Any insights from my friends in more tropical environments that have bigger more mature specimens?

[D. Morrowii]

34 minutes ago, Tracy said:

The spathes are continuing to push out slowly.  Given how long the spathes on my Ravenea glauca are, I suspect these will get much larger before I get the reveal as to whether this is male or female.   Any insights from my friends in more tropical environments that have bigger more mature specimens?

 

Oh nice!👍

[JD in the OC]

Tracy 

I think i remember that palm when i was there with you and Josh. Very impressed that it is flowering without trunk like Bill mentioned.  If i locate a flowering one here in FL I'll see if i can get pollen. Btw the small variegated brom you gave me is doing well. Thanks!

JD