Beccariophoenix fenestralis in California

[Tracy]

I got this before it was it's own species and was still lumped in with B madagascarensis as "variation windows".  It has been one of my slowest growing palms.  The trunk has developed some character as it curves and I definitely planted it to close to the Pritchardia if it had grown faster... but it hasn't.  It actually seems to fit the space under the Pritchardia pretty well these days.  Anyone else tempted to try this species in California a decade or more ago?

[pohonkelapa]

Looks great! I tried a few of them but they never made it in "Lowlando."

[Tracy]

14 minutes ago, pohonkelapa said:

Looks great! I tried a few of them but they never made it in "Lowlando."

Yeah, this has definitely tried my patience several times since I planted it.  I still remember when I got this from Phil at Jungle Music, that he warned me it would be a tough go, but those slots in the leaves were so cool.  Who could resist?  Obviously neither of us could.  By the way, this is the best it has ever looked so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will stay this nice or better as time marches on.  This was another planting where it shaded the Pritchardia when they were planted and roles are completely reversed these days.

[The Gerg]

I acquired one I would guess back around 2013. Here are a couple of pics of it sitting around my patio prior to my backyard transformation. Back then everything sat around mostly in pots until permanent locations could be decided. Once I planted this, sadly it died months later. It never really took to being planted. I planted an alfredii at the same time that is still doing great. I also planted a madagascariensis around the same time as well that’s doing great, but started much slower than the alfredii. It is now picking up speed. The fenestralis is the only one that struggled for me. I can’t find a picture of it in the ground at the moment.

[Tyrone]

I'm not in California but I killed every one of mine.  Beautiful palm though.

[redant]

If it ever does get up to speed, watch out. They are massive palms, Jurassic palms lol.  Mine in FL is about 12-15 years old now and just huge. I'll get a picture when the weather gets better, ugly out right now. 

[akamu]

quaman has a very  nice fenestralis growing in his  garden. In San  Diego.  We got  a chance to see it at the last pssc meeting maybe Brett will  share an updated pic.  

[GottmitAlex]

46 minutes ago, akamu said:

quaman has a very  nice fenestralis growing in his  garden. In San  Diego.  We got  a chance to see it at the last pssc meeting maybe Brett will  share an updated pic.  

This ^^

[Tracy]

8 hours ago, redant said:

If it ever does get up to speed, watch out

Yes, since I knew they were slow here, I felt ok planting it in that spot.  If they grew here like they do in Florida, I would have had to remove it a few years ago.

[quaman58]

I’ve shared this one over the years as it’s grown. I planted it 18 years ago and it’s always grown pretty well. Definitely looks better at summers end than in Winter, but it perseveres. Like everyone else, I just fell in love with windowed leaves at the nursery. It’s produced viable seeds once 4 years ago, but not since. Yours is looking good Tracy!

[Tracy]

3 hours ago, quaman58 said:

Yours is looking good Tracy!

Bret, mine looks pretty pathetic after seeing how yours has performed.  Mine is in the ground about a dozen years now, and it would be a miracle if it caught up to where yours is now over the next 6 years.  I'll blame part of it on the fact that I haven't been there for it to nurse it along the last 8 years.  It's a little tough to rely on a typical blow and go landscaper to take care of some of my more tender plantings like this.

You have set the bar for the rest of us here in California to strive for.  I know these grow like weeds in other places (parts of Florida for example), but not typically here.