Allagoptera arenaria - A little miracle

[Gunnar Hillert]

In 2018 I planted a really nice-sized Allagoptera arenaria (Seashore palm) on the west-side of the Big Island of Hawaii at 580m (1900ft) elevation. It did quite well, and interestingly constantly blossomed. One day I was a bit too aggressive with my weed-control, and I think I must have gotten to close with some glyphosate (since then I greatly reduced using that stuff). Anyway, the palm fizzled away quickly. Eventually the spear pulled out almost 2 years ago. Some palm fronds remained green but slowly but surely whatever life remained continuously faded away (Except for those 2 fronds in the picture). The heart of the palm pretty much converted to compost, just a dark hole of sadness.

Today, I was about to rip that whole thing out and replace it with a small Allagoptera arenaria seedling I got from Jeff last year. To my utter astonishment a new palm frond is emerging . I hope it is not some other seed that germinated right there . 

[96720]

Always better to wait to make sure it’s dead I have even waited long enough that it had to be dead and finally decided to replace it it and low and behold there was some life!!!

[quaman58]

These things are amazingly rugged. The type of conditions they can grow in, from shade, to blazing sun to pure sand is remarkable. They seem to develop husky root systems pretty quickly, which always helps when a plant has undergone real stress. 

[Tyrone]

It's ALIVE!!!!!!!!.

[Jimhardy]

It looks like it is a whole new growth point that came out the side...

the "leaves" are probably to developed to be a seedling.....is there a split in the trunk where its coming out?

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

These are one of the most resilient palm species. Definitely underrated cold hardy palm tree too. Mine survived unprotected Palmageddon with spear pull tho. 3 out of 6 trees made it. I really love this palm wish it grew faster tho. 

T J 

[Merlyn]

6 hours ago, Jimhardy said:

It looks like it is a whole new growth point that came out the side... the "leaves" are probably to developed to be a seedling.....is there a split in the trunk where its coming out?

That's what I was thinking, a seedling would probably be a single solid leaf at that size.  My Arenaria have all clustered in a variety of odd ways, so a split partway up a trunk doesn't seem too unusual.  Maybe the original growing point got "stuck" and it started a new one?

[Gunnar Hillert]

Update Oct 2022: Not only did my Allagoptera arenaria re-sprout but it is a clumping variety now with 3 sprouts 🥳. Question: Would it be best to cut the 2 smallest sprouts? Thanks for any advice!

 

[kinzyjr]

17 hours ago, Gunnar Hillert said:

Update Oct 2022: Not only did my Allagoptera arenaria re-sprout but it is a clumping variety now with 3 sprouts

Fantastic news!  I'd keep them all, but others may have differing opinions.

[Jeff zone 8 N.C.]

The plant has already made its choice. I would say let it go as is.

[Merlyn]

I think they all cluster, so I'd just let it grow!