Oregon Mule Palm Finally Taking Off

[MRB1192]

Well, it has been two years and two months since I planted my Butiagrus Nabonnandii in full sun in my Zone 8b garden in the suburbs of Portland and am happy to report it is finally growing steadily. The past two summers it put out a total of just two fronds, but this summer, with the help of a consistent fertilizing regimen and some very hot weather as of late, I am thinking I should get at least 3 fronds.. No protection or supplemental heat for this one in the winter.. 

Curious to hear from other Mule owners in OR/WA how your palms have done the past couple of years. both with winter cold and summer growth?

 

Edited July 29, 2022 by MRB1192

[Allen]

Awesome good report.  From TN but Mine grew best in these high 90's maybe a frond every couple weeks. 5 new fronds so far in 2022

Edited July 29, 2022 by Allen

[ShadyDan]

I guess you only want to here from WA/OR folks but not anyone in BC further up the coast ?

Well I'll tell you anyways! I put my (BxJ)xS in the ground last spring, it put out a whopping one frond (yippee!). This year, its just finishing frond #1 and frond #2 is starting to appear. Maybe that means I'll get 3 next year too and steadily get faster?

Last winter was a crappy one and I did protect mine (because expensive palm) with an overturned wheelbarrow and some x-mas lights as it is still small. It came through with no issues. I don't plan on protecting it this winter even if we see another nasty outbreak again. I've decided if things cant make it in my garden by themselves I don't want to bother coddling them.

 

[Chester B]

I have two that are smaller than yours. Maybe 3.5 or 4 foot overall height. Two winters in the ground and starting to put on some size. Two fronds sounds about right but I’m hoping for more  next year when they are fully adjusted. Pretty easy palms so far. And once the heat arrived the growth has been noticeable. 
 

One of my nearby neighbors has one that is close to 7 foot overall height. He told me he has never protected it and it’s always done well for him.  

Edited July 30, 2022 by Chester B

[knikfar]

Whats the lowest temp this palm has experienced? And did it get any snow or ice on it? 

[Las Palmas Norte]

On 7/29/2022 at 4:15 PM, ShadyDan said:

... I don't plan on protecting it this winter even if we see another nasty outbreak again. I've decided if things cant make it in my garden by themselves I don't want to bother coddling them.

There's something to be said for that theory, however if you can assist it to a more mature state, it will stand a better chance of survival.

[ShadyDan]

1 hour ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

There's something to be said for that theory, however if you can assist it to a more mature state, it will stand a better chance of survival.

Yea I might try, but there will likely be some ShadyDan Jrs coming into the world in the next year or two so I'm not sure how much effort I'll have to bother with my plants haha. I'm just assuming everything will get neglected by the time that part of my life rolls around...

[Las Palmas Norte]

21 hours ago, ShadyDan said:

Yea I might try, but there will likely be some ShadyDan Jrs coming into the world in the next year or two...

And there's that too.

[MRB1192]

On 8/2/2022 at 8:14 AM, knikfar said:

Whats the lowest temp this palm has experienced? And did it get any snow or ice on it? 

Saw lows of 24 on two occasions (Jan, 2021 and Feb, 2022). That was cold enough to kill several small Washingtonia Robusta I had in pots, but my ~3 year-old potted Phoenix Canariensis only sustained minor leaf burn. I put that one in our backyard dog run that is covered by a tarp. 

[RJ]

8 hours ago, MRB1192 said:

Saw lows of 24 on two occasions (Jan, 2021 and Feb, 2022). That was cold enough to kill several small Washingtonia Robusta I had in pots, but my ~3 year-old potted Phoenix Canariensis only sustained minor leaf burn. I put that one in our backyard dog run that is covered by a tarp. 

Phoenix Canariensis Does just as well around here as butia . Starting to notice a lot more robusta as well. 

[DAVEinMB]

On 8/3/2022 at 11:55 AM, MRB1192 said:

Saw lows of 24 on two occasions (Jan, 2021 and Feb, 2022). That was cold enough to kill several small Washingtonia Robusta I had in pots, but my ~3 year-old potted Phoenix Canariensis only sustained minor leaf burn. I put that one in our backyard dog run that is covered by a tarp. 

I have 5 that just saw their first temps below 20 along with freezing rain and they all came through fine with no protection. One of them had a really tough time its first 2 winters in the ground and I thought I was going to lose it both springs. If I hadn't coddled it until it gained some mass I doubt it would be here today