I want a new palm tree in my palm tree collection. Any advice?

[Peachs]

Hello.
I have the following:

- Trachycarpus

- Mule Palm

- W. Filifera

- Chamaedorea Radicalis

- Brahea Armata

- Livistona Nitida

 

 

I want to grow acceptably fast and
8b Zone. Dry climate.
 

Semi-shaded area (up to the wall of the house).

 

Options... I don't want Phoenix/Robusta.
 

Brahea Edulis? Another Mule Palm? Try Sabal?
 

Brahea Edulis I think is the fastest Brahea, Mule palm is always a safe bet exotic, Sabal is perhaps extremely slow. Jubaea has a very thick trunk for a passage area.

 

It would be purchased in pots, medium/small size.

 

Thanks.

[julie42]

I am a  beginner, just bought a property that has a wonderful palm tree planted in the back garden. I have no idea what it is or how to care for it...

[idontknowhatnametuse]

You should try with Acrocomia Totai if you like palms with thorns.

[idontknowhatnametuse]

Example Photo:

 

They tolerate some good amount of cold

[Peachs]

29 minutes ago, idontknowhatnametuse said:

You should try with Acrocomia Totai if you like palms with thorns.

Passage area and children. Without thorns.

[awkonradi]

4 hours ago, Peachs said:

Hello.
I have the following:

- Trachycarpus

- Mule Palm

- W. Filifera

- Chamaedorea Radicalis

- Brahea Armata

- Livistona Nitida

I want to grow acceptably fast and
8b Zone. Dry climate.

Semi-shaded area (up to the wall of the house).

Chamaerops?

[Peachs]

9 minutes ago, awkonradi said:

Chamaerops?

I have one (humilis), I am looking for a tall palm tree.

[Peachs]

Which one do you recommend?

[EJPalm05]

10 hours ago, julie42 said:

I am a  beginner, just bought a property that has a wonderful palm tree planted in the back garden. I have no idea what it is or how to care for it...

Thats a T. Fortunei

[UK_Palms]

@Peachs I would say Brahea Edulis in your climate, since they seem to be doing so well over here in the UK. Interestingly I never see a bad looking Edulis over here, whether in Cornwall, Dorset, Isle of Wight or London. They always look very healthy and flower profusely. Shown are some of the ones I have visited over the past 12 months in southern England.

Brahea Edulis is building up a reputation as quite reliable in northern climates, although the UK is obviously unique and unmatched in terms of what can be grown this far from the equator (massive CIDP's & Washingtonia + crownshafts). There aren't any big Edulis over here yet, but they don't take winter damage here either, so they will get big eventually.

I think they would do pretty well in your location. The problem with Jubaea is that you will be waiting 50+ years for a small one to get to a decent size. They are just so slow. The same with Sabals too really, although Mexicana would be a good shout. I still think Brahea edulis, based on how well these UK ones are doing.

 

11 hours ago, julie42 said:

I am a  beginner, just bought a property that has a wonderful palm tree planted in the back garden. I have no idea what it is or how to care for it...

I see you are in London, Julie. What part exactly? You can load up with Phoenix Canariensis and Washingtonia there. They will go from 3 foot in height to 30 footers within a decade in London without protection. I have seen massive specimens in the capital recently, which were planted small many years ago. The UK doesn't import big palms. Only small ones.

It never gets cold enough to damage them in London. CIDP has replaced Trachycarpus in the capital over the past 10-15 years. Also stuff like Brahea Armata and Brahea Edulis does well in the capital. Also Butia and Jubaea. Even Syagrus Romanzoffiana if you are feeling ambitious. There are so many palm options due to the huge urban heat island.

Look at these London mammoths that I saw last week...

 

@Peachs I know you said you don't want any Phoenix palms, but does the Canary Island date do well in your location, or does it get defoliated during winter? If you haven't got one, I would add a Brahea Edulis and a CIDP to your collection. The fronds really aren't that sharp, at least compared to Dactylifera and Theophrasti.

I have all 3 of those planted out and CIDP really isn't that bad. The Theophrasti spines are pure evil and the Dactylifera are pretty lethal too. CIDP however doesn't really pose a problem until they get much bigger, like trunking height. They also grow pretty quick too. That big London CIDP I posted above was planted as a tiny 2 foot palm in 1987.

[Peachs]

4 hours ago, UK_Palms said:

@Peachs I would say Brahea Edulis in your climate, since they seem to be doing so well over here in the UK. Interestingly I never see a bad looking Edulis over here, whether in Cornwall, Dorset, Isle of Wight or London. They always look very healthy and flower profusely. Shown are some of the ones I have visited over the past 12 months in southern England.

Brahea Edulis is building up a reputation as quite reliable in northern climates, although the UK is obviously unique and unmatched in terms of what can be grown this far from the equator (massive CIDP's & Washingtonia + crownshafts). There aren't any big Edulis over here yet, but they don't take winter damage here either, so they will get big eventually.

I think they would do pretty well in your location. The problem with Jubaea is that you will be waiting 50+ years for a small one to get to a decent size. They are just so slow. The same with Sabals too really, although Mexicana would be a good shout. I still think Brahea edulis, based on how well these UK ones are doing.

 

I see you are in London, Julie. What part exactly? You can load up with Phoenix Canariensis and Washingtonia there. They will go from 3 foot in height to 30 footers within a decade in London without protection. I have seen massive specimens in the capital recently, which were planted small many years ago. The UK doesn't import big palms. Only small ones.

It never gets cold enough to damage them in London. CIDP has replaced Trachycarpus in the capital over the past 10-15 years. Also stuff like Brahea Armata and Brahea Edulis does well in the capital. Also Butia and Jubaea. Even Syagrus Romanzoffiana if you are feeling ambitious. There are so many palm options due to the huge urban heat island.

Look at these London mammoths that I saw last week...

 

@Peachs I know you said you don't want any Phoenix palms, but does the Canary Island date do well in your location, or does it get defoliated during winter? If you haven't got one, I would add a Brahea Edulis and a CIDP to your collection. The fronds really aren't that sharp, at least compared to Dactylifera and Theophrasti.

I have all 3 of those planted out and CIDP really isn't that bad. The Theophrasti spines are pure evil and the Dactylifera are pretty lethal too. CIDP however doesn't really pose a problem until they get much bigger, like trunking height. They also grow pretty quick too. That big London CIDP I posted above was planted as a tiny 2 foot palm in 1987.

Do you prefer Brahea Edulis to Mule Palm? Which one do you think grows faster here?

[tim_brissy_13]

26 minutes ago, Peachs said:

Do you prefer Brahea Edulis to Mule Palm? Which one do you think grows faster here?

Mule would be faster in pretty much every climate. They do get quite big and wide for near a passage/pathway. Butia x Parajubaea might be an interesting option if you can get your hands on one, but they also get quite large. 
 

Brahea Super Silver is one of the fastest Brahea and in my opinion one of the nicest. I’m not certain on hardiness but it might be a good fit - no thorns and a bit thinner than armata. 

[Peachs]

1 hour ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Mule would be faster in pretty much every climate. They do get quite big and wide for near a passage/pathway. Butia x Parajubaea might be an interesting option if you can get your hands on one, but they also get quite large. 
 

Brahea Super Silver is one of the fastest Brahea and in my opinion one of the nicest. I’m not certain on hardiness but it might be a good fit - no thorns and a bit thinner than armata. 

Edulis I can get it. I thought that being "fast" it can grow at the rate of a Mule Palm. In terms of cold hardiness, do you think it is better than a Mule Palm?

 

Finally in spring I will place it in a more spacious place, not in a passage area. But I don't want it to have thorns.

[UK_Palms]

8 hours ago, Peachs said:

Do you prefer Brahea Edulis to Mule Palm? Which one do you think grows faster here?

I think Brahea Edulis will survive your cold winter nights better. A mule palm will take quite a bit of damage most winters where you are, although it will also recover and grow a bit quicker. Maybe get both of them and see which one does best? They would both be good additions.

It’s almost impossible for me to get Mule palms over here. I have been trying for years now, especially for the Jubaea x Syagrus type and Butyagrus. There are some good specimens here in southern England but almost all were started by seed. Customs will seize any sizeable palms and incinerate them. It’s a nightmare. I lost a smallish £75 Parajubaea to UK customs last year, which was shipped from Spain.

[Peachs]

2 minutes ago, UK_Palms said:

I think Brahea Edulis will survive your cold winter nights better. A mule palm will take quite a bit of damage most winters where you are, although it will also recover and grow a bit quicker. Maybe get both of them and see which one does best? They would both be good additions.

It’s almost impossible for me to get Mule palms over here. I have been trying for years now, especially for the Jubaea x Syagrus type and Butyagrus. There are some good specimens here in southern England but almost all were started by seed. Customs will seize any sizeable palms and incinerate them. It’s a nightmare. I lost a smallish £75 Parajubaea to UK customs last year, which was shipped from Spain.

Thank you. Here in Spain it is quite easy to get almost all species, luckily! Do you think it will grow much faster Mule palm? I have seen some video of Brahea Edulis on youtube and after 15 years the size was not huge either (maybe 2 meters trunk).

 

[NorCalWill]

Brahea 'Clara'

Seems to do well in cooler climates and grows faster than Brahea edulis.

The photos show what mine did in 12 years.

Petioles have some teeth, but nothing dangerous.