Washingtonia Filibusta

[Yeehova]

I am looking for some Filibusta seeds, especially if they have survived freezes in marginal areas.

[PalmMom007]

I have a couple seedlings 3g and 7g

[Yeehova]

I am more interested in seeds or smaller seedlings

[5am]

They're common parking lot trees here so I don't mind looking while I'm out this weekend. But as for cold hardiness, well, I don't know if it even hits freezing more than a couple nights annually, on average. Does that rule them out?

[GoatLockerGuns]

On 11/3/2022 at 6:35 AM, Yeehova said:

I am looking for some Filibusta seeds, especially if they have survived freezes in marginal areas.

I can get you some seeds from these fat boys. They survived the 2021 palmageddon here in San Antonio with temperatures in the single digits, and multiple days below freezing. There were orinally 13 planted at this intesection (I-10 and De Zavala); 9 survived the freeze. PM me if interested. 

 

[amh]

4 hours ago, GoatLockerGuns said:

I can get you some seeds from these fat boys. They survived the 2021 palmageddon here in San Antonio with temperatures in the single digits, and multiple days below freezing. There were orinally 13 planted at this intesection (I-10 and De Zavala); 9 survived the freeze. PM me if interested. 

I think there are some behind sonic as well.

[GoatLockerGuns]

10 hours ago, amh said:

I think there are some behind sonic as well.

Yeah, there were a bunch planted around this area; many survived the freeze.  I know there is "heated" debate on these forums in determining what is a Washingtonia filifera, Washingtonia robusta, or Washingtonia x filibusta.  Nonetheless, I will try to take a stab at what these are.  Hodel et. al (2015) describes that one of the morphological distinguishing traits between Washingtonia filifera and Washingtonia robusta is the number of branches per inflorescence.  They describe observing Washingtonia filifera as having 3 branches per inflorescence, and Washingtonia robusta having 7 branches per inflorescence in the specimens they studied.  Similarly, Hodel (2014), in his taxonomic treatment of Washingtonia x filibusta, observed the same having 4 branches per inflorescence.  From those observations, I guess one could surmise, at least anecdotally, that a Washingtonia x filibusta could have anywhere from 4 to 6 branches per inflorescence; whereby, those with 4 branches would be more filifera-like, those with 6 branches would be more robusta-like, and those with 5 branches would be half and half.  The ones I observed here had 3 branches per inflorescence; therefore, I believe they are either pure Washingtonia filifera or Washingtonia x filibusta with strong filifera-like traits.

68PhytoN-Washingtoniahybrid.pdf 215620.pdf

[Yeehova]

I had read somewhere that the filibustas are a bit more cold hardy in wetter areas.  My area is fairly humid and it is possible to get ice or freezing rain along with the freezing temps, so we are really borderline here.  I am not sure if I have seen any pure filifera here, but some of the robustas survive through many years before the worst winters eventually take them out.

[GoatLockerGuns]

3 hours ago, Yeehova said:

it is possible to get ice or freezing rain along with the freezing temps

I can not speak for the weather situation in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina; you would understand that best.  I can tell you that we have had, on occasion, freezing temps, freezing rain, ice, sleet, and snow here in San Antonio, Texas.  The freeze of 2021 included single digit temps and some snow, with four days straight below freezing (this is what I recorded on my property anyway).  It was considered "epic" around these parts.  From that event, I am of the opinion that Washingtonia spp. that were pure filifera, or filibustas with more filifera-like traits, did far better than the robustas from the standpoint of the freeze event alone.  Did some robustas survive? Yes. Did some filiferas die? Yes.  But on average, the filifera-like Washingtonia spp. did far better IMHO.  I will say that there were some filifera-like Washingtonia spp. that survived the freeze event, had new growth starting to appear in the spring, and were then dead by the end of summer.  I personally believe that an unusually wet, very humid spring, was the culprit for their eventual demise.  I have no hard science to back that up; it is solely an opinion based on personal observation/deduction.  Also, there are many examples of Washingtonia spp. with filifera-like traits around the San Antonio area showing old trunk damage (AKA battle scars).  I remember @Collectorpalms once mentioning he believed that had something to do with periods of unseasonably high humidity.  So, I think there is definitely an argument to be made for humidity concerns when it comes to Washingtonia filifera.  But if I was worried about the Washingtonia spp. palms I planted surviving a short, nasty freeze event out right, I would go with Washingtonia filifera hands down.

[Yeehova]

I think you have me convinced to at least trial them in my area

[amh]

On 11/6/2022 at 1:37 PM, GoatLockerGuns said:

I can not speak for the weather situation in Sneads Ferry, North Carolina; you would understand that best.  I can tell you that we have had, on occasion, freezing temps, freezing rain, ice, sleet, and snow here in San Antonio, Texas.  The freeze of 2021 included single digit temps and some snow, with four days straight below freezing (this is what I recorded on my property anyway).  It was considered "epic" around these parts.  From that event, I am of the opinion that Washingtonia spp. that were pure filifera, or filibustas with more filifera-like traits, did far better than the robustas from the standpoint of the freeze event alone.  Did some robustas survive? Yes. Did some filiferas die? Yes.  But on average, the filifera-like Washingtonia spp. did far better IMHO.  I will say that there were some filifera-like Washingtonia spp. that survived the freeze event, had new growth starting to appear in the spring, and were then dead by the end of summer.  I personally believe that an unusually wet, very humid spring, was the culprit for their eventual demise.  I have no hard science to back that up; it is solely an opinion based on personal observation/deduction.  Also, there are many examples of Washingtonia spp. with filifera-like traits around the San Antonio area showing old trunk damage (AKA battle scars).  I remember @Collectorpalms once mentioning he believed that had something to do with periods of unseasonably high humidity.  So, I think there is definitely an argument to be made for humidity concerns when it comes to Washingtonia filifera.  But if I was worried about the Washingtonia spp. palms I planted surviving a short, nasty freeze event out right, I would go with Washingtonia filifera hands down.

The De Zavala area used to be a colder area, basically a cold 8B with a few 8A areas towards the railroad tracks and in Shavano Park. Older plantings will have seen cold temperatures even before 2021.

[Yeehova]

I founds some Ebay seeds after getting burned by a forum member.  Lesson learned.  Thanks for replying.

[aztropic]

1 hour ago, Yeehova said:

I founds some Ebay seeds after getting burned by a forum member.  Lesson learned.  Thanks for replying.

Please share your experience in the palm grower/buyer ratings section. Nobody should endure a bad buying experience here - especially from a fellow forum member. If the member has acted in bad faith,it needs to be exposed to possibly keep others from falling into the same trap. Pay it forward. 

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

[Yeehova]

I am pretty new and I didn't know such a section existed.  Thanks