Dypsis decaryi- growth rate

[byuind]

The old triangle palm! What a the expected growth rate in 9b climate? It’s a rainforest palm so I assume it likes partial shade rather than full sun… but I’d like experiences and responses for sure.

 

thinking ahead for the spring and I’d like to know what the expectations would be from a 4ft juvenile with no trunk and if one could plan on a foot growth in height per year?

[Gottagrowemall]

Mines pretty small too, I have two. Mine grow pretty dang fast for a potted small palm. I leave the prop roots exposed. I’ve been told they are easy to over water and actually can rot. I was told to treat mine more like a cactus lol

[Tracy]

Two photos of one grown here in full sun, fast draining soil.  They don't like to have damp feet particularly in cold and are definitely prone to rotting in those conditions.  First photo was in September 2015 about when I planted it. Second photo is October 2022, so right at 7 years growth.  Hope you find that helpful and find a place with good drainage and plenty of sun.  I have a sibling to the one planted in this shot, which is in a partially shaded spot in clay soil, but otherwise same climate zone.  It is a fraction of the size in those conditions, narrower trunk too.

[kinzyjr]

Mine are fairly small, but go pinnate pretty fast.  That's pretty quick to fill out like that @Tracy!

[Tyrone]

Actually they are not a rainforest palm at all. They come from what is called transitional forest between the rainforest in the east of Madagascar just as as it starts transitioning to the southern dry spiny forest. In my experience they like sun from about the first leaf, and don't like it too wet. They'd rather go down into the soil and find their water. But on a hot sunny day they will grow quicker with abundant moisture. 

[byuind]

13 hours ago, Tyrone said:

Actually they are not a rainforest palm at all. They come from what is called transitional forest between the rainforest in the east of Madagascar just as as it starts transitioning to the southern dry spiny forest. In my experience they like sun from about the first leaf, and don't like it too wet. They'd rather go down into the soil and find their water. But on a hot sunny day they will grow quicker with abundant moisture. 

well dang - someone better get on that Wikipedia page and change it! Says its indigenous to the Madagascan Rainforest!

 

Dypsis decaryi - Wikipedia

 

but i'm seeing lots of responses about sun, which is really a good thing because the place I'd like to put one faces a general western direction and it will get lit up pretty well, especially in the summer.

[PalmatierMeg]

I would say moderate growers although mine ended up in more shade than they like. I suggest you mound plant it in a spot that gets no irrigation of sprinklers. I lost at least two to butt rot because they were planted in irrigation areas. I only had success when I mound planted one on our unirrigated Garden Lot and let nature guide its course. It was trunking when Hurricane Ian and falling trees took it out.

[byuind]

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

I would say moderate growers although mine ended up in more shade than they like. I suggest you mound plant it in a spot that gets no irrigation of sprinklers. I lost at least two to butt rot because they were planted in irrigation areas. I only had success when I mound planted one on our unirrigated Garden Lot and let nature guide its course. It was trunking when Hurricane Ian and falling trees took it out.

since you are in Cape Coral, do you feel your soil is sandy? Where my house was built they had to bring in almost 10 feet of fill which is almost all sand as you dig into it. Drains incredibly fast and doesn't seem to hold water for crap. 

i can definitely mound it so that the water runs away from it after initial planting phase. The spot where i am thinking about putting it struggles to grow gras because of all the heat bouncing off the house therefor the ground is almost desert like. 

[Merlyn]

I only have one, and I think I've transplanted it at least 3 times.  It was originally a big box store palm in July 2018, and I planted it in full shade.  That was definitely a mistake, because it just sat there doing nothing but being green.  I moved it in February 2019 and February 2020...in more sun but in a relatively low area with a sprinkler that hit that area.  So in July 2021 I moved it again to a "high and dry" sandy area near my driveway.  It's now in full sun, and did sorta ok at about 28F with frost.  It had some leaf burn, about 50%.  At the moment it's still got some nutrient deficiencies from the transplant and the freeze.  But the new fronds are growing out nice and green!  For a size reference, the sago on the right has about 3 feet of "trunk" and the Decaryi is about 8-10 feet tall overall.

[PalmatierMeg]

23 hours ago, byuind said:

since you are in Cape Coral, do you feel your soil is sandy? Where my house was built they had to bring in almost 10 feet of fill which is almost all sand as you dig into it. Drains incredibly fast and doesn't seem to hold water for crap. 

i can definitely mound it so that the water runs away from it after initial planting phase. The spot where i am thinking about putting it struggles to grow gras because of all the heat bouncing off the house therefor the ground is almost desert like. 

Our soil is shell rock and sand dreck. The triangle had no problem with it and I believe my soil is a reasonable substitute for its native soil. This is definitely not a rainforest palm. It would prefer my arid winter conditions over rainy season any day. So, place yours carefully.

[Palmfarmer]

On 12/6/2022 at 11:57 AM, PalmatierMeg said:

I would say moderate growers although mine ended up in more shade than they like. I suggest you mound plant it in a spot that gets no irrigation of sprinklers. I lost at least two to butt rot because they were planted in irrigation areas. I only had success when I mound planted one on our unirrigated Garden Lot and let nature guide its course. It was trunking when Hurricane Ian and falling trees took it out.

Mine has started to lean out from my house some reaching for more light. Doing fairly well here, but took some time to get established.