Dictyosperma album var. conjugatum

[Cindy Adair]

I was struck by the perfection of this “Palmiste blanc” as labeled in the wonderful botanic garden in Tampon, Reunion. 

 

Please post photos of any variety of Dictyosperma here along with your growing success or challenges with this genus. 
 

Also, I know many of you routinely read only certain parts of PT.  If you want to see many more photos from this botanical garden (or suffer from insomnia) check out much more in the IPS Biennial section here:

[flplantguy]

Mine is still a baby from Floribunda ( I think it's conjugatum but there's all that naming stuff).  It went into full Florida sun almost immediately and loves it. Only a 4 inch pot too.

[redant]

One of my top 10 palms I love. Slow slow slow, did I mention they are really slow? Grow better in full sun then shade. Seem to like it on the drier side, particularly as seedlings.  My best one.. Once again Palm talks auto rotation messing it up Grrrrrrrrr

[Cindy Adair]

I am so sorry about the autorotation, redant. 

Here it is your lovely palm upright. 

[sonoranfans]

I have one conjugatum in the ground (first pic) and another in a 7 gallon and I have two rubrum about the same size.  All came from the same source as tiny bare rooted palms but were hard to tell apart till they got a bigger.  The new leaf of rubrum is reddish but changes fast as it opens pics 2,3 show the bronze leaf(I was ~ 4 days after opening) and reddish spear of rubrum.  Both are easy care but may be a zone push for me here.   Hence I like the slower growth of conjugatum.  The conjugatum have deep green leaf color that also sets it apart and spears are whitish green vs reddish green for the rubrum.  I have/will put them in warm spots in my yard.  Easy grow except one aphid infestation when they were 3 to 4" strap leafs.   

[redant]

4 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

I am so sorry about the autorotation, redant. 

Here it is your lovely palm upright. 

Any clue why it does this to me all the time, Iphone 14..

[Cindy Adair]

Sorry redant, I don’t know. Sure sounds annoying.

My iPhone 12 mini has no issues rotating photos and I almost always post on PT directly from my phone. 
 

I suggest you private message Palm Mod and maybe he can help? My tech skills are minimal. 

[Cindy Adair]

Sonoranfans, your D. album collection is lovely!

Thanks for sharing the photos and your growing experience.

[Brian]

12 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

Please post photos of any variety of Dictyosperma here along with your growing success or challenges with this genus

Here is a photo of my Dictyosperma album var. album. It seems to love the hot and humid climate of coastal western Mexico. I did have another one about the same size that died on me for some unknown reason. I suspect it was some type of fungus infection that killed it.  @Redant suggestion that they like it on the drier side is good advice.

 

[iDesign]

9 hours ago, redant said:

One of my top 10 palms I love. Slow slow slow, did I mention they are really slow? Grow better in full sun then shade. Seem to like it on the drier side, particularly as seedlings.  My best one.. Once again Palm talks auto rotation messing it up Grrrrrrrrr

I've heard of this happening to some iPhone users. There's likely a workaround in settings, but here's a possible workaround you can use...

* I used your beautiful photo above, since my photos don't seem to have the same issue. Feel free to do your own photo testing in the "TEST PHOTO POSTING HERE" thread (looks like that's what it was created for).

Hope that helps!

[ASHCVS]

Dictyosperma album var. conjugatum in cultivation at The Constance Prince Maurice, Mauritius (within sight of Round Island). 

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks iDesign for pointing redant towards some photo posting advice!

Much appreciated.

Brian your stellar D. album will inspire more to try this one!

And Andy, your photo of conjugatum on Mauritius in view of its native Round Island is priceless. 

I am guessing these would grow perfectly in many places in PR. 

[redant]

17 hours ago, Cindy Adair said:

Sorry redant, I don’t know. Sure sounds annoying.

My iPhone 12 mini has no issues rotating photos and I almost always post on PT directly from my phone. 
 

I suggest you private message Palm Mod and maybe he can help? My tech skills are minimal. 

@iDesign seems to got it, crop the photo even a bit solves the problem.

[96720]

I think this is a pretty tough palm I had one in Phoenix for a couple of years and it did great just SLOOOOOW as others have said unfortunately mine bit the dust in this hellish summer but I will definitely try another just need to find one 1 gal or larger!!

[Looking Glass]

I got four of these as little 4 inchers from Floribunda.  They are super happy here.  They can dry out completely, tolerate the sun and sand, and seem to like the heat.  They get some tea scale sometimes, but it doesn’t seem to bother them too much.   

May 2022…

I put them in 1g after arrival,  and just put two up to 3 gallons after another 18 months ….

November 2023…

The other two are overgrown 1g’s still but I’ll plant them out in the next month, so wasn’t worth the up-pot.   They are in the on deck circle in 1 g pots, stuck in 3g pots full of rocks, so they don’t keep tipping over.   

November 2023…

They have been decent growers over 18 months.   I’ve kind of ignored them.  I’ve got very high hopes for these for the future though.   They seem to do well here, and look good in the ground when you see them around, rarely.  

[kinzyjr]

This species is weird.  There is one at Lake Wire that grows very slowly, and then there is this one down that road that is growing quickly.

 

[96720]

@Looking Glass yours are rockets I would get about a frond a year!

[flplantguy]

I really hope these take off here, I love the look of them once they come into their form.  Thanks for the progress photos so I know what to expect with mine.  It also had scale🙄

[Frond-friend42]

Another seedling

[D. Morrowii]

These are a mixture of album and conjugatum germinated from seed in September of 2021. The ones in the 1 gal pots are both conjugatum and were put in those pots last year. They seem to be pulling away from the ones in the cones.

[sonoranfans]

1 hour ago, D. Morrowii said:

These are a mixture of album and conjugatum germinated from seed in September of 2021. The ones in the 1 gal pots are both conjugatum and were put in those pots last year. They seem to be pulling away from the ones in the cones.

When mine were small the ones upsized to bigger pots sooner dramatically outgrew the smaller potted ones.  When it turns warm I'd repot them to 2-3 gallons or so.  All of my repotted dyctosperma albums were repotted with turface mvp, perlite and potting soil mix when they got above 1-2 gallon size.

[D. Morrowii]

@sonoranfans I’m just starting to pick up on that 🙂 I had them in 1.5” x 5” cones after they sprouted and they stayed in those for over a year but seemed to be stalled out. I up sized them to 2.5” x 8” cones even though the roots didn’t seem very established. They perked up a bit so I moved a couple to the one gal pots and as you say they started to pick up steam compared to their siblings. 
 

Looking forward to one of these turning into to what the above examples look like some day!
Lets see some more of the those nice trunking models!

[flplantguy]

Are little guys ok to put right in the ground?  That could avoid the pot stunting issue if it doesn't also slow them down.  I'm thinking I may order a bunch more to experiment with, I may even donate some to some gardens in the area and see how they do.  If they are ok with drought and neglect and sun that's a winner for a public garden.  Just the risk of a freeze and good seating can help with that. My new office has south facing doors with a huge stone wall to reflect heat, so maybe they will be interested in putting these where the empty garden bed in front is.

[Johnny Palmseed]

38 minutes ago, flplantguy said:

Are little guys ok to put right in the ground?  That could avoid the pot stunting issue if it doesn't also slow them down.  I'm thinking I may order a bunch more to experiment with, I may even donate some to some gardens in the area and see how they do.  If they are ok with drought and neglect and sun that's a winner for a public garden.  Just the risk of a freeze and good seating can help with that. My new office has south facing doors with a huge stone wall to reflect heat, so maybe they will be interested in putting these where the empty garden bed in front is.

Technically, anything can be put in the ground depending on the conditions. Growing in containers is made up by humans. Theoretically you could just drop seeds and if they grow, they should be ok for life barring any significant event. You could do your own experiment by just planting them and seeing what happens.

[peachy]

I tried one of these a few years ago. It was doing so well and growing like a rocket (for it's species) but then it suddenly turned up it's toes for no apparent reason. I am not going to plant one here at the new house due to lack of space and personal life span. They are a pretty palm however and worth a try.  I want to know how you bought a ticket to that city without giggling ? 

Peachy

[kinzyjr]

A seed-grown baby in the ground out in the yard.  It's been growing pretty well so far.  The last one I bought container-grown did what @peachy's plant did.  One day I went out in the yard and realized I had a dead plant to remove.

[ASHCVS]

More perfection in Mauritius! This time at the heritage Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Botanic Garden at Pamplemousses. 

 

[Kim]

Beautiful specimen, Cindy. Thanks for this photo, and I hope to see more from the interim trip.

I have been growing 3 of the Dictyospermum album var. conjugatum, and true, they are not super speedy. Still, from 4-inch pots purchased in June 2012, potted up and planted from 1-gallons about a year later, these are doing all right. I can't find great photos of the entire palm, but in the first photo you get a clear view of what is meant by 'conjugatum.' These are planted about 2 feet lower than the nearby path and are now just tall enough for the lower fronds to slap me in the face when I pass by. I have to treat them periodically for sooty black mold, too. Perhaps they are in too much shade.

[peachy]

4 hours ago, Kim said:

Beautiful specimen, Cindy. Thanks for this photo, and I hope to see more from the interim trip.

I have been growing 3 of the Dictyospermum album var. conjugatum, and true, they are not super speedy. Still, from 4-inch pots purchased in June 2012, potted up and later planted from 1-gallons about a year later, these are doing all right. I can't find great photos of the entire palm, but in the first photo you get a clear view off what is meant by 'conjugatum.' These are planted about 2 feet lower than the nearby path and are now just tall enough for the lower fronds to slap me in the face when I pass by. I have to treat them periodically for sooty black mold, too. Perhaps they are in too much shade.

What species is the palm on stilt roots and the little Licuala please ?  I love how the leaves look like wheel spokes. I have L ramsayii and vaguely remember buying some that have 'spokes' when older but so far they are plain old leaves. I had run out of labels at the time and was too cowardly to go to the garden centre to buy more as I can never leave that place with just the item I went there for.  I was certain I would remember the names of them all and I would have done but I forgot to remember. 

Peachy

[Dypsisdean]

This has to be one of the more beautiful palms, and one I instantly swooned over when first seeing a well grown specimen in Costa Rica. But I have to agree with Tim in that for me, in a less than full sun location, it has been extremely slow - but very healthy. 

And I can’t figure out why my plain D. album has been a rocket in an almost identical situation. Both were planted at the same same time, same size, and in the same location, with the same conditions and care. The D. album after 10 years has over fifteen ft. of pure trunk, and the var. conjugatum has yet to trunk.

I just don’t see how these could possibly be the same species - they look and grow so differently.

[redant]

10 hours ago, Dypsisdean said:

This has to be one of the more beautiful palms, and one I instantly swooned over when first seeing a well grown specimen in Costa Rica. But I have to agree with Tim in that for me, in a less than full sun location, it has been extremely slow - but very healthy. 

And I can’t figure out why my plain D. album has been a rocket in an almost identical situation. Both were planted at the same same time, same size, and in the same location, with the same conditions and care. The D. album after 10 years has over fifteen ft. of pure trunk, and the var. conjugatum has yet to trunk.

I just don’t see how these could possibly be the same species - they look and grow so differently.

My D. album grow in shade or sun, wet or dry and grow rapidly.  Conjugatum in shade is slow as can be but healthy, no way they take wet soil.

[sonoranfans]

48 minutes ago, redant said:

My D. album grow in shade or sun, wet or dry and grow rapidly.  Conjugatum in shade is slow as can be but healthy, no way they take wet soil.

I always understood conjugatum to be slow, and the var rubrum to be fast.  Initially, the first 2 years in a container the conjugatum was very slow.  After repotting them to 3+ gallons they seemed to have picked up a bit.  Mine are in high drainage potting mix(pearlite and turface MVP plus some potting mix) with plenty of water in the heat but controlled release fertilizer.  Maybe my growth has been faster because of the high drainage plus lots of water.  They never sit in water, just damp soil.  I had them sitting in mostly shade(2-3hrs sun) right near my satakentias which I hand water a lot in the heat.  Lots of watering tends to wash away most fertilizer, but not the osmotically controlled fertilizer.  Could be these like damp but not waterlogged soil in the heat.    

[Cindy Adair]

I am really enjoying all the posts showing these palms from seedlings to adults in many parts of the world. 
 

It is great to have a resource like PT where we can search any palm and see information and even ask questions. 
 

Oh and Peachy, I did find the name Tampon, Reunión amusing especially with the formality of the medals we received with the town’s name on the back.

However I did not crack a smile while in that lovely location full of ceremony. 

In fact a quick Google search listed plenty of strange names for towns in the U.S. such as Cut and Shoot, TX, Coupon, PA, Embarrass, MN and Accident, MD. 

[Kim]

18 hours ago, peachy said:

What species is the palm on stilt roots and the little Licuala please ?  I love how the leaves look like wheel spokes. I have L ramsayii and vaguely remember buying some that have 'spokes' when older but so far they are plain old leaves. I had run out of labels at the time and was too cowardly to go to the garden centre to buy more as I can never leave that place with just the item I went there for.  I was certain I would remember the names of them all and I would have done but I forgot to remember. 

Peachy

Hi Peachy -- the little Licuala is L. distans (98% sure?) and the stilt roots connect to the very spiny trunk of Verschaffeltia splendida. I never thought I would grow spiny palms, but fell in love with the leaves and stilt roots, and eventually the whole palm. Two are in the location shown, then 3 babies in a newly developed section out front where they will be more visible.

[RainforestCafe]

I've grown a few of these at my place in Bradenton, FL, this is my favorite palm by far. I have a few regular D. Album, and then 1 of the conjugatum. I've had some struggles with nutritional deficiencies in other palms at my place, but this palm has never shown any issues with any deficiencies whatsoever and it always grows steadily. Mine have grown great in sun, shade, or any mix of the two.

Here's the conjugatum when I planted it as a 3 gallon (I believe?) in June 2018:

And then here's how it looked Sep 2022:

I wish I had a more recent picture because it's even bigger and fuller this year, but the place is rented out right now, so this is the most recent picture I have. I drove by the house and saw it recently and it's looking great!

And then here's my regular single D. Album in the backyard:

June 2017, when I planted it:

Feb 2018:

Sep 2022:

And finally here's a double D. Album that I planted:

[peachy]

On 11/27/2023 at 6:48 AM, Kim said:

Hi Peachy -- the little Licuala is L. distans (98% sure?) and the stilt roots connect to the very spiny trunk of Verschaffeltia splendida. I never thought I would grow spiny palms, but fell in love with the leaves and stilt roots, and eventually the whole palm. Two are in the location shown, then 3 babies in a newly developed section out front where they will be more visible.

Now I remember. I tried one a few years ago but it didn't make it.  They have a reputation for needing a tropical location but I have heard of them surviving well in Brisbane.  I love the leaves too and the stilts are just icing on the cake.  I was looking for a L distans but can't remember if I found one or not. There's a lot of tiny palms in pots in the shadehouse acquired in 2 a.m. online shopping frenzies and I haven't a clue what any of them are. Well apart from the red crownshaft Areca that came up green then had the audacity to croak. Talk about adding insult to injury.

 

On 11/27/2023 at 3:52 AM, Cindy Adair said:

I am really enjoying all the posts showing these palms from seedlings to adults in many parts of the world. 
 

It is great to have a resource like PT where we can search any palm and see information and even ask questions. 
 

Oh and Peachy, I did find the name Tampon, Reunión amusing especially with the formality of the medals we received with the town’s name on the back.

However I did not crack a smile while in that lovely location full of ceremony. 

In fact a quick Google search listed plenty of strange names for towns in the U.S. such as Cut and Shoot, TX, Coupon, PA, Embarrass, MN and Accident, MD. 

Those town names remind me of my last husband.  Some of the women around Qld are so stingy and rough that they roll their own tampons.

Peachy

[shminbabe]

On 11/22/2023 at 12:44 PM, Cindy Adair said:

I am so sorry about the autorotation, redant. 

Here it is your lovely palm upright. 

Gorgeous tree and outdoor area there!

 

[Billeb]

Here’s my Album Rubrum planted in Southern California. This is unfortunately about the best it looks. Colder weather is coming and it doesn’t like that too much so it struggles. Not even 3yrs in the ground and planted with 2 lines of ringed trunk so it’s grown quite a bit. I talk myself into leaving it every spring but tempted to rip it out. 
 

-dale 

[palmfriend]

Hi,

this is my one and only (seed grown) D. album var. aureum - always heavily attacked by some very small bugs.

Those attacks are not life threatening for the palm but they are somehow annoying...

Here we go:

It is not looking that nice at the moment but I will eventually get those damages under control one day.

Next picture:

Two planted out very young D. album var. conjugatum - now half a year in the ground and making progress.

Significant growth during the last months and looking well.

The images posted above (in this thread) are awesome and a great confirmation not to give up on this palm.

 

Lars