Foxy lady palm

[trippc]

Posted this in cold hardy palms forum but i was told I'd get more responses here.

I came across the legendary Foxy lady palm. The hybrid Wodyetia bifurcata x Veitchia arecina. I think I am madly in love. Lol but really I've only heard amazing things from this palm and I absolutely love the looks from it. Not to mention I read that it can handle down to 25F! All this being said I did hear it was very rare to find this tree. I just want to hear other people's experience and what yall have heard. Does anyone know where they can be purchased? Or is there anyone on this forum growing the legendary tree? And lastly, is there anything similar to this tree?(outside of the foxtail)

Thanks

[Zeeth]

I'd take the 25 F number with a grain of salt in Florida. It seems about as hardy as a Foxtail in my garden, maybe slightly less. You might have trouble long-term in your area. 

[trippc]

7 minutes ago, Zeeth said:

I'd take the 25 F number with a grain of salt in Florida. It seems about as hardy as a Foxtail in my garden, maybe slightly less. You might have trouble long-term in your area. 

Yeah so far it seems like crown shaft palms don't fair too well in sub 10 hardy zones. That being said I do have a brick home which puts out about 5-10 degrees above the temp in my yard. Which I hope helps my situation out. I did recently plant a 15 foot foxtail and 12 ft royal. Both within 6 feet of the house and facing south. And, I have two Malaysian dwarfs that I got for a steal at my local flea market. I'm definitely pushing it but hopefully, with that heat radiating off the brick at night that they have a chance to thrive. Most likely going to wrap them during sub 30 degree nights to be safe. 

[sonoranfans]

I had two small 3 gal ones die fast in 28F so I think small ones are far less cold hardy than 25F.  The whole topic of cold hardiness is actually complex.  Duration of cold can be bigger than ultimate temperature.  DIfferent spots have microclimates and if a palm is in a good spot the weather station a mile away might say 28F but your spot might be 31F easily.  Most people dopnt attach a temperature sensor right next to the palms bud.  A huge palm takes longer to cool down so it will tend to be warmer than a small palm for a while after being exposed.  There is a theory call hybrid vigor that says some percentage of the sibs in an F1 cross can be more hardy than either parent.  Its not always true some are less hardy some are more hardy.   I have not heard the foxy lady was notably more hardy than a foxtail among those I know who grew them. I do agree they can be beautiful palms and they are uncommon.

[Fishinsteeg234]

I have two all green foxylady’s located in Longwood FL, z9b. I bought them as 15gallons three summers ago. I protected both during a 27 degree night with frost in ‘21 and a 28degree night in ‘22, just because the roots were not yet established well enough to quickly recover. This year they are starting take off in speed, and are now too tall for me to wrap going forward. Hopefully now the speed of growth can recover from future frost events. We’ll see. I feel the foliage is frost sensitive comparable to wodyetia. Growth speed has been slightly slower than my Veitchia or Archontophoenix, comparing growth ring spacing. Also, the foliage has been experiencing some sunburn in full sun over the last few weeks from upper 98 degree days with no rain. I think these will be better under some tall canopy if possible. 

[trippc]

37 minutes ago, Fishinsteeg234 said:

I have two all green foxylady’s located in Longwood FL, z9b. I bought them as 15gallons three summers ago. I protected both during a 27 degree night with frost in ‘21 and a 28degree night in ‘22, just because the roots were not yet established well enough to quickly recover. This year they are starting take off in speed, and are now too tall for me to wrap going forward. Hopefully now the speed of growth can recover from future frost events. We’ll see. I feel the foliage is frost sensitive comparable to wodyetia. Growth speed has been slightly slower than my Veitchia or Archontophoenix, comparing growth ring spacing. Also, the foliage has been experiencing some sunburn in full sun over the last few weeks from upper 98 degree days with no rain. I think these will be better under some tall canopy if possible. 

Love the pictures! What a beautiful tree and thanks for the info

[Keybmp]

On 6/13/2024 at 12:55 PM, Fishinsteeg234 said:

I have two all green foxylady’s located in Longwood FL, z9b. I bought them as 15gallons three summers ago. I protected both during a 27 degree night with frost in ‘21 and a 28degree night in ‘22, just because the roots were not yet established well enough to quickly recover. This year they are starting take off in speed, and are now too tall for me to wrap going forward. Hopefully now the speed of growth can recover from future frost events. We’ll see. I feel the foliage is frost sensitive comparable to wodyetia. Growth speed has been slightly slower than my Veitchia or Archontophoenix, comparing growth ring spacing. Also, the foliage has been experiencing some sunburn in full sun over the last few weeks from upper 98 degree days with no rain. I think these will be better under some tall canopy if possible. 

Where did you find these in central Florida? I haven’t been able to find anyone with any 

[Fishinsteeg234]

@Keybmp I found these posted in the *for sale* section here on PT a few years ago from a fellow user…they are rare. I’ve also seen one posted on FB marketplace before. Just have to keep an eye out and get lucky I guess. Well worth a long drive to pickup IMO. 

[floridaPalmMan]

On 6/13/2024 at 12:55 PM, Fishinsteeg234 said:

I have two all green foxylady’s located in Longwood FL, z9b. 

Can you start a thread for these palms so we can follow their lifespan?

I'd be very interested, as well as others I'm sure, to see how these hold up over time in a 9B environment.

[sonoranfans]

I had planted out two of these in 2010, both were killed outright at 28F plus frost in december that year.  They are gorgeous palms but likely not as cold hardy as a royal or foxtail.  They are hard to find as are many palms these days.  I remember lots of smaller growers back then who had all kinds of palms including these.  I expect its not longer worth it to cross these palms.  Hybrids take more effort to cross and they should be more expensive.  IF people arent willing to pay then they go away.  Some hybrids can occur naturally but most are work and a low price means they wont be offering them.  

[kevojax]

Just dm'd you but sharing here as well. I have one in my very warm 9a in Jacksonville. Unlikely to live here long term but it's been fine these past couple winters with minimal protection. Minimum temperature 27/28F.