Veitchia x Wodyetia (Foxy Lady) in Northern California

[Jim in Los Altos]

Who’s growing Foxy Lady palms in cooler climates like here in the Bay Area or coastal CA? This one is ten years old from sprouted seed planted directly to the ground by my garage which faces the southeast. Neither Veitchia nor Wodyetia grow well here but this hybrid never skips a beat. I wish I had more of them. 
 

[Fusca]

18 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Neither Veitchia nor Wodyetia grow well here but this hybrid never skips a beat. I wish I had more of them.

That's so interesting - who would've thought that could be possible?  Looks great Jim!  Gotta love the hybrid palms.

[rizla023]

Very lovely. Someday I’ll find one 😅

[tim_brissy_13]

I planted one at my parent’s place about 15 years ago. Here it is as of last year. Not much to look at which is probably due to a combination of a far from suitable climate and a bit of neglect. 
 

Im keen to try one in my new garden. My climate isn’t quite as nice as yours Jim but I’d be hopeful one could do ok in a warm spot. 

[Harry’s Palms]

I would try one here but I have had trouble with Wodyetia and so have other folks . I don’t know if the hybrid Foxy Lady is more reliable than the Foxtail but in Southern California the Wodyetia are hit and miss . I just planted 4 with the hope of getting at least one to survive here. I have learned a bit about them . Harry edit , I might add that in 27 years here only seen frost a couple times but not in my south facing yard , only by the street on cars.

[gurugu]

Good achievement!

I'm currently trying both, Veitchia Arecina and Joannis, and Wodyetia B. outdoors here, but I'm afraid they will start to decline in 2/3 months time. No chance in my climate, but I prefer them dying outdoors rather than indoors.

No way to lay my hands on seeds of this palm here in Europe.

20/30 years ago it was much easier to find and buy really rare palm trees. Not any longer now.

What a paradox!

[Jim in Los Altos]

4 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

I would try one here but I have had trouble with Wodyetia and so have other folks . I don’t know if the hybrid Foxy Lady is more reliable than the Foxtail but in Southern California the Wodyetia are hit and miss . I just planted 4 with the hope of getting at least one to survive here. I have learned a bit about them . Harry edit , I might add that in 27 years here only seen frost a couple times but not in my south facing yard , only by the street on cars.

Foxy Lady is WAY more vigorous than Wodyetia or Veitchia in a marginal zone for those two.  

[palmnut-fry]

The pic is so dark, hard to see any details. So this is an inter generic cross? Never heard of such a mule but note Wodyetias do very well along the hot mess that is the Tex Gulfcoast! Outside of recent severe freezes, not sure how they fared but plan to return to see maybe next couple years. Hopefully La Nina will spare us another deep freeze, a winter or two- please gawd!

At any rate, seems really interesting! 

[Jim in Los Altos]

1 hour ago, palmnut-fry said:

The pic is so dark, hard to see any details. So this is an inter generic cross? Never heard of such a mule but note Wodyetias do very well along the hot mess that is the Tex Gulfcoast! Outside of recent severe freezes, not sure how they fared but plan to return to see maybe next couple years. Hopefully La Nina will spare us another deep freeze, a winter or two- please gawd!

At any rate, seems really interesting! 

I took the photo shortly before posting and it was getting dark fast. I just took this daytime photo. The leaf tip burn on the older fronds is from a very dry heat wave late last summer. New fronds look good. The Foxy Lady Palm is well known amongst palm hobbyists as well as specialty nurseries. The vigorous hybrid nature of the palm allows its use in climates that are very marginal for pure Veitchia and Wodyetia. There’s not enough summer heat in my area for either of those and winters are cool and often wet. The Veitchia x Wodyetia cross somehow makes the palm considerably hardier than either separate species. 
 

[mnorell]

Jim, do you have any idea how many leaves are produced on your 'Foxy Lady' each year? I always try to track this metric at least informally, as I take it as a general gauge for long-term suitability (and year-round attractiveness) in a given climate. It doesn't look like you have any issues with "dwindling crown" syndrome in a too-cool climate, and also like you have really nice spacing between internodes. That must give you some really satisfying growth on this one. I've always loved the look of this hybrid but have never encountered one for sale. I (and obviously many others) wish it were more generally available. But on the other hand I certainly understand nobody wanting to undertake the laborious process of manual pollination on the parents. I expect that many of those offered have been chance seedlings where Veitchia and Wodyetia were planted next to each other.

[Jim in Los Altos]

4 hours ago, mnorell said:

Jim, do you have any idea how many leaves are produced on your 'Foxy Lady' each year? I always try to track this metric at least informally, as I take it as a general gauge for long-term suitability (and year-round attractiveness) in a given climate. It doesn't look like you have any issues with "dwindling crown" syndrome in a too-cool climate, and also like you have really nice spacing between internodes. That must give you some really satisfying growth on this one. I've always loved the look of this hybrid but have never encountered one for sale. I (and obviously many others) wish it were more generally available. But on the other hand I certainly understand nobody wanting to undertake the laborious process of manual pollination on the parents. I expect that many of those offered have been chance seedlings where Veitchia and Wodyetia were planted next to each other.

Michael, usually three new fronds between April and November. Occasionally an additional leaf may open in the winter if it’s warmer than usual. 

[mnorell]

On 9/11/2024 at 5:07 PM, Jim in Los Altos said:

Michael, usually three new fronds between April and November. Occasionally an additional leaf may open in the winter if it’s warmer than usual. 

I think that's quite impressive, and especially that it continues pushing in the winter. That's a lot of inches to push in those spears in a rather condensed period. I'm sure your green thumb and extensive experience explains a good deal of its success, but in any event it is a lovely tree you have there, and it seems appropriate indeed that you gave it an "above the title" location!

[Than]

On 9/9/2024 at 5:19 PM, gurugu said:

Good achievement!

I'm currently trying both, Veitchia Arecina and Joannis, and Wodyetia B. outdoors here, but I'm afraid they will start to decline in 2/3 months time. No chance in my climate, but I prefer them dying outdoors rather than indoors.

No way to lay my hands on seeds of this palm here in Europe.

20/30 years ago it was much easier to find and buy really rare palm trees. Not any longer now.

What a paradox!

Any updates?

[gurugu]

6 hours ago, Than said:

Any updates?

Hi Than.

Currently V..Joannis is still alive and surviving. V. Arecina started to decline very soon, even in good weather, by mid October, I think. I don't know why. Anyway, I will wait till next late Spring to see if it is still alive. I'm afraid it isn't.

Wodyetia is doing ok, so far.

[Than]

16 hours ago, gurugu said:

Hi Than.

Currently V..Joannis is still alive and surviving. V. Arecina started to decline very soon, even in good weather, by mid October, I think. I don't know why. Anyway, I will wait till next late Spring to see if it is still alive. I'm afraid it isn't.

Wodyetia is doing ok, so far.

Exciting news. I take it you are right on the coast? Do you get sub-zero temperatures at all? A friend who tried Veitchia Joannis in Athens told me they died because of consecutive cold days, even though the temperature never went below zero. I wish V. Joannis could survive here, but I am 8km from the sea, so...