Post pics of the first palm you planted!

[Ben G.]

I became interested in palms (and plants in general) as a young 20 year old living in Region IV of the Philippines. After my 2 years there I returned to Oklahoma and collected a few tropical house plants that reminded me of the Philippines.

It was a few years later, when I was neck deep in a long college program, that I discovered that there were some cold tolerant palms out there. I bought a handful and received more little seedlings from other enthusiasts in the area.

Knowing I wouldn't own a home of my own until after college, I planted my first palm in the ground at my parent's house in East Central Oklahoma. It was a triple Sabal minor that I found at a big box store. One of the three growing points died pretty quickly, but the other two live on:

It sits on the north side of their home in a zone 7 area. It gets no fertilizer, irrigation, or intentional mulching.

About 12 years later though, they are still going strong.

If you are able, post pics of the first palms you planted. Feel free to share a little bit about what led you to becoming a palm enthusiast.

[Ben G.]

Here is another of my early days of hunting palms. I took this photo behind Alligator Alley in Oklahoma City in 2010. They had a nice Trachycarpus surrounded by bamboo that had me pretty amazed. I didn't realize just how many Trachycapus killing winters the next 14 years would bring to Oklahoma, of course. I was just excited to see if I could grow something that cool.

[D. Morrowii]

Ah! Good idea for a post! This Phoenix sylvestris was the first one for me. 
 

Jan 2021

Today Nov. 2024

 

[Ben G.]

14 minutes ago, D. Morrowii said:

Ah! Good idea for a post! This Phoenix sylvestris was the first one for me. 
 

Jan 2021

Today Nov. 2024

 

That's good growth in just a bit under 4 years!

I have been tempted to buy a sylvestris myself. I like CIDPs, dactyliferas, and sylvestris, but it seems that sylvestris grows the fastest. Even though they wouldn't be as solid as CIDP here in SATX, the smaller size and faster growth makes me think that sylvestris may still be worth a try.

[Darold Petty]

Ceroxylon quindiuense, small 5-gallon, March, 1983

 

[Ben G.]

3 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Ceroxylon quindiuense, small 5-gallon, March, 1983

 

 

Impressive! Great looking palm. 

I hope I get the chance to show my kids my little sabal minor when it is 40 years old, like your Ceroxylon.