Coperni-cide

[LP305]

So 15 years ago I gifted my neighbor a baby Copernicia bailyana since the Home Depot palm that they planted in their circular drive way died (for lack of them watering it). I watered and fertilized the new palm for years.

Fast forward to now and they built a porch in front of their house and “had” to get rid of the adult Bailey.

They decided to sell it for $2000. The landscaper who bought it can sell it for $1000 per foot of wood ($12,000 in this case). 

At least they root pruned it and stands a chance of finding a home where it will be loved.

[sonoranfans]

I dont gift palms to non palm people anymore.  Last time I had gifted a beautiful yatay mule palm(from patrick) to the guy across the street.  It was the best mule I ever saw at 15 gallon, upright with big non plumose leaves.  In two years It had grown very well and would be his statement palm(he had sabal palmettos and two pygmy dates.  Then he sells the house it and the new owner rips out that 12' fast growing mule and puts in a pygmy date from Lowes.  Yeah, "cast no pearls before swine'.  

[PalmatierMeg]

I gifted my sister-in-law in NC with a nice Sabal minor to plant in her back yard among her beloved Japanese maples. What I didn't know and she never thought to mention was that she is in the habit of digging up her maples to move around the yard like chess pieces. One day she decided to give her Sabal minor the maple transplant. You don't have to guess what happened. She didn't ask for a replacement Sabal and I didn't offer one.

[Arecaceus]

I've also given away seed grown palms to friends and was often very disappointed how little they actually cared. I mean of course as an enthusiast you care more but they didn't even respect it. As excited as people be when you offer them some they don't take the responsibilty to care for something you put a lot of work into. Could have as well sold them...

But hey at least your neighbour didn't cut it down but sold it. I'd still feel a bit disrespected.

[Harry’s Palms]

When I moved into our neighborhood ( all new homes ) I gifted everyone on our street (9 homes) a couple of palms . One person claimed the palm I gave him lifted his driveway and ruined it . I tried to tell him that it was not the palm , I asked him down to my house to see how my palms didn’t do any damage even though they were planted close to my driveway way . He had it cut down . I still give plants , palms and seeds away . Most could care less but the few that like them are reward enough! Harry

[sonoranfans]

I cannot blame the OP for being very disappointed seeing that magnificent bailey taken down.   Kind of reminds me a little of how the new homeowner ripped up my Arizona yard after I left in 2009.   

[Fusca]

On 2/16/2025 at 10:38 AM, LP305 said:

They decided to sell it for $2000. 

They should've offered you $1000!

[flplantguy]

Most people see plants like they do their chihuahua, as a cool looking accessory to their lives (no offense to people who love small dogs, just a way to give the image im going for). These people, like most, saw dollar signs and thats the reason it came out.  They dont care about the world around them, just their tiny bubble and whatever things they give priority to, without thought to greater consequence.  In these cases its sad and dissapointing, but it can be a literal crime sometimes what people do and get away with. Sad to see, but this is why i too don't give away things anymore, and dont respond when someone "common" asks me to make their yard look amazing- when they have no idea what it is or means so its a failure from the start.  Not worth it at all.

[Johnny Palmseed]

I have mixed feelings about this. When you gift or sell a palm, it’s theirs to do whatever they want. But I can also understand the connection and resentment when they sold it since it was a gift and you got it started for them. The fact that you still are neighbors and they didn’t offer to split the proceeds is uncool. It would be different for me if you had moved away. Or if they had sold the house and it was a new owner taking it out. That happens all the time. At least they didn’t just rip it out and kill it.

[aabell]

17 hours ago, flplantguy said:

Most people see plants like they do their chihuahua, as a cool looking accessory to their lives (no offense to people who love small dogs, just a way to give the image im going for).   

It's worse than that, I think. Most people see plants as no different from rocks and dirt, literally just background scenery - "landscaping". 

The homeowner that can accurately name a single tree, bush, or flower thing growing in their yard is a rarity. When you pay that little attention to plants they are interchangeable. Swap out that Copernicia with a queen palm and 99% of people walking by wouldn't notice. 

I have the same dilemma as when it comes to giving plants away - beyond the issue of general plant blindness, palms can be a tough sell even for my friends and neighbors who are interested in gardening. 

 

[hbernstein]

Most folks would have hired a "landscaping" company to cut it down and maybe, at best, grind the stump. At least the palm has been salvaged, for now.

[PalmatierMeg]

20 hours ago, flplantguy said:

Most people see plants like they do their chihuahua, as a cool looking accessory to their lives (no offense to people who love small dogs, just a way to give the image im going for). These people, like most, saw dollar signs and thats the reason it came out.  They dont care about the world around them, just their tiny bubble and whatever things they give priority to, without thought to greater consequence.  In these cases its sad and dissapointing, but it can be a literal crime sometimes what people do and get away with. Sad to see, but this is why i too don't give away things anymore, and dont respond when someone "common" asks me to make their yard look amazing- when they have no idea what it is or means so its a failure from the start.  Not worth it at all.

Hear, hear. People nowadays want free stuff and aren't motivated to put in the care these plants need, then diss you when the poor plant dies of neglect. Then there's the trollers sniffing out cheap/free stuff who otherwise give no one even an iota of their time or experience. I give/trade with a limited number of people on PT I trust and like. Everyone else, unpack your wallet.

[D. Morrowii]

My policy is if I give something away I give it away without strings or caveats. You can’t control what other people do so why worry about it? If you want to give something to someone give it freely and once it’s gone it has nothing to do with you anymore. 
I also hate to see anything that can’t easily be replaced or rebuilt go to waste. That’s not what happened here though. 

[Cindy Adair]

Even though you warned me this was going to happen on my last visit LP305, it is sad to see those photos. 
 

Good thing there are many gorgeous palms safely growing at your house and hopefully appreciated in your beautiful palm filled neighborhood- all thanks to you!

[Elvis Cruz]

Wow, what a disappointment!

Do you know where the palm will be planted?  It will be interesting to see if it survives transplant with that small root ball.