So Long Hedyscepe! This one hurt!

[el-blanco]

I’ve been noticing a decline in this Hedyscepe for over a year.  I have babied it and threw all I could at it.  Alas, it has succumbed to some rot.  One slight nudge and the crown popped right off. I’ve had this one over 20+ years.   Cathartic post!  We move on and put another palm  in Its place!

 

ON A POSITIVE NOTE- I have a 20 + year old Parajubea that was at deaths door.  It is finally shooting out long green leaves again.  I see a lot of manganese in the soil, and need oil with a tad of daconil. In the crown.  
 

I guess we all fight losing a sickly palm or two no matter what zone.

 

I am in the market for a replacement.

[Darold Petty]

I'm very sorry to see this, the exact problem which has killed two trunked Hedyscepe palms in my garden.   Mine failed with even less warning than yours.  My response was to plant three more Hedyscepe !    Good luck,     

[happypalms]

Well they will be lining up out the door to see this one go to the great palm garden in the sky. My condolences. 

[BayAndroid]

Ooofff... that hurts man... 

[Jim in Los Altos]

My sincerest condolences. That’s real loss but, hopefully you will “make lemonade out of this lemon.” Show us the new palm when you get it in place. 

[Palm Tree Jim]

I feel your pain with this loss.

However, look forward to the new planting.

 

[Harry’s Palms]

If you collect long enough and try various types of palms it is inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any easier. I don’t know what’s worse , having a sudden death or a lingering decline . Hopefully the loss can be offset with a new palm or three. Harry

[Billeb]

Oh man….what a bummer. I’ve heard Hedyscepe can do this. I’d be crushed if mine died. Condolences. 
 

In the last year, do you recall ANY change at all in environment or growing conditions you can pin point a possibility of cause? Less or more sun due to surrounding trees growing up or being cleared? More or less water due to irrigation mishap or rain/drought. Anything that can help others would be appreciated. 
 

sorry again. 
 

-dale 

[richnorm]

Occupational hazzard but sucks all the same.  I find Hedyscepe always start well but shortly after trunking/flowering the trouble begins.  It's the same with all LHI palms for me and I have never worked out why.

[Foggy Paul]

  On 3/27/2025 at 5:25 PM, Darold Petty said:

I'm very sorry to see this, the exact problem which has killed two trunked Hedyscepe palms in my garden.   Mine failed with even less warning than yours.  My response was to plant three more Hedyscepe !    Good luck,     

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So sorry to hear of your loss! As others have said, do any experienced Hedy growers have any advice on prevention? We only have one, not trunking yet, and I would be devastated if this happened. It’s easy to keep the crown clean right now, but this will change as it grows and the neighbor’s cherry tree above it dumps all sorts of debris all year.