Palms in summer

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David F
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Location: Berkeley, California USA
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Palms in summer

Post by David F »

A few recent photos of palms in some gardens I’ve created over the past 20 years. Only the Howeia, Phoenix and Archontophoenix would be too tender for UK gardens. Many California garden designers disdain using common palms like Trachycarpus fortunei in our gardens as being too common and overused, but I believe skinning them gives them a more tropical look, and they are also rather drought, freeze and wind tolerant palms here in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Phoenix roebelenii

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Trachycarpus martianus

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Trachycarpus fortunei, recently skinned to remove the upper old leaf bases, love that flash of cream

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Trachycarpus fortunei

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Chamaerops humilis var cerífera at almost 20 years in the ground.

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Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

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Brahea ‘Super Silver’

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Phoenix roebelenii

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Phoenix roebelenii

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Howeia forsteriana at 20 years since planting as 24” box specimens with 2 meters of trunk.

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Howeia forsteriana

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LostInJapan
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Re: Palms in summer

Post by LostInJapan »

Fine looking palms David (not to mention the gardens). All you show with the exception of Trachycarpus fortueni and Chamaerops, are just not capable of withstanding the winters here unless they were completely within the heat island of the inner city. Even then, every 10 or so years a bad frost would at least cripple “successfully grown” specimens of the more cold sensitive “cold hardy palms”. I’ve never seen a Brahea here, though I wouldn’t be surprised if someone has one, or has at least tried one in the open garden. I’ll bet they wouldn't appreciate the wet cold of Fukuoka’s winters however. I’ve seen Bismarckia nobilis sold online as well as at one nursery here, but never have I seen one planted out. My guess is they could grow fairly well if sited correctly, but again, it is hard to say. Scott W. would have a lot to say about this topic, but it seems he hasn’t taken an interest in this board so far.

Here is an example of how Phoenix roebelenii does outside of the urban heat island in Fukuoka. These were planted 3 years ago in a protected courtyard of an apartment complex near where I live. The first year they put on very nice growth, only to be struck down the following January. Then they sat for a year, apparently “dead”, or near dead, then this spring one flushed again, but you can hardly call it lovely to look at. The other two are toast. It is a wonder the apartment management hasn't ripped out the lot. Optimism gone astray? This is not an isolated example. Every P. roebelenii I’ve seen planted outside of the inner city suffers from a similar fate - eventual death. Clearly NOT a frost resistant species.

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David F
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Re: Palms in summer

Post by David F »

Up until about the mid-90’s one just didn’t see Phoenix roebelenii planted in Bay Area gardens, and I had assumed even a light frost could set them back or kill them. Now, they are everywhere here and even more inland where they see more cold. It seems they handle occasional lows of -3°C without problems, but still more reliable under roof overhang or evergreen trees. Here nearer the bay, I’ve never seen any cold damage, ever. They are such a useful sized palm that’s elegant.
MICHAEL
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Re: Palms in summer

Post by MICHAEL »

Everything's so lush and beautiful, as usual, David. The howeas look much happier than they ever do here - they grow fine but are usually burnt up on the top most of the year. Roebelinii are ubiquitous and indestructible here (except I've distructed two - they don't transplant). I've had nothing but trouble getting archontophoenix to establish - the last three years I've planted a number of young ones (about 6' tall) - they do fine till it gets into the 40s and then they fry. Two or three days in the 40s in a row and they're toast. This year I've planted two much more advanced clumps - fingers crossed. Meanwhile, I'm having zero trouble with my coconut (touch wood) - currently nearing the end of its third full winter.

What about all the Madagascan stuff - the Chrysalidocarpus speices? Are they not popping up here and there in our neck of the woods? I have a number of species now - totally heat tolerant (unlike young archontophoenix) and drought tolerant.
David F
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Re: Palms in summer

Post by David F »

Micheal, heat tolerance is just not an issue here in the San Francisco Bay Area, it just seldom gets very hot. So I’m more interested in palms which grow well without needing heat, and aren’t too thirsty, as water supply and cost are going to be much bigger issues in the medium term. I’m tapped out for space in my own garden, and tend towards less rare/larger sized reliable species for my garden designs. It’s obviously a different climate regime if you can sustain a Coconut palm; impossible here. Braheas, Butias, Chamaedoreas, Rhopalostylis are the other taxons I like to use here.
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