New palms etc for 2011

(@terdalfarm)

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Plans change. This year, my goal was to bring home a tall trunked Trachy from Texas, but my truck died (en route to get a tall PDP, ironically) so that will have to wait.
I spent the money of several smaller things that look nice.
I planted a largish (15 gallon pot) Butia. It occupies the spot where a Brugmansia was last year, in between the two Sabal mexicana. One of those is alive and growing. The other had spear pull in March and looks to be dying, but there is a green petiole left so I have it in place just in case. I planted a triangle palm nearby, too. It was pulled out of its pot on the patio by the strong winds when the tornado came nearby last week and it asked for a summer in the soil. Obviously it will get dug up in October, but for now it fills the visual space left by the death of the big Sabal palmetto last September. I cut off the leaves of that. There was a little cabbage palm next to the big one which amazingly is putting out a 2nd leaf now. 😯 So small no one but me knows it is there but it makes me happy.
Inspired by Jim's Abyssinian thread, I put an Ensete in the spot where where my big Butia used to be. I put a Siam Ruby banana where I once had a Musa basjoo that did not come back this Spring. Sure hope Jim thinks imitation is the sincerest form of flattery....
The most drama is from the three bottle palms which I pot planted. They sure look tropical. Wow.
I have two little C. humilis cerifera I'm not sure where to plant. Probably near the Sabal "Louisiana." Also a couple of "coontie palms" (Zamia sp.). Not sure where or not to try them in the ground overwinter. Probably not.
Other plants are of less interest here, except to Jesse. Another fig, as both of mine made it through winter (well protected); a supposedly hardy Gardenia, etc. --Erik

Posted : 30/05/2011 5:50 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S.

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Erik, nice purchases! I think some people have had success with Zamia integrifolias in zone 7b unprotected, you should try them outdoors! I have 6 "Hardy Chicago" figs on their way to me this week, I can't wait to try them out. What kind of Gardenia did you get? I think some of the better ones for hardiness are "Chuck Hayes", "Kleim's Hardy", "Frostproof", "Griff's select", etc.

Posted : 30/05/2011 8:01 pm

TerdalFarm

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The Gardenia is "Kleim's Hardy." I kill a Gardenia each year, so I'm not holding my breath but I'll try. It will get protected like the needle palms nearby.
The two "Celeste" figs that made it through the winter are up against the west wall and so bake all summer. Killed to the ground despite being piled high with hay and buried in snow, but I'm not complaining. I added a "brown turkey" fig. It is pretty much over the pomegranate. I have two Punica now and am fed up--they are killed to the ground each winter and so never flower for me, like they can do up in Tulsa.
I forgot to mention the Yucca "Sapphire skies" that replaced a dead needle palm. I like the looks of it a lot. I know little about Yucca but hope to hear from folks here who are experts. I think I have a good climate for Yucca.
Anyone else have opinions on the Zamia?
--Erik

Posted : 30/05/2011 8:52 pm

JackLord

(@jacklord)

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I kill a Gardenia each year

Hibiscus are my victims. 🙁

Anyway, good purchases. Any pics yet?

Posted : 31/05/2011 11:43 am

hardyjim

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Keep an eye on the Aby Eric...
they are giant water pigs with out much of a solid root structure.

It may need to be braced at least by next year.

I hope I follow my own advice cuz mine will also be
vulnerable when it gets a few more leaves!

Posted : 31/05/2011 12:18 pm

lucky1

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Yeah, pics, Erik... 😕
Can't wait to see the planted Hyophorbes 😛

You'll love that Yucca rostrata "sapphire skies"...beats a blue-eyed cowboy anyday 😛

Sounds like some interesting changes...oh yeah, and no goats this year to gnaw on stuff.

Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 31/05/2011 2:15 pm

canadianplant

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Sometimes change is good!

Sounds like a good haul. cant wait to see some pics.

Grats on the figs surviving too. Ive heard of brown turkey surviving in chicago...

I hope you dont have a winter like last for a really long time...

And i have to bite.... Pm me if you can, always nice to hear of a good plant haul!

"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien

Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/

Posted : 31/05/2011 6:55 pm

Jubaea

(@jubaea)

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That will keep you busy this summer watering and busy next winter protecting. Where are the pictures? As for the Zamia I would try pot planting it in the ground considering you have soil that drains well then bringing it inside for the winter. My Zamia furfuracea's leaves burn quite easily even in the upper 20's.

Posted : 31/05/2011 7:45 pm

TerdalFarm

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OK, here are some cell phone snap shots. Not great, but give a rough sense.

Photo 1 is the "beach" where I am sitting now, drinking a glass of wine and watching the sun go down. Air temp is already down to 27 C, but quite humid. In February W and I had fun posing there amid the snow for y'all.

Photo 2 is the bed north of the patio. The amazingly still alive C. radicalis are in there. Absolutely stunned. The big greenhouse was over them all winter, but it got to +8 F in there when it was -22 F outside. I was sure they were goners.

Photo 3 shows the "trachy bed." Avatar Butia is in there, too. The new Siam Ruby and the pot-planted Caryota are most prominenent, but the mere fact of Trachycarpus survival is fantastic.

Photo 4 shows what I call the "Sabal" bed in honor of the cabbage palm there last year. The surviving Sabal mexicana (foreground) is the sole survivor. The new Butia (yesterday) and triangle palm (summer visitor) fill the space.

Photo 5 shows me in the same spot with a palm forum visitor, Ben. He is young and way into palms. We two palm geeks + W spent the evening with the legendary John, whose garden I showed y'all a YouTube clip of last year.
--Erik

Posted : 31/05/2011 9:31 pm

lucky1

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Thanks for those pics, Erik.
Nice to see the fresh start and new palms.

That caryota (or is that the third bottle?) in third pic...is it OK?
Maybe holes in pot bottom are plugged and water isn't draining well?
Just a thought.

You and I can console one another when we screw up pruning the bottle palm stems.
It's not easy, but looks fabulous when done correctly, really accentuating the bottle shape.

Gorgeous Butia.
You're off to a good start, Erik (again) 😆 😆
Barb

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 31/05/2011 9:45 pm

TerdalFarm

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In 3rd photo, Caryota is on the left, bottle on the far right.
Yes, Caryota mitis looks a bit ratty. Got put out on the patio a little too soon and took a little frost damage. Also, it does not like the wind.
I just love the bottle palms. For now they are pot planted in their original pots. Not sure when to put up.

Posted : 31/05/2011 9:49 pm

KrisK

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Looks great!
I've driven by john's house once, I think it'd be amazing to visit. He's a god among men as far as growing palms in this area. How did his big Birmingham fare this winter?

Posted : 31/05/2011 10:32 pm

TerdalFarm

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Yes, a palm god. W says he is "very sweet" and we both agree incredibly talented. If you have even heard of a cold-hardy palm, he has grown it from seed and has likely tried it without protection in Tulsa. I am in awe.

As a tease, here is a Trachy he planted for a neighbour of his. Don't you wish you lived near John?

Posted : 31/05/2011 10:50 pm

lucky1

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He could come visit 😀

Nice job, John.

Barb
PS--so is he a member of PN?

If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.

Posted : 31/05/2011 11:26 pm

TerdalFarm

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Barb,
John is a member of PN.
I posted a link to a youtube of a broadcast TV show about his palms last year ( http://youtu.be/DWXrnWZMK2s).
Ben is just getting into palms and I'll try to get him to join us.
--Erik

Posted : 31/05/2011 11:42 pm