interesting. Only time will tell if its the right mix. I like the idea of passionate palm people (PPP) pushing the limits of cold hardy palms and trying to one up the next guy looking for the ultimate in cold hardiness.

Nanus would not be my idea of a good cross with anything! 😀

I have seen pics of them over in Europe and they are really great little palms!

I had a few this spring from Mike in Chi-town but they rotted off during all
the wet weather last spring. 😥

Personally I'd like to see princpes x nanus... a nice grey nanus too... Now THAT would be a nice palm!

I know that the dwarf form of fortunei (aka wagnerianus) is popular, but I wonder if the dwarf characteristics would pass on to an inter-specific hybrid?

Jim sorry to hear your T.nanus experiment didn`t work out. What size were the ones you planted? I haven`t tried them myself. If I could even find a five gal. or larger to try here. A rare trachy for sure.Paul I don`t think T. princpes would be good for cold hardiness as a cross but would be a great looking palm.Kent as more people in our zones grow palms demand will dictate these experiments.

John

In about ten years I'll have waggie x princeps or princeps x waggie if you guys can wait 😆 😆 😆

That's the ideal cross if you ask me 😀

Bill

Bill I agree they are going to be a great looking Trachy. What guestimate do you think T.princeps x T.nanus cold hardiness limit would be?

John

I really think there all fairly close, within 5f or so, the slower growers can take more duration of cold I think. Jim would probably have a better answer for you. I suspect the duration is more important then the actual low within reason of course.

For instance a palm that saw 0f for three hours and then warmed above freezing the same day is less likely to get permanently damaged then a palm that see's 10f for a few days in a row. Maybe I'll do some tests when have more property some day. Palms are so variable also, 5 palms side by side in the same conditions can all have different results 🙄 So who knows, I really think most plants know when your taking care of them and they'll respond accordingly which plays a big role in overall health of your plants. Just my opinion anyways, and it's worked well so far 😀

Bill

I agree with Bill 100% on this.

I don't know that nanus or princeps are any less hardy than 'normal' fortunei.

I really think most plants know when your taking care of them and they'll respond accordingly which plays a big role in overall health of your plants.

A most interesting comment, Bill.
And a topic I don't think we've ever covered.

Barb

The interesting thing about hybridization is that you can get a palm that grows
faster than both parents!

I really feel Waggie is the toughest(Trachy) palm but any of the slower
growing Trachys seem to be much more cold hardy than a similar
faster growing palm.

Every one of my slow growing Trachys(whether it be Waggie,Naini Tal or whatever)
was totally untouched by last years cold!

The other faster ones with 2 exceptions were knocked to the ground.

I think a WagxPrinceps would basically look like a Princeps looks when
it's small but you never know with crosses-that's why it would be fun.

A TakilxPrinceps would be another great one,so basically anything crossed with Princeps!

I guess the assumption here is that the blue/white undersides of Princeps leaves would be passed on 😛

Barb, there's a great book all about plants responses to people that my cousin was reading and telling me a little bit about. My mom has it now and I'm next in line to get it. I'll let you know what the name of it is when I talk to her.

Bill

Barb, there's a great book all about plants responses to people that my cousin was reading and telling me a little bit about. My mom has it now and I'm next in line to get it. I'll let you know what the name of it is when I talk to her.

Bill

Is it-The secret life of plants?

If it isn't I bet some of their data/stories could be from that book.

Interesting stories of plants used as lie detectors and plants responses to human emotion
like whether or not the person was mad/happy or intending harm to the plants!

This is one of my favorite pictures,sure the little halo over the Needle palm is just the sunlight's
reflection but I had asked the little nature spirits to protect my Needle palm over the winter and I
like to think this is their little shield to protect it,the thing that's neat about it to me(besides that it looks cool)
is this Needle palm lived and the other one died-and it's still going 😀

The sunlight reflection on that Needle is very cool...so's its survival "reason".

Is it-The secret life of plants?

Had never heard of the book, but I'll post the very interesting video link on the other topic.
...and I'll search for the book.

That picture is a keeper, Jim. 😉

Barb

That is a cool Picture Jim 😀

I still haven't asked my mom about the book name but I will.

Bill