Trachy and Garden Winter Update – Page 2 – Cold Hardy Palms – PalmsNorth.com

hilashes · 2010-03-03T16:05:06Z

Hello all, hope this finds everyone well! I've been popping in and out of this site for a few weeks to see everyone's updates, although I hadn't had any time to post anything because of such a busy New Year. I figured now it's about time to update you with my garden pics. We haven't had any snow since beginning of December and since January here on the Canadian BC coast, Vancouver has seen consistent temperatures of at least 3 C above average. We are still enjoying unseasonably warm highs of 11 - 16C (52 F and higher) with overnight lows of 6 C. Needless to say my two 4 ft. Trachy's are loving it, pumping out a couple of spears. However, a few overnight frosts in Dec. seemed to have damaged the leaves a bit, hope it'll be okay? (see pics). for weeks now I've enjoyed watching my day lilies come up, everything sure has a head start to spring! As far as my 2 Musa Basjoo they were seriously hit with hard overnight freezes back in November so it was a little too late to protect them. since they have been brown mushy stumps at the soil. I'm hoping there wasn't any rot to the corm, so I'm anxious for the warmer weather to bring them back to life again (if they're not already gone). My Adam's Needle seems great, but the New Zealand Bronze Flax is flattened, again from the few overnight freezes. Seems that each year I'm getting more brave and learning so much, that I've got some plans to add a nice red Hibiscus bush this summer, as well as a Bird of Paradise...nice pops of color for the tropical landscape. Here's the link to my Picasa Web Album for the winter update.So nice to be back into the Palms North groove and looking forward to reconnecting with everyone again - it's been long enough! - Heidi :)

hardyjim

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Everything looks awesome Heidi!!! 😀 😆 😀 😆

Posted : 05/03/2010 5:43 pm

hilashes

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thank you Jim! 😀 I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.

Heidi

~ palms on the Canadian west coast

Posted : 05/03/2010 6:15 pm

hardyjim

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thank you Jim! 😀 I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.

Heidi

Me too,I would plant banana plants if I had an axe to break the frozen ground open! 😉

Posted : 05/03/2010 10:12 pm

hilashes

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thank you Jim! 😀 I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.

Heidi

Me too,I would plant banana plants if I had an axe to break the frozen ground open! 😉

Ha ha...too funny Jim! I thought you had bananas tho, no? You should try one this year with everything else you've been so successful with!
I forgot to mention I love your Pindo Palm - maybe I should find one. I love my Trachys but I have a feeling the Pindo would be my new favorite... they're so beautiful!

Heidi

~ palms on the Canadian west coast

Posted : 06/03/2010 12:47 pm

hardyjim

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thank you Jim! 😀 I can't wait to get back into the garden, I have so many plans this spring.

Heidi

Me too,I would plant banana plants if I had an axe to break the frozen ground open! 😉

Ha ha...too funny Jim! I thought you had bananas tho, no? You should try one this year with everything else you've been so successful with!
I forgot to mention I love your Pindo Palm - maybe I should find one. I love my Trachys but I have a feeling the Pindo would be my new favorite... they're so beautiful!

Heidi

They are cool aren't they 😀

I can't wait until the end of summer(no really I can,it's just an expression 😉 ),
It should have a beautiful form!
I cut it back in spring because all the leaves were those wimpy kind from when they are grown under shade cloth in a
greenhouse.
It also got a little crispy on the edges from be in a plastic kitchen trash can all winter,so it was trimmed again.
This one is a B.eriospatha and is beginning to show some gorgeous blue color already!

It should really take of as the spear has generated some luxuriant growth over the winter!

Butias are really cool because they fall right dead (hopefully not dead)between Washys and Trachys
as far as cold hardiness!

So you kind of have to take good care of them and you have some margin for eror-
probably down to 10f if dry.

Oops-
Forgot to mention,I do have banana plants,not much to see last year but.....
this year I saved a nice corm/stalk about 5" tall that shouls produce a good sized tree
this year.
I also have about 5 varieties and plan to try Ventricosum and/or Saba for some serious yard bling-
I think they both can get up to 30' tall! 😯

Posted : 06/03/2010 2:25 pm

hilashes

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Jim I can't wait to see pics this summer of the Butia and see the size of the banana tree! I'm really going to look into where I can find a Butia in Vancouver. I called my local nursery here in the 'burbs' and they haven't even heard of the variety! should be an interesting hunt!

Heidi

~ palms on the Canadian west coast

Posted : 06/03/2010 7:50 pm

TerdalFarm

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I'll chime to to attest for my love of Butia (my avatar photo). Both of mine came through an unusually tough winter in good shape. So, although hard to find, they are worth hunting down. My "avatar' Butia was from a nursery in Oregon, so they must be recognized as a "Cascadia" palm by at least some folks. --Erik

Posted : 06/03/2010 8:23 pm

hilashes

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Awesome Erik, thanks for sharing that, it inspires me for my hunt! 😀

Heidi

~ palms on the Canadian west coast

Posted : 06/03/2010 8:37 pm

BILL MA

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They are really cool palms Heidi, I'm glad your going to hunt one down. I picked up two myself in NC this year 😀

Bill

Posted : 07/03/2010 10:50 am

lucky1

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Heidi,
Agree that you'll love it.

One caution though...take a deep breath before you look at the Canadian nursery price tag on a Butia.
I just about had a heart attack when I found a little 2 gallon one...the nursery manager took pity based on my reaction and said "I'll let you have it for only $55.00...reg price was I think over $75.

Found mine at Art Knapp's last year.
There's probably a franchise near you, and their one or two palms (only) that they brought in are probably still sitting there at those prices.

Loves the heat, grows like mad, mine seemed to push spears for 11 out of 12 months! Mine responded nicely to heavy watering once a week in summer.
I love this palm.
Here it is in the middle.

Let us know if you find one.
Barb

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

Posted : 07/03/2010 1:20 pm

hilashes

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Barb - thanks for your info! The price tag DID cross my mind since it seems to be a hard find, but I'll check out Art Knapp for sure. There are also a couple of nurseries in Langley I have in mind....oooooooh I can't wait! :happy8: Beautiful pic by the way, the Butia is so stunning! I'll definitely let you know when I find one!

Heidi

~ palms on the Canadian west coast

Posted : 07/03/2010 1:50 pm

Anonymous

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Heidi ... Maple Leaf Garden Center in West Vancouver has been stocking Butia capitata for the past few years now.
It would be the first place I'd check if I lived on the mainland. They may not be in until April though.
After losing mine after 10 years I miss it and may buy another this year. A fungal attack killed it last spring.
Here it is (was) in it's glory days.

Cheers, Barrie.

Posted : 07/03/2010 2:33 pm

TerdalFarm

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Barrie,
that was spectacular!
Any hind-sight on how to avoid fungal attack?
Since this thread is on Trachy, when I unwrapped my Trachy yesterday I saw fungal growth on the trunk. I sprayed lots of copper soap and prayed.
--Erik

Posted : 07/03/2010 3:02 pm

lucky1

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I'd be interested in Barrie's reply on Butia fungal attack too.
Particularly wet weather?

Maybe post a new topic (so we can find it again...) 😉

That was a beauty, Barrie, what a loss.

Barb

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

Posted : 07/03/2010 3:32 pm

hardyjim

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That's a beauty Barb!

Barrie
That's a shame,such a nice looking palm 😥

Posted : 07/03/2010 3:48 pm