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Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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OK everyone I know we went through this before. I want to know if my washy has any filifera traits? I took down a bunch of measurements with hopefully be more helpful in this question. The reason for asking is for a fall protection stand point ONLY, not because I just want to know. We tend to get frost often when it gets here do to the air being somewhat moist. When I tie them up that's it, there not getting untied until spring, so knowing what temperature that is roughly will really help me. I'm not looking for a debate by anymeans just a little advice.
Here's the info that I gathered with my tape measure. The base thickness at ground level unbooted width 14-15". Sorry I don't know metric 😆
Fattest part of trunk about 1 foot off the ground is 17-18" tight to the boots.
Trunk height to the spear 43" from the ground.
Largest frond 52*52" 33" from tip to petiole end, I'm sure theres a name for it but I don't know what it is.
The longest petiole is 38" but the tree isen't super old.
Total tree height 9 feet to the tip.
Frond color is a light yellow/green color and some look like they have a slight touch of silver/whitish in them.
Also when I picked them out at the nursery these ones where not with the rest of the washys there was a clump of maybe 40-50 so maybe the guy gave me them because he new where they were going, and they were hardier. They did hit the high teens in that part of central Fla. I'm might be reaching abit with this. Anyways here's the picture let me know if anyone needs more info.
Thanks, Bill
Posted : 10/09/2009 4:02 pm
The best clue that I can see that it has filifera in it is that the leaf stalks are more green than red at the base. It is one of the easiest ways of telling them apart when the are young. If you are around them much you will notice this to work most of the time.
Shoshone Idaho weather
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Here's to all the global warming pushers, may your winters be -30 below and four feet of snow in your driveway. Because I want you happy.
-Aaron-
Posted : 10/09/2009 7:37 pm
I agree with Aaron about the old boots at the base of the tree.W. robusta has much more of an orange colored trunk boots. I have both Washy`s and W. filibusta. I can tell which is which just by looking at mine now after a few a few years growing them. The W.filifera are much more of a dull olive green where as W.robusta much richer green colored fronds.W. filifera have much longer and slender division in the fingers inwards towards the petiol of the palm frond vs. W.robusta. Now that said I am having a harder time picking out my W.filibusta some have more traits of the original sp. JMO. I think you have W.robusta after looking at the last pic you showed the fingers of the frond.I`ll post some closeups of the three if I get a chance this weekend.
John
Okanagan Palms and Tropicals
6b-7a
Posted : 10/09/2009 10:18 pm
Topic starter
Thanks guys! Like I said I was just woundering if they had any filifera traits. I have the literature but I've never seen one up close that's why I took all the measurements and pictures. The protection will be identical either way, I think I will throw some blankets over it when frost/freeze gets here. I don't want to damage it going into the winter.
One more question. Can a washy be in complete darkness at 45 degrees with it's fronds on, and just the c-9 lights for 4-5 month staight? I dosen't bother needles and other palms. It would be a lot easier to build a insulated structure without a window.
Bill
Posted : 11/09/2009 10:13 am
Topic starter
By the way there was 9 pictures originally, I took one out since it was very similar. I can count! LOL Figured I would put that out there before someone called me on it. 😀
Bill
Posted : 11/09/2009 10:15 am
