Yesterday my friend Loree at danger garden issued an official agave count. From one "planty" person to the next I understand the sentiment. She issued a challenge knowing how my love of palms reflects her agave buying habits, so today I thought I would share an official palm count.
The palms started collecting in 2006. And to tell you the truth, I didn't have any idea just how many had accumulated.
In the backyard:
1 Trachycarpus wagnerianus
7 Trachycarpus fortunei
1 Phoenix Canariensis
1 Butia Capitata
Plus: 2 Sabal Palmetto
1 Sabal Minor
1 Chamaerops humilis
1 Chamaerops humilis 'cerifera'
Did I mention I've only planted the backyard with palms? I think that leaves room for another 15 or so?
And these are all either left in the ground or in pots, but left outside for the winter? Are they all doing well? I'm curious what else besides Trachycarpus fortunei I can plant outside here in the Tacoma area?
ReplyDeleteMy palms all seem to do well. They spend the winter outside with the exception of the phoenix canariensis. it is outside 99.9 percent of the time, but during cold spells it goes into the garden shed because it's potted. I'm not sure on how your lows are in Tacoma but I'm assuming they fall within a typical zone PNW 8a-8b range. From what I've gathered drainage is paramount and a spot that gets good daytime heating. Definitely plant trachycarpus wagnerianus. Jubaea chilensis is better than butia but certainly more expensive and butia are easy but do require care outside of the mildest locations. Don't bother with Phoenix canariensis in the ground. Sabal minor is hardy and is shrub like and very nice. In sheltered spots certain chamadorea do alright. Also for really sunny spots try chamaerops but know that the 2008 PKW did damage to many.
DeleteAll those palms in your climate?! Extraordinary!
ReplyDeleteThanks, kris. It's a labour of love. But they seem to thrive for the most part in this climate. Heat loving palms don't always get enough summer heat to grow quickly and their cold hardiness can be negatively affected by the wet winters. But that's where proper positioning and amending soil makes a huge difference,
DeleteWow, that's an impressive number of palms in just your back yard! Your enthusiasm for this group of plants has inspired me to plant three Trachycarpus fortunei, a Chamaerops humilis, and I finally found (at Cistus) an inexpensive Trachycarpus wagnerianus. Do you think that T. wagnerianus will be o.k. in a pot outside all winter? Also fell for a Livistona chinensis which is already inside for the winter. Thanks for the enthusiasm and inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Yes!! That's awesome. You will not regret getting a wagnerianus. I think a pot should be fine. If temperatures get near 15F I'd move it close to the house or inside but they should be able to take at least 12F in the ground - once established. Mine was small (and still is) because big t. Wagnerianus can be expensive. I still plan on adding to my palm collection with some needle palms, Jubaea, brahea armata, and brahea edulis!
DeleteIncredible! Thank you thank you thank you for the detailed follow up. I just knew you would not fail to impress.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Loree! I am even considering an agave count, because let's face it, that is getting out of control too!
DeleteSheesh, good job and all you have and how they were used so well!
ReplyDeleteThough you *could* still add a few more palms as understory; you may not be hot enough for some, but are there any small ones like Sabal minor, Rhapidiophyllum, etc that could work?
Thanks! Understory has become the theme of this last year. The palms have grown so much that it indeed am looking to fill in underneath. This year I got my first sabal minor! I love it! Hopefully I'll be able get more. The rhapidiophylllum is another one that does well here but is hard to find. I still would love a nice jubaea and brahea edulis.
DeleteYou have a nice collection! Is Brahea hardy for you? It is my favorite of the smaller palms. Blue foliage with pale blonde flowers, so lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have two Chamaerops humilis 'cerifera' and all the trashy Washingtonia weed seedlings I can pull...
I've been lusting after brahea armata. It's borderline here. The wet weather negatively effects it's cold tolerance it seems and there is little heat in the spring to really encourage it to grow out of damage. But I'm sure in the right micro climate they would do well provided good drainage. I plan on getting one. Less hardy is brahea edulis and it does well here.
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