PalmsNorth.com

Still making plans for my parent's coastal property. This year will be about paths and walkways--important, but dull.

In the meantime, I am seeking out palms growing nearby for ideas on what will do well. So far, I am up to two (2) species: Chamaerops humilis and Trachycarpus fortunei. I have found flowering specimens of both in the area, which I take as a good sign.

Today I was at Seaside, Oregon (46oN latitude) and found small palms planted out front of a sea-side hotel that fronts right on the beach. On this "hot" July afternoon, air temp was about 15oC; water about the same. Steady winds NW.
Fronds were wind-tattered but otherwise fine; one Chammie was in bloom.
Palms were small--I would have figured an expensive hotel would have paid for big trunked palms.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/7552928864/" title="DSCN1279 by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8427/7552 ... 1c8c_n.jpg" width="240" height="320" alt="DSCN1279"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/7552934974/" title="DSCN1282 by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7128/7552 ... f6d9_n.jpg" width="320" height="240" alt="DSCN1282"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/7552936986/" title="DSCN1281 by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7552 ... 76a1_n.jpg" width="320" height="240" alt="DSCN1281"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/7552932570/" title="Erik sits among palms at Seaside beach CROP by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7267/7552 ... 18fb_n.jpg" width="320" height="213" alt="Erik sits among palms at Seaside beach CROP"></a>

Those beach pics are amazing!

Oh, you want beach pics? Here is one of me with the lifeguard, a college roommate:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/7552929974/" title="Ben Erik lifeguard surfboard Seaside beach CROP by drterdal, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7119/7552 ... 005c_n.jpg" width="282" height="320" alt="Ben Erik lifeguard surfboard Seaside beach CROP"></a>
Hoping he'll teach me to surf. Assuming a wetsuit is available.

Yup, Erik, wind-tattered is common for palms that get nailed by wind.
Since I planted my Trachy next to the house the fronds are pristine.

You're already missing the OK heat?
Drive north on the interior highway to Canada's Okanagan Valley (52N).
Smokin' hot here.

You're right, paths and walkways aren't the stuff of creative gardening when you love palms.

I would have figured an expensive hotel would have paid for big trunked palms

Yeah, but all those 2x4s that prop up big newly planted palms to withstand storms for the first 2 years look like crap.
I'm amazed Trachies can handle the salt spray...in Vancouver palms on the beach are getting huge!

Thanks for the great pics...more please.

Barb

Good point about the ugly posts to hold up the palms until they are established. Saw some of those on the In-n-Out palms in Ft Worth Texas in March. But in Texas, palms would establish fast; up here, might take years.
Which brings me back to my project at my parents'. I was showing my mom where I want to plant a big trunked Trachy. she asked why not plant a small one I already have (e.g., one of the waggies I drove across the country last month). I said that as cold as it is here, they basically don't grow, so what you plant is what you get.
Am I right? Or do Trachies put on real trunk growth were hot summer days are <20 C?

PS, yes, I am cold here. Yes, I do find that funny, after last summer in OK.

Hi Erik,

Yup, Trachies grow big in Vancouver...eventually.
They love the coast.
Lot bigger ones over on Vancouver Island...just couldn't find the pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathan_cohen/7161765565/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/keepitsurreal/2676435462/

http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=Vancouver ... s:21,i:201

As to Waggies, probably need hotter summers with less humidity.

When I travel to the Coast, the humidity affects me too, and I feel colder than I do here in the interior.
For some unknown reason.

You'll get acclimatized, Erik...

Barb

Eventually, eh? Were these planted as trees about this big, or as little potted palms in the last century.
My folks are betting up there in age so I want at least some plants they can enjoy sooner rather than later.

Were these planted as trees about this big, or as little potted palms in the last century

I think they were planted before the turn of the Century

Just convince your folks to enjoy the beauty of smaller palms.
Once they're big palms, they won't be able to reach the growing point.

Barb