Chamaerops humilis & Phoenix canariensis

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:52 am

After a deluge yesterday afternoon and overnight, I wandered out in my garden with camera in hand this morning.
Looks like the Chamaerops humilis and Phoenix canariensis wheren't washed away.
Second photo showing some of the Chamaerops trunk detail and suckering.

Cheers, Barrie.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 2:55 pm

Beautiful!
I'm a fan of Ch. humilis as it seems so tough, and likes the Summer heat it gets down here.
I doubt I'd try a Phoenix, though.
-Erik

Cameron_z6a_N.S. · Post by **Cameron_z6a_N.S.** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 3:58 pm

Barrie, what do you use to protect the Phoenix?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 4:56 pm

Those look awesome

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 5:32 pm

Barrie I love the platform you built to observe those awesome palms you have

Nice Job!

Bill

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 6:37 pm

I figured the platform was built to help harvest seed in a few years when they are tall

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 11:48 pm

Cameron_z6a_N.S. wrote:Barrie, what do you use to protect the Phoenix?

Good question Cameron ... Presently I use an enclosure that has a galvanized steel frame and poly cover.
These palms are planted quite close to a native Oregon/Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) which is rather messy from litter during autumn thru spring. This cover also keeps rain, frost or snow off the palm which helps emmensely.

Eventually, I'll have to do as some of our British compatriots have done (pic below).

Cheers, Barrie.

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:53 am

Barrie,
Do you have more pictures of the protection of that Phoenix?

Bill

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:26 am

Here's a pic for ya Bill from October 2007. The Phoenix was smaller then of course, but for now can still fit in there.
I've only used a heat source once (winter 08-09) when temps dropped below -5ºC (23ºF).

Cheers, Barrie.

October 2007

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:39 pm

As always, Barrie, beautiful.

Looks like your Ch.humilis has 3 heads...the little one I got from you a few years ago has 3 as well.
I love the suckering...more chance of survival.

Great phoenix. Mine is getting almost too heavy to lug around in its garbage can.
It's outside under the roof since yesterday.

That British phoenix pic...how does he get those very stiff fronds straight up like that???
Mine seem too stiff to do that.

Barb

Barrie · Post by **Barrie** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 2:16 pm

You got me curious so I went out and counted the sattelites (suckers) and there's five. If you've ever seen mature pics of these, they're quite stunning.
Seems like you'll need to plant your Phoenix sometime soon. I'm really waiting for an explosion of growth on mine ... perhaps this year. A fellow enthusiast in Surrey (Vancouver BC suburb) has one planted and he said to expect a huge growth surge anytime now.
As far as gathering the fronds to winter wrap ... I'd wager some forcing would be needed. I also believe he trims the lower fronds to aid in his quest.

Cheers, Barrie.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 4:42 pm

Five! Wonderful!

Phoenix planted in the North Okanagan?
Our newest member calls us "bold", but we know we're crazy

Even I'm not crazy enough to plant this Phoenix in my zone, global warming or not.

I hope yours explodes...will live vicariously through yours.
Absolutely L O V E the look when they form a trunk and the "boots" are held high.
I've been trimming the lower fronds to expose the boots, which looks lovely.

But will have to wear an armor of chain mail (spelling?) to get the fronds vertical like your picture showed.

Barb

BILL MA · Post by **BILL MA** » Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:20 pm

Thanks Barrie.

I'll be planting two Canaries with 3' CT this year. Nothing a palm hut can't cover

Much more then one night of heat though

Ratchet straps do wonders for pulling in fronds together even on washys.

15 foot Phoenix, I have a dream

Bill

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:14 am

I'll be planting a Phoenix roebelini today, but it will be dug up and brought inside for winters. --Erik

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:32 am

Why not pot plant?
It would save you and your palm a lot of trouble

Corrosion · Post by **Corrosion** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 8:35 am

hardyjim wrote:Why not pot plant?
It would save you and your palm a lot of trouble

I have been thinking of potplanting as a way of creating the "atmosphere" in my garden too. Some species I cannot never plant out but creating short illusion is worth it. Some roots tend to push out from the drainage holes but it´s small loss for roots compared to plant and dig every year.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Thu Apr 01, 2010 6:46 pm

Jim,
are you married?
Nothing personal, but it might help understand the incomprehensible.
The best answer I can give is, "the W wants it planted, and she wants me to dig it up on October."
I have no idea why. I go through this routine every Spring and every Fall with a myriad of plants.

I have gotten away with one exception, for her Washy, by buying an expensive pot for it:

[img]<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vX ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S7VAj ... GP1282.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm/ ... ">ballroom plants 2010</a></td></tr></table>[/img]

Here is the Phoenix I bought her this week:
[img]<table style="width:auto;"><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_O ... site"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_r-MvN4jW1sE/S7VAM ... GP1291.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:11px; text-align:right">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/terdalfarm/ ... bsite">New Palms Spring 2010</a></td></tr></table>[/img]

She wants it in the ground in a particular place, so it'll go there. In October, I may put it in a nice pot for the winter in hopes it can join her Washy as a life-long potted palm.
The pygmy date palm was on sale for US$15 as it was seriously root-bound and in desperate need of a re-potting. So, if I spend US$30 on a pretty pot next October, I'll call it a deal.
--Erik

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:50 am

Nothing personal Erik
I was.......... ONCE!
I get it.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 8:55 am

--Erik

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 11:17 am

Yup, Jim's got a good idea...pot planting (pot and all).
Otherwise there's transplant shock every time...

Barrie, I tried to pull my CIDP's fronds up like your EPS colleague did.
Mine just seems less supple, maybe because his fronds seem so much longer.

This CIDP...can handle ALL the heat this desert area can throw at it...and wind.
A five-gallon bucket of water poured on it once a week in summer.
Seems happy as a clam.
Spends every winter in the cold building, with lots of light.

Erik, those are great looking specimens.
Nice $$ pot too...I'd still bury it.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Fri Apr 02, 2010 1:43 pm

You can always sink that one in plastic and then bury it,that way you can lift it out of the plastic pot.

Have your wife dig the hole

PalmsNorth.com

Chamaerops humilis & Phoenix canariensis

Chamaerops humilis & Phoenix canariensis

seed harvest platform

Phoenix

In ground vs. in pot