Anyone growing Caryota Maxima?

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:23 am

I would love to hear your experiences and recommendations.

Also,what kind of growth and under what conditions...

Thanks

Mine is finally growing a new leaf-(-:
it did take a while to find this one.

Took<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12001.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... -12004.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:30 pm

Gotta love Caryota's. One of my favorites. Too bad they are totally non hardy. They die the first hard freeze.

2004 Rare Palm Seed Caryota 'himilaya' LOL
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 260062.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 9:28 pm

Very nice Jim and Tim.
When young and for the first few years, I confuse them with Foxtails (Wodyetia).

Stunning huge leaves...look forward to seeing them like this in a few years.

http://www.lundkvistpalmgarden.com/Caryota.html

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:14 am

What happeded to it Tim?

How much did it grow over the summer and what killed it?

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 12:51 pm

Here's how much it grew over summer, it gets totally fried after first hardy freeze........and the Caryota didn't grow much in our climate......I think our soil says too cold since we are close to the ocean:

Fall 2004:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 00433a.jpg>

Fall 2004:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 00434a.jpg>

Fall 2004:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 070022.jpg>

Fall 2004:
<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 0003-1.jpg>

I found this old photo too.......it's an Arenga micrantha.........this was a totally awesome looking palm.....loved it. It too dies after first hard freeze.

<img src=http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/ ... 260063.jpg>

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 3:07 pm

What a shame, Tim, that both the Caryota and Arenga are dead.

For those two, anyone north of, say, Florida should keep 'em in pots, I think

Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 4:33 pm

Hi Barb,

I wish I had a greenhouse! Strange..........but I like finding out when plants die from cold.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Fri Mar 02, 2012 9:12 pm

but I like finding out when plants die from cold.

OK you found out. Now what?

They were too beautiful to lose IMO.
Maybe Mrs. Tim would look after them

I always regret losing a nice plant.
Barb

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 4:51 am

Hi Barb,

Mrs. Tim does not do plants.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:03 am

Mrs. Tim doesn't do plants

Because you don't do laundry...

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 10:06 am

I guess that's an even trade off.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 11:00 am

I don't mean to interupt but what temps did that to it Tim?

TimMAz6 · Post by **TimMAz6** » Sat Mar 03, 2012 3:34 pm

Hi Jim,

the Caryota 'himalaya' and Arenga micrantha are totally not hardy. They died the first hard freeze (like the first night it went below 32F for a few hours).

Rarepalmseeds.com totally hyped up their hardiness back in 2000. Here's what they claimed:

Arenga micrantha
Bhutan Arenga

This is a really special palm! A strange looking, multi-stemmed Arenga that grows to more than 20 feet/6m tall and carries elegant, large, flat, evenly pinnate leaves with brilliant white undersides. Growing up to an incredible
6500-7000 feet (2000-2150m) above sea level, it regularly endures winter snow and HEAVY FROST in its habitat in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas. It is certainly the most cold-hardy Arenga. A. micrantha was described as recently as 1988 from Tibet (would you have thought that any palm grows there?) and has now also been found to occur in Bhutan and NE-India. It is extraordinary how this comparatively large palm should have remained undetected in an area that has been well and truly botanized for a hundred years, yet this is what has happened. Following the initial discovery of a small group of plants in NE-India, when enquiries were made it was found to be growing in several other locations, in some numbers, and is used by the locals for thatching and for the manufacture of brooms. A cool growing palm, used to moist and mild conditions in summer and cold, dryish conditions in winter. Rich soil and an occasional feed would seem to complete the picture of its requirements. A most exciting addition to our range. Last seasons seeds were a great success and produced germination rates well over 90% and very quick growing seedlings. A. micrantha is not available anywhere else! Please also note that we can now offer these seeds at HALF PRICE!!

Caryota sp. Himalaya
Himalayan Fish Tail Palm

Though known in cultivation for a while now, especially in California, where it is grown under the name Caryota urens “Mountain Form,” this fabulous hardy species still is rarely seen around. It is a fairly large, vigorous and extremely fast growing tree (up to 2 meters per year) with a dense crown, frequently seen growing semi-wild in the foothills of the central and eastern Himalayas up to 2400m a.s.l. As indicated by its habitat and by experience from cultivation, it is by far the most cold tolerant Fishtail Palm, guaranteed to stand up happily to cold winters with snow and moderate frosts to -7°C

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 8:44 am

I wonder if they had the true Himalaya form.

I think a lot of seeds may get collected from the easiest palms to get to,
I wonder if anyone really goes for the highest growing(alt)ones that are harder to access.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:45 am

I wonder if anyone really goes for the highest growing(alt)ones that are harder to access.

Thinking of the Stone Gate palms, you're probably right.