Any one growing Trithrinax campestris?

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:54 pm

I would love to know if anyone out there is growing Trithrinax campestris in a zone 7 or colder. I thank you for your info

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:25 am

I don't know about zone 7 or colder but it is growing here in a wet zone 8. This is a very hardy palm once it gets some size to it. It is a very slow growing species but could do better in a hot dry climate. I am sure with protection in the winter and hot summers it could survive a normal zone 7 winter.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:26 pm

Thanks!
It will be the next palm I will try, hopefully it will make it in a zone 5b. Just knowing that it lives in a cool wet zone 8 gives me hope! So far the needle palm is the only real survivor here that I have.

Fred · Post by **Fred** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 6:47 am

I have two Trithrinax campestris I have been growing in pots. they are about a foot tall. I plana to plant them out this next Spring here in the SC upstate zone 8a. I alos will try to grow the Alligator Palm(A. wrightii-can"t spell the genus, lol)I have heard it may grow here. It is a pretty glacous blue palm as well.I grow a lot of different Agaves and lots of Sables, Tracy's, Butia and other palms here. I am attempting to grow a Rhapis excelsa here also. We will see. It is in avery protected spot beside my chimney out of any wind and shaded from noon onward. I am hoping for the best.I am going to grow some bananas next year. The Basjoo gets very large here without any protection.

PhilMusa · Post by **PhilMusa** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 9:18 am

DesertZone,

How are you caring for your Needle Palm in a Zone 5b which is similar to where I live just north of Toronto?

Regards

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:50 am

Hi and welcome PhilMusa

I don't do much to help my needle palm along. It was a very small plant when I bought it and still is, except the leaves are divided now

It has shot up two new plants since I have had it

, I tried to trance plant one, but had no luck with it

I cover it every winter, becuase it is the only one I have right now, and I also paid alot for it. I will cover it as long as it stays small enough to do so. I don't think it needs to be covered, but is just insurance

I keep it in full sun, and have found that it does not like to be in the wind. I think it might do better if it was in part shade, because it grows slower in the heat of summer

It has put on more growth in the past month then it has all summer

P.S. I cover it with one thing or another -hot caps, a plastic milk jug, or what ever else I can find that lets light in and moisture out, make shure there is a hole near the top.

james brascher · Post by **james brascher** » Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:44 pm

DesertZone, I would not move your needle to the shade. I don't grow that palm because I don't have the heat it needs. Remember that palm grows in Florida, where temps in the 100's are common. You might water it more in the heat though. It is native to hot humid conditions. It is a naturally slow growing palm, I am impressed it is doing as well as it is. The nice thing about it staying smaller...it's easier to protect.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:12 am

Yea...I don't want to plant it in total shade, but I am think some afternoon shade might be nice

, I will try another one in part shade and see if it does better, even my yucca rostrata on the north side of the house does better then the one on the south side of the house, but I don't think it is going to like the winter back there.

I think you are right, they like the warmer weather, but here in the desert plants like it when the soil cools down. Even my agaves grow more in the spring and fall (late summer) here.

PhilMusa · Post by **PhilMusa** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 10:12 am

Thanks Aaron for the info.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Mon Oct 31, 2005 11:22 am

Thank you.

If I can ever be of help let me know.

The info I give may not be the best, but seems to work best for me. I change my mind all the time if I find new or better ways and what works well here my not be good for other gardners in other states or conditions.

banana joe · Post by **banana joe** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 2:03 pm

I have some that I grew from seed a couple of years ago. I will plant them in another year or so. I keep them in my unheated greenhouse. Joe

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 3:09 pm

Hi Joe,
How hard was the seed to start? I have never been good at sprouting palm seeds unless they are from the sable palms.

banana joe · Post by **banana joe** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:29 pm

Aaron, I had no problem germinating them at all. I germinated them in my greenhouse. I also grow Rhapis excelsa in a sheltered spot now coming into Winter number 4. I'm impressed with it. I've had one survive 5 Winters once, but it perished from lack of Summer irrigation. Cheers, Joe

Okanagan desert-palms · Post by **Okanagan desert-palms** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 4:56 pm

Hi Joe and Aaron . I have just taken my seeds out of the fridge where they have been for a month to cold stratify them. I was wondering what my best meathod for germination with Trithrinax campestris would be? I was thinking baggie meathod would be best as then I could check for mold ,any thoughts?
John

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 5:55 pm

Can you answer that question for us Joe? Baggie method or plant in ground, how did you get yours started?
Thanks

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Tue Aug 29, 2006 7:33 pm

Baggie method here, but it just popped after buying it in February.
Best thing about these thou is I NEVER had any problem with mold on them and I had MAJOR problems with every other seed from the source.
If you can get FRESH seeds, I would use baggie.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:17 am

That is great kansas

How many have sprouted? That is one of my favorite palms

.

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:22 pm

Just one has popped. But to tell you a secret, If another pops, I was going to mail it to you as I know you have wanted one for as long as I can remember.

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 7:28 am

I just got 3 Trithrinax campestris seeds from Nate. Do you cold stratify them? How long? Cutting away a little of the seed coat and pre-soaking worked with my sabal seeds. Has anyone tried it with this palm? I had planned on using a rigid sealable plastic container as it seems to retain moisture better than the baggy and is easier to remove one seed without disturbing the others.

I appreciate all the lelp that I can get.

Allen

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:30 am

All I can do is tell you what I did. Don't know that it will work for you or not.
But I got mine in Feb. Soaked for 3 days in warm water changing every day.
Put them in the baggie method and nothing happened for 6 months with bottom heat.
Figured I had nothing to lose, I took them and sanded them down to the "white" in a spot.
Soaked again for 2 days then back in the baggie. Within a week, I had a root. So you might try to scar them.
The good thing about these seeds is even thou they take FOREVER, I have NEVER EVER had a mold problem with them.

DesertZone · Post by **DesertZone** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 11:38 am

Thanks Kansas

That would be awesome

Sounds like a good trade

Alchris · Post by **Alchris** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 1:27 pm

Thanks Kansas.

Allen

Cali-wanna-b · Post by **Cali-wanna-b** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 6:56 am

Jumping in on this thread a little late, but I had two Trithrinax campestris seedlings. I have learned that these palm absoultely hate damp soil. I lost one seedling in less than two weeks because I used the same soil mix as my other palms. These babies love a cactus style type soil. The faster draining the better.

Kansas · Post by **Kansas** » Sat Sep 09, 2006 9:01 am

AWSOME, thanks so much Cali. I will DEFINATLY keep that in mind.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:42 pm

D-zone,this thread is an old one but the blue needle palm is one of my favorites,so much so that I considered digging mine up today

however I will give this a go here in 5b this winter,this palm has been pretty solid all summer so why not?Here is a pic when it was planted a little over 3 months ago-
<a href="http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 8003-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/mm22 ... 8003-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Trithrinax campestris"></a>

Wes North Van · Post by **Wes North Van** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:22 am

I have one about the same size however I have not planted it outside yet. I need to find a spot. It is very slow growing for me. Another reason I haven't planted it outside. I was hoping by keeping it inside , it would grow faster. No such luck.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:56 pm

My guess is once these get a few nice fans they will take off! Post a pic in the spring when you plant it,hopefully I will have a pic of this one to post next spring

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Any one growing Trithrinax campestris?

Any one growing Trithrinax campestris?

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Growing Trithrinax campestris

Don't move to the shade.

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