PalmsNorth.com

This is a follow-up to my end-of-winter post on my Oregon coast palms:
http://www.palmsnorth.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5574

In brief, I am starting a palm (etc.) garden at my parent's cabin on the northern Oregon coast, where I hope to live some decade. It is on a south-facing hillside about a kilometre from the Pacific ocean, and up about 300 meters above sea level. I was recently moved to the northern most tip of USDA zone 9, which led me to take foolish risks.

I was out there last week to check on the plants and to move potted tender plants inside. Per my plan, I do no winter protection at all. None. Zilch. No mulch, fungicide, cover etc. I want to limit the garden to plants that do not need any special care.

First photo, the view from the driveway, with a fire going (it was chilly, but above freezing); some potted plants visible along retaining wall (the lot is very steep):
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/ ... 54/player/" width="640" height="456" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

Detail of bed in front of cabin. Retaining wall on left, Hydrangea that is years old on right. In back is Chameadorea radicalis. Figured it would be a goner after the lows of ~15 oF in December, 2013, with no protection, but it was not fully defoliated, recovered, and even flowered over summer!

In foreground as Sabal minor I started from seed and of course they were unfazed. Two largish Sago palms (Cycas revoluta) were dead, dead, dead at end of winter.
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/ ... am/player/" width="640" height="638" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

In the foreground is a new cycad, Dioon edule I planted in May to replace one of the dead sagos. Hope it performs better.

Here is a closer look at the Chameadorea radicalis that recovered:
<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/ ... am/player/" width="425" height="640" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

This photo shows a planting bed I'm making in the front, on a steep bank. Right/upper is the street. Left/lower is the gravel driveway. The very steep bank in between faces south and gets winter sun; it is very well drained (and presumably of water-soluble nutrients). In the foreground are some small palms: thew two waggies, then Trithrinax brasiliensis (plants May 2014), then the Nikau palm. Rest are various fun plants from Cistus nursery. And assorted weeds.



<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/ ... am/player/" width="640" height="425" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

Very cool, will be anxious to see how they all progress in time.

I was most astonished by the recovery of the Nikau or "shaving brush palm." When I first saw it in May, I assumed it was dead. Then, I saw some green, so I didn't pull it out. It grew some while I was there into June. I was gone until October and amazed at how much it had grown in one summer, starting from nothing:

<iframe src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/drterdal/ ... 95/player/" width="640" height="425" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe>

Thanks for the report. Will be looking forward to see how it progresses.
That must be one cool place to stay.

Cool is right. I hate Oklahoma Summer heat; there in Manzanita, I heat the cabin in Summer.

Interesting assortment of palms. Cant wait to see what happens with em.

Erik how very cool that the Nikau and Chamaedorea made it...
Probably made you a betting man

The two waggies and Trithrinax are gorgeous, obviously love it there.
Sad that the Sagos died, but Sabals are among your favorite anyway.
My 2 sagos, that go inside in winter, always suffer in summer unless they get huge amounts of water.

Sorry I don't recall, but is the CIDP dead?

Barb

Most impressed with the the Nikau survival Not trying any Butias? The Sago Palms are good to -5C then its downhill all the way without protection

Man Erik, great spot there and a very interesting climate... Oh the possibilities!

Andy,
Yes, I'm astonished by the Nikau survival and recovery!

might try a Butia in 2015. I tend to think of them as wanting more heat (hey, what palm doesn't!). I figure any palms you see growing along the English coast should work. Other suggestions?

Paul,
what are your possibilities? I can get a good assortment of plants at Cistus, also in Oregon.
--Erik

Barb,
I hadn't posted on CIDP as sad. Yes, dead. It had some green in May so I hoped it would recover but it didn't.

The Trithrinax is my first. I made it through that cold winter quite well, and recovered nicely over the Summer.
--Erik

I would've guessed CIDP making it over the Trithrinax, but hey you proved otherwise.

The Waggies will be nothing short of stunning this time next year.

Barb

Back here.

Wow, what difference a year makes.

This winter? Warm, not even a frost. All winter! Contrast that with a record low for the day in early December, 2013.

All palms are looking great and growing. Even the super tender shaving brush palm is pushing a spear. Chamadorea radicalis trying to bloom. Air temps up to 67 oF this afternoon!

But, dry. Will water and fertilize tomorrow. And take some pics.

Cool spot...the cabin looks well maintained.
Looks like a nice Waggie in there as well.

A couple waggies, dug up and moved from Oklahoma in 2013. They came through last winter's record cold just fine, of course.
And pushing spears now!