PalmsNorth.com

Does anyone have any seedlings of Cycas debaoensis ?

Just seen some available here --> http://www.webjungles.com/forums/index.php?topic=7316.0

( same listing on the IPS board too )

Gawd, that's beautiful.
Have never seen anything THAT pretty!
Barb

Within a few weeks i am the proud owner of a seedling of C. debaoensis

regards, Jeroen

Here is the Cycas debaoensis that I got last year from my friend in Hawaii. He had to cut the leaves off to fit it in the box. It is 4.5 years old from seed, and the caudex is approximately 9" in diameter. The new leaves in the photo grew to around 5' in length. I'll try to post an updated photo later.

This is a great, fast-growing species, and well worth any hassle with dealing with CAS.

Jody

Laaz,

That's a beautiful Cycad!

Dean

That's the most beautiful cycad I've ever seen!

wonder what time of year seeds would be fresh: Early winter? Fall?

Doubt I'd ever get a seedling in Canada so will try the seed route.
I'll buy seeds from anybody who has some fresh ones next year. Or RPS? Cycad forum people?

An updated pic would be great Jody.
Barb

Todd, it's your fault (that beautiful pic).

I ordered some C. debaoensis seeds from RPS.
Pricey!
Barb

Interesting nursery site, plant/seed list includes C.debaoensis.
Barb
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h ... %26hl%3Den

I have to agree that this is probably the best looking cycad I have ever seen. How hardy is it?

Here is an update photo of the full-sized leaves on my largest Cycas debaoensis plant. Sorry for the poor quality of the photo... it is overcast here today, and the plant is not easy to photograph because it is so wide (each leaf is 6 feet long and the overall spread is 7.5 feet). It will definitely be going in the ground this spring.

Unfortunately, I do not know much about this species' cold-hardiness.

Jody

Jody,

Nice! Your yard looks like a jungle!

Dean

Oooooh, Jody, wonderful 7.5 feet...so big you can't get it in the photo frame
And is that a Licuala sp or Pritchardia at left?
Ooooh again!

Barb

Actually, Barb, the broad-leaved palm on the left is a Pelagodoxa.

BTW, Dean, my back yard (which you see part of in the C. debaoensis photo) is actually more like a moonscape than a jungle -- thanks to my dogs! The front is much more jungle-like... as you can see in the photo below (taken last summer):



Can you pick out the 15 species of palm in the photo?

Jody

Hey Jody,

Wow! No, I can't identify all of them. I'm still new to palms and cycads. I do see a Dypsis decaryi. Maybe, a Queen palm!

Dean

WOW Jody!

I'd can only dream of having front yard like that! Thats' Awsome!! Lucky you.

Mark

Jody,
Among 10 of us, I'm sure we'll get the 15...

The only one that's easy for me is the Bismarckia nobilis in foreground right.
Barb

PS--that's one stunning front yard.

Here they are:

1. Copernicia baileyana
2. Dypsis cabadae
3. Phoenix canariensis
4. Dypsis decaryi
5. Phoenix roebelenii (somewhat hidden)
6. Arenga pinnata
7. Brahea decumbens
8. Pseudophoenix lediniana
9. Acrocomia aculeata
10. Sabal miamiensis
11. Syagrus romanzoffiana
12. Bactris gasipaes
13. Bismarckia nobilis
14. Livistona decora (formerly L. decipiens; somewhat hidden)
15. Elaeis guineensis



There are also at least 12 more palm species in the yard that you can't see in this photo. Although I do love living in this climate here in Miami, I don't always like dealing with everything else that living in Miami entails. All I can say is that you need to do the best you can with what you've got!

Jody

Jody,

you need to do the best you can with what you've got!

you have certainly done that...and more

There are quite a few I've never seen, that Dypsis cabadae is a beauty.
Is the base of the trunk swollen like a Hyophorbe?

I don't know how quickly palms grow in Florida...did you plant them?
Hope your neighbors appreciate the diversity of your plantings...it'd be like living next to a botanical garden.

Bet the worst thing about Florida is all the Canadians wintering there

Thanks for the ID legend.
Barb

...that Dypsis cabadae is a beauty.
Is the base of the trunk swollen like a Hyophorbe?

No, it is not swollen. It is a large, clumping palm, and it has actually nearly doubled in size since that photo was taken. Here is some additional info on it: http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/photos/Sp ... abadae.htm

I don't know how quickly palms grow in Florida...did you plant them?

They grow quite fast, and yes I planted every one of them except the Phoenix canariensis, which was here when we bought the house in 1996 (previous owners planted it in the 1950s).

Hope your neighbors appreciate the diversity of your plantings...it'd be like living next to a botanical garden.

Some of them appreciate it. I have also planted palms in three neighbors' yards to try to get the others in the neighborhood interested in planting more palms. It seems to have worked, since there are a lot more palms here now than there were when we moved in (although Hurricane Andrew hitting this area four years before we moved here may have had something to do with that!).

Bet the worst thing about Florida is all the Canadians wintering there

Actually, there are worse things... but there is no reason to go into that here.

Jody

Sheesh, would never have believed #2 is a clumping palm.
I can't imagine having to cut or dig out suckers to retain its solitary presence.
Its fronds are particularly graceful.

Another great thing about your group picture, Jody, is that the colour relationship among varieties is evident,
something I've not seen previously.

Your neighborhood must look spectacular with 3 other homes on board.
Rather than replanting after a hurricane's devastation, I expect some Floridians just give up.
They're lucky to have you there.

Barb

lucky1 wrote:Sheesh, would never have believed #2 is a clumping palm.
I can't imagine having to cut or dig out suckers to retain its solitary presence.
Its fronds are particularly graceful.

Here is a recent photo. IMO, it would be an absolute travesty to remove the suckers from this spectacular clumping palm.

Jody

Agreed...didn't see its brothers on the first pic.

Barb

Nice, Jody, how long ago did you plant it?

Dean

It has been in the ground a little over a year, and it has nearly doubled in size in that time.

Jody

Cool, so it grows pretty quickly.

Dean

The others are opening a little more slowly, but this bunch of mostly C.panzhi. are off 'n running.
Wish the container were clear glass and I could see what's happening below the surface.


Barb

Good for you, Barb. Looks like there doing great in your hands.

Dean

Thanks Dean.
It ain't over yet, though.
I've grown a lot of stuff from seed over the years, only to have it croak at this stage.
Barb

I told you all that I would post a photo of my largest Cycas debaoensis after it was planted in the ground... so here it is (surrounded by just a few of the more than 50 new bromeliads that my wife and I also planted in the yard recently):



Jody

Beautiful, Jody.
Those fronds appear to be 5 feet long!
Morning sun only?

The lacy foliage is stunning.
Barb

Thanks for your kind words.

lucky1 wrote:Those fronds appear to be 5 feet long!

Actually, the longest of the two leaves is 6-1/2 feet long... and the plant is only 5 years old from seed (thanks to my friend Greg in Hawaii, who can grow cycads faster than anyone I know)!

lucky1 wrote:Morning sun only?

It gets very little direct light where it is planted because there are so many large palms in the yard the provide a lot of shade. This species is pretty adaptable in its light requirements, being able to tolerate the extremes of full sun to full shade.

Jody

6.5 foot long fronds and five years old...

The humidity your tall palms in the yard create likely allows this specimen to be so adaptable to sun or shade.
Our dry desert sun is brutal on my little cycads, even with only morning dappled sun.

The alcove in which your C.debaoensis is situated is perfect as those beautiful fronds will fill the space.
Nice bromeliads, too!

Oh to live in Florida.
Barb

Lo and behold, 7+ months and there's something to cheer about:

Cycas debaoensis sending a shoot:


Cycas panzhihuaensis shoot (periscope up!)


Yipppeeee!

It'll be a long time until the C.debaoensis is the size of Jody's (sigh), but at least it's moving along.
Barb

Barb,

Congratulations!! That sure is nice to see!


Steve

Thanks, Steve!

Weird how the C.deba... shoot comes right up through the "two things" (ahem) that went down into the soil.
And the panzhi does look like a periscope just checking out IF it wants to live in this world, ha ha.

I'm thrilled.
Now the trick will be not to over/under water.
Barb

(drumroll)

Tiny thing, but here it comes:


Barb

This one seems to be pushing the seed OUT of the soil!


And look at the size of this THING pushing down into the soil.


Sorry for fuzzy pic. Looks like a second frond is coming too.


These seem to have liked the recent heatwave.
Barb

Looking good Barb!

They are growing strong, you might add a bit of soil to cover the exposed root.
Maybe the roots are down to the bottom of the cup and pushing up?



Steve

Steve,
OK will cover that exposed root.
Thanks for the tip.

I'm dying to see what's occurring below the soil, but I won't risk it.
Will have to wait until repotting time (guessing ?? when that might be, ha ha).
Wish I'd used plastic pop bottles for pots.

Barb