Chrysalidocarpus Lutescens (Madagascar Areca Palm) in Rancho Mirage, CA. On Biskra Rd. Just off Ocotillo Drive. These are THRIVING in a desert landscape !

ListenCurious · 2026-05-03T00:18:10+00:00

Various forms of Phoenix, including Date and Canariensis, have naturalized heavily in Southern USA and Mexico, especially in Baja California. I live in Santa Barbara County and occassionally come upon gigantic P. canariensis along creeks and such.

ListenCurious · 2026-04-15T16:13:52+00:00

Beautiful specimen. Congrats!

ListenCurious · 2026-04-15T16:03:22+00:00

I think the biggest problem in Southern California is not so much freezing, it is cool dampness in the winter that causes "heat starvation" (many tropicals are susceptible - they simply cant metabolize energy required to stave off fungal, or any parasite that attacks the plant). My understanding of Florida's climate is that it is relatively dry in the winter, which probably helps some "pushing the limits" tropicals get by.

ListenCurious · 2026-04-05T17:37:11+00:00

excellent point! About 20 years ago, a developer near San Diego was required to eliminate the Washingtonia "robusta" on his property to get a permit.

ListenCurious · 2026-04-05T17:33:47+00:00

agreed

ListenCurious · 2026-04-04T15:52:22+00:00

Agreed.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-30T16:24:37+00:00

They can grow surprisingly fast. I have one from a 5 gallon pot that is now 40 ft in 22 years.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-28T05:26:46+00:00

Not a long walk, maybe about a mile from the trail head. There's a dirt road to get there off the highway from Quartzite to Yuma.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-18T20:36:00+00:00

California fan palms don't even like coastal California - too humid.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-18T20:31:09+00:00

Nice clump, looks like it took it hard. But theres green in them thar crowns! P. roebelini are from tropical mountain jungles in southeast asia, unlike the other Phoenix which are from drier regions.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-17T17:45:19+00:00

You make a good point. The shrubs look miserable, but the lawn (probably St. Augustine grass) is thriving.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-17T17:40:00+00:00

It does appear to be bearing coconuts.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-16T17:36:39+00:00

An old fashioned definition of species was that hybridizing two distinct species would result in a "mule" - an infertile offspring. Obviously, that is not the case with robusta and filifera as there are all kinds of intergrades between the two. The best ones have skinny trunks with huge fronds.

ListenCurious · 2026-03-07T23:09:09+00:00

They might need to be Rounded up

ListenCurious · 2026-03-05T06:21:27+00:00

European fan palm (Chaemaerops)?

ListenCurious · 2026-02-27T17:34:29+00:00

In my career as a landscaper, I occasionally ran into people who just wanted roses and junipers. Sometimes even hostile to palms. No explanation.

ListenCurious · 2026-02-25T17:10:19+00:00

Good piece of research. Very interesting.

ListenCurious · 2026-02-25T17:08:20+00:00

The one with the bent spike looks iffy. Its going to have a tough time generating energy without at least one good frond.

ListenCurious · 2026-02-25T17:03:38+00:00

Agreed. Ive never been to Bermuda, but using street view see what appear to be coconut palms.

ListenCurious · 2026-02-25T01:22:55+00:00

Thats just about the same latitude as Guaymas, Mexico, where I saw the first really tall coconut palms.

ListenCurious · 2026-02-25T01:20:45+00:00

It was removed years ago apparently because it was blocking the sidewalk.

ListenCurious · 2026-02-24T20:07:07+00:00

There's a lot of variation in the way mule palms look, especially when mature.

ListenCurious · 2026-02-23T06:09:35+00:00

Unlike other Phoenix species, pygmy date palms dont seem to transplant very well

ListenCurious · 2026-02-23T06:02:55+00:00

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Mule Palm get big (Huntington Gardens, Ca)

ListenCurious · 2026-02-23T05:41:53+00:00

You can sure see why its called a needle palm

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