Summer Growth Shows Its Splendor!

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the notable palm growth thus far this Summer:

Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia Robusta): This palm’s largest leaves are now taller than my garage. With 3-4 months left before the first hard freeze, this palm’s growth is truly amazing me.

Needle Palm (R. Hystrix): This well established, 3 year old palm has sent up a number of new pups this year. No sign of flowering.

Sabal Minors: The two well established S. Minors in the front yard have each sent up 5 seed stalks. They are in full bloom and are producing prodigious amounts of cold hard seed. These palms are very hardy, having spent 3 winters unprotected in a fully-exposed, sunny site.

Windmill Palms (T. Fortunei): The 4 feet tall Windmill in the front yard lost its entire central growth spear after the very low temperatures this winter, but it has been sending up new fronds like a champ. The smaller windmill in the back yard that I had declared dead, yanked from the ground and then replanted has sent up 2 new leaves and looks fine.

Pindo Palm (Butia Capitata): This palm is doing well and is being slightly crowded out by the fast growing Mexican Fan Palm.

European Fan Palm (Chamaerhops Humilis): This palm, known for its hardiness in dry climes, is doing quite well on the sun-baked banks of my front yard. Purchased by mail order this year, it appeared dead for the longest time (central spear rot – a recurrent theme) but sent up new growth in the last several weeks. I think it’s really digging this intense heat we’ve been enduring.

Saw Palmetto (S. Repens): Not a lot to say. Slow grower, and in a very shaded spot because of its neighbors.

Sabal var Birmingham: Both of these palms have only been in the ground for a year and are taking their time growing.

Mexican Blue Palm (Brahea Armata) I almost lost this palm last winter (in the house) but it’s doing quite well as the centerpiece to a pansy arrangement on the front porch.

Sabal: Being the Civil War buff that I am, I sprouted from seed a Sabal Palmetto from the battery in Charleston, S.C. It's planted in my front yard and is thriving.