brahea armata update
My brahea is a tiny little plant (3 gallon or so) that is situated in a corner quite close to my house...where it will get overhead protection and some protection from the cold. I don't have a lot of faith in it surviving long term in Tsawwassen but you never know.
I was wondering how everyone's b.armata is doing? I suspect that they hate the cold and wet, but I also have heard that they are more tolerant of our slimy winter conditions than butia capitata.
By the way, Sunnyside Nursery in Tsawwassen also has some 10 or 15 gallon butias for $149, some 6 foot tall Italian Cypresses for $199, some Chusquea culeou for too much money...and about a million trachies.
M
The following thread was started by marc [tsawwassen] on March 25, 2008 at 10:08 pm PST
Drop me an e-mail and I will show you my Braheas and also another fair size one on our island. Mine are doing excellent. Cheers, Joe
The above followup was added by Joe, Salt Spring Island on March 26, 2008 at 6:49 am PST.
Marc,
Mine is doing well and it is now in it's third winter. It is against a fence but not near the house. I build an overhead cover for it every winter.
If it does get colder than normal I just put a comforter around it but I don't think I really need to. It has never had winter damage.
Here is a pic of it from this weekend
The above followup was added by Wes North Van on March 26, 2008 at 7:21 am PST.
Is this where you bought your brahea?
Maple leaf didn't get any in this year and I was looking for another one.
How much were they?
The above followup was added by Wes North Van on March 26, 2008 at 7:59 am PST.
Thanks for the feedback Joe and Wes. It looks like it might be OK for now, as long as the transplant didn't shock it.
I bought it at Sunnyside. They are expensive there. They have a few left that are about 10" high with two or three fronds for $35 and some good sized 5 gallon ones for a whopping $149 (or was it $199? - I am not sure, but I think $149)
M
The above followup was added by marc [tsawwassen] on March 26, 2008 at 8:24 am PST.
Mine isn't 3 gallon like I said, it's more like a 1 or 2 gallon.
By the way, I bought a similarly sized Chamaerops Humilis var Cerifera from Southlands nursery for only $19 (about 8 months ago). It was imported from Cistus in Oregon. This little cerifera is a tough little palm. Not protected at all and it is doing great!
M
The above followup was added by marc [tsawwassen] on March 26, 2008 at 8:33 am PST.
Marc, did you get the pics. I sent you? To give you an idea how big my Brahea armata is I just went out and measured the trunk for you. At the base it is 45" inches around and it is 25" inches to the top of the trunk. Cheers, Joe
The above followup was added by Joe SSI on March 26, 2008 at 6:33 pm PST.
See the following link:
http://www.cloudforest.com/northwest/forum/7397.html
The above followup was added by Vlad Pomajzl, Saltspring on March 26, 2008 at 7:37 pm PST.
Thanks Joe. I didn't expect so many photos, and I enjoyed them immensely! I have yet to see much of your place...it's a jungle, to say the least....Nice trachies, fatsia, eucs, etc. The bananas certainly don't need much protection (noticed the green leaf!). Your braheas are very large, which is nice to see they are hardy in your climate. Perhaps I can baby one in a Tsawwassen climate.
Oh yeah, love the sign, too. Maybe someday I can get one that says, "Entering the Tsawwassen Jungle Zone" or something.... Ha ha.
M
The above followup was added by marc [tsawwassen] on March 26, 2008 at 8:16 pm PST.
thanks Vlad, I missed that thread. It'll be good reading!
M
The above followup was added by marc [tsawwassen] on March 26, 2008 at 8:25 pm PST.
I have one with about 3.5' of trunk and one with 3' of trunk. They both have rain covers. They aren't as blue as the ones I saw in LA on Sunday. The LA ones had about 5' of trunk. The trunks were so thick (about 3') that they looked out of proportion to the rest of the palm. Is this common?
The above followup was added by Jeff, Victoria, BC, 8b on March 27, 2008 at 10:15 am PST.