CIDP in Tofino?
I am wondering if anyone has tried planting Canary Island Date Palms in Tofino and if they could last there long term? I read somewhere that they are 9a in Tofino and CIDPs don't need a warm summer to do well (hence seeing them in the Bay Area). It would be an interesting experiment for sure if someone planted a grove of them around town by the water....
The following thread was started by Damien on November 19, 2009 at 11:46 am PST
CIDP would probably do ok there if protected from too much moisture in Winter. I've had a tubbed CIDP for three years, when December rolls around I drag it close to the patio doors where there is overhead protection...also, this location faces South which has probably enabled it to survive. Last spring it did experience a spear pull but re-grew four new spears the Fall ...unfortunately the cold weather has prevented the spears from opening up into fronds..I'm really hoping for a mild winter !
The above followup was added by Neil in Victoria on November 19, 2009 at 1:51 pm PST.
The spears tried hard to open up...I'll have to wait till Spring..should be interesting.
The above followup was added by Neil in Victoria on November 19, 2009 at 2:10 pm PST.
Another pic
The above followup was added by Neil in Victoria on November 19, 2009 at 2:14 pm PST.
Try again !
The above followup was added by Neil in Victoria on November 19, 2009 at 2:16 pm PST.
One more try .....lol
The above followup was added by Neil in Victoria on November 19, 2009 at 2:22 pm PST.
I'll get used to this yet!
The above followup was added by Neil in Victoria on November 19, 2009 at 2:24 pm PST.
Your CIDP looks great....do you think you'd ever plant it in the ground?
How moisture tolerant are CIDPs in winter? Is there another feather palm which is more moisture tolerant in winter that would work better for Tofino and the BC coast in general?
The above followup was added by Damien on November 19, 2009 at 3:36 pm PST.
I know that CIP can hanle the moisture, however they don't like a heavy freeze. That's what gets the center spears or damages the fronds. There are huge CIDP on the southern Oregon Coast from Gold Beach south to Brookings and that region gets a ton of rain. In the Dec. 1990 freeze the Gold Beach Phoenix were heavily damaged, but recovered. I have been there to photograph them and speak with some of the locals. WE did plant one here on SSI back in Spring 1999 and it made it nearly a decade without any protection, however it finally packed it in from a prolonged cold spell. I o have one in my garden and right now it's unprotected. I only give it protection when we are expecting a deep freeze like last December 2008. My Phoenix has been outoors 5 years or so. Cheers, Joe
The above followup was added by Joe, SSI on November 19, 2009 at 4:09 pm PST.
I read that the CIDP is hardy to around -8C but how long can it stay at that temperature without killing it?
Would perhaps Jubaea Chilensis be a better long term feather palm for Tofino?
The above followup was added by Damien on November 19, 2009 at 4:16 pm PST.
Jubaeas are way hardier than CIDP, they have no splkes and tolerate moisture better, so long as they are well drained. If you can find a nice size one, you will be much happier with it over the long run and the Jubaea won't freak out everytime it stays below 25 for an extended period of time.
Jubaea is a much better choice for our climate than CIDP palms in my opinion. You might only need to protect it every ten years instead of every five years or every other year with the CIDP.
The above followup was added by James on November 19, 2009 at 4:35 pm PST.
Jubaea wins the cold hardiness race hands down over Phoenix. There is a Jubaea here on SSI that was planted April 1999 and it's still growing and it has never been protected. I woul say Jubaea woul be long term on the far west coast. Mature Phoenix on the Oregon south coast defoliated at 13 F., but recovered when the milder weather returned. Damien I will send you a few pics. of Jubaea growing on our island. Cheers, Joe
The above followup was added by Joe, SSI on November 19, 2009 at 8:39 pm PST.
cidp are not way hardier than -8C. They'll get some damage from -5C onwards in moist conditions.
They absolutely must have airflow around the crown. I've had 2 planted outside for years. Last winter both had spear pull. One in a dry bed however has recovered much slower than a more exposed one , though against a south facing wall, This one is fully recovered and still growing.
I am pretty much a solid zone 9a equivalent. The larger the palm , the much better it will tolerate cold.
We get lots of winter rain and drainage is paramount in winter. In summer, you can pretty much stand them in water, whilst they're growing.
My failing was to drape thermal bags around the crown , which collected moisture. They didn't strictly get damaged from the cold but from moisture collecting on the thermal bags which froze around the crown .
My winter low is -5C, with last years min getting to -5.6C on about 3 or 4 occasions.
I am yet to get an airfrost here, with temperatures around 12-13C max(hitting 15C a couple of days ago) and overnight lows have been no lower than 6C since 7 November. (averaging around 8 or 9C).
With no frost forecast and the same temperatures for the next week in a continued southerly airstream, we're getting of lightly this year to date!
Phoenix will survive long term but a lengthy spell of cold and more particularly a daytime high of no higher than zero C (32f)(which last year I experienced for the first time in about 20 years) is what will cause fatality, unless the crown is kept dry.
Locally, there are some nice 8 footers with good trunks forming. In Manchester City centre -6 miles away they are unprotected along with dozens of Chammies permanently. Those plants received no protected and probably got to around -4.2 from what I remember last year.
Joe is on the right track, protect only when necessary but allow plenty of airflow around the crown and protect the base with mulch, I use dried conifer leaves. They dry out very quickly and seem to be thermally retentive.
Paul .
The above followup was added by paul m murray on November 21, 2009 at 3:12 am PST.