Jungle Music Palms and Cycads Nursery

Nursery Hours:
Monday -Saturday 9AM-4PM

Phone: (619) 291-4605
TO EMAIL PHIL OR STAFF, CLICK HERE


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PALM TREES, CYCADS & TROPICALS

SHORT PLANT BLOG
PLANTS FOR SALE

SPECIAL SALE ITEMS

 
One of the Best Selections of Rare Plants Anywhere!

NURSERY LOCATION - ENCINITAS, CALIFORNIA
YES, WE'RE OPEN FOR BUSINESS TO THE PUBLIC
MONDAY -- SATURDAY
9AM - 4PM

                                   NURSERY IS MOVING SOON
                   WE WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED

Banner New Plant Arrivals Feb 2019
      

NEW PLANT ARRIVALS & DISCOUNT PLANTS
PALM TREES, CYCADS AND TROPICALS - SHORT PLANT BLOG

                                                    
                                                                
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THIS PAGE HAS CURRENT POSTS FOR  JANUARY - FEBRUARY, 2025

REMINDER: POSTS HERE UPDATED EVERY SEVERAL DAYS, SO RETURN
FREQUENTLY/ LOTS OF OUR FAMOUS BLOG ONLY 
"TEN DAY SPECIALS" BELOW.

HOW THIS BLOG WORKS
New plant arrivals, desirable species and requested plants included 
New species described every few days, most recent posts at top of thread 
Jump to older Blog Threads from links below.  
Blog discusses palm trees, cycads and tropical plants
LEARN ABOUT PALM TREES AND CYCADS
Brief comments given below.  We trim this thread frequently to maintain 30 day run.
Information on sun requirements and cold tolerance given if available
Pictures of mature specimens shown when possible
In depth posts with lots of photos on some species
PRICING ON PLANTS SHOWN
On some plants, pricing given with the post
You can use quick link for all our prices:
PALM PRICES OR CYCAD PRICES
SPECIALS AND SALES
Specials below apply to drop in visits or mail orders.  Photos are representative.
All specials have a termination date and always expire when the current thread expires
Ten Day Specials  expire ten days after date of posting and are marked in red color. 
For any sale prices, you must mention all Blog Only Sale Prices when purchasing
DIRECTIONS TO NURSERY
CLICK HERE for printable copy of DIRECTIONS
450 Ocean view Ave, Encinitas, CA 92024 Hours: M-Sat, 9AM to 4PM
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Phone: 619 291 4605
Email:  phil@junglemusic.net  or 
click here FOR INSTANT EMAIL TO Phil 
MAIL ORDERS 
 Most orders sent in boxes with Fed Exp.  No international shipping.  
 Plants shipped in pots with soil.  For larger plants use trucking services.
DELIVERIES (larger orders or larger plants)
To almost anywhere within the continental U.S.  Quite affordable.
We deliver or we utilize independent trucking services on any size plants.

 WE ANSWER ALL EMAILS.  CLICK HERE TO CONTACT US:  EMAIL PHIL


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MORE FEATURED PLANTS ADDED EVERY FEW DAYS

YOU'RE AT CURRENT BLOG THREAD FOR JANUARY - FEBRUARY, 2025
 

See previous months postings at end of this page


 

BALLOON PLANTS ON SPECIAL
Click Balloons to see ONLY ACTIVE SPECIALS
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Phil Bergman, Blog author

 

New Expanded Hours: Mon-Sat, 9AM to 4PM 
 



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                     OUR NURSERY MOVE IS UNDER WAY


           OUR ENTIRE STOCK WILL BE MOVED WITHIN A FEW WEEKS


IT'S A SLOW PROCESS - 600,000 PLANTS
WE'LL POST THE NEW ENCINITAS LOCATION SOON -
MAIL  ORDERS AND SALES WILL CONTINUE AS NORMAL

                                            
 
PLEASE REALIZE SOME PLANTS ARE CURRENTLY
AT OUR PRESENT NURSERY, OTHERS AT OUR NEW LOCATION

 

 


MOVING SALE!
GOING ON RIGHT NOW


25% OFF ALL REGULAR PLANT PRICES.
THIS SALE ENDS FEBRUARY 15TH

DISCOUNT APPLIES TO VISITS OR MAIL ORDERS (WHICH WE'RE DOING) AND EVERY PLANT SHOWN BELOW AND ALL PLANTS SOLD DURING THIS SALE.  VISIT US OR CALL AND YOU SAVE 25%!

SALE ENDS IN 3 DAYS!

                    



WITH THE PREDICTED RAIN,
WE'LL BE CLOSED
WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY
FRIDAY UNCERTAIN

PHONE CALLS WELCOME
FEEL FREE TO CALL 619 291 4605

 

 

                          MONDAY, 12 FEBRUARY, 2025  

COCONUT PALM
COCOS NUCIFERA


A GORGEOUS TROPICAL PALM
VERY LARGE BRIGHT YELLOW FRUIT
VERY DIFFICULT TO GROW IN SOUTHERN CA 

There is hardly a palm more beautiful than Cocos nucifera, the Coconut Palm.  Although no one knows for sure it's original native habitat, presently they are found naturalized in tropical areas around the world.  They tolerate heat and sun, live right near salt containing oceans and get to a height of about 40 feet.  The yellow colored fruits are produced in abundance.  You might recognize store bought coconuts that are brown.  These are the seeds and within the thick fibrous husk of the fruit.  From a cultural point of view, this palm doesn't have a lot of cold tolerance.  It succumbs with temperatures below the upper thirties F.  There are few if any Coconuts flourishing in Southern CA.  Once in a while you'll hear of one that's gotten overhead.  But, invariably, even these die.  All the photos here were taken in the Miami, FL area.  We do carry them from time to time in smaller sizes but try to talk the customer out of getting one.  But, you may be able to grow one inside.

Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera
Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera
Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera
Cocos nucifera Cocos nucifera Coconut Palm

 

DIOON ANGUSTIFOLIUM
FORTY YEAR OLD SPECIMEN


NEEDLE LIKE LEAFLETS
LOVES SUN, HEAT & IS VERY COLD HARDY
SHOWING YOU AN OLD AND LARGE SPECIMEN


Recently we acquired this forty year old specimen from a private cycad garden.  It is in a 25 gallon container and has a caudex that is 11 inches wide and 18 inches tall.  It is definitely coning size although we don't know the sex of this plant.  The main characteristic of this species and the Latin derivation for "angusti" is "thin".  It is known mostly by the fact that it has very thin leaflets.  Some would give it species status while others (most) consider it to be a variety of Dioon edule.  This Mexican species has stems that are typically under three feet in height, although taller specimens exist in habitat.  Leaves are three to four feet long and leaflets are a quarter inch in width.  It prefers full, hot sun and is cold tolerant into the upper teens.  Such temperatures may burn the leaves but often the plant survives.  It is an attractive species because it is not overly large, doesn't get tall or big, and will hold many leaves, all with a large number of the almost needle like leaflets.

You'll note on the leaflet detail photos that you can "see through" the leaves because leaflets are super thin and spaced apart from each other.  Many find this very desirable.  This species will sucker freely at the base as seen below.  Leaf color is green, sometimes with blue or silver tones.  This plant is for sale.  It was dug and we'd give a very good price on it.  Just email me for more information.

Dioon angustifolium  Dioon angustifolium  Dioon angustifolium 
Dioon angustifolium  Dioon angustifolium  Dioon angustifolium 
Dioon angustifolium  Dioon angustifolium  Dioon angustifolium 

 

SYAGRUS PICROPHYLLA HYBRID
SUPER RARE SYAGRUS HYBRID

A SHORTER & PRITTIER ALTERNATIVE TO THE QUEEN PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL ON 25 GALLON SIZE THAT ARE TALL

I have only two of these extremely rare hybrids of Syagrus picrophylla.  The seeds were produced by the same hybridizer that created the Coconut Queen Palm.  I do not know what they are hybridized with and probably can't find out.  The hybridizer is in his mid eighties and a bit forgetful.  Plants are in 25 gallon containers, have been outdoor grown in sun.  They should prove to be a very interesting hybrid palm and, I think, prttier in appearance than the common Queen Palm. They are quite tall for their pots and too tall for typical shipping or mail order - but can be delivered.  The last photo is of the pure Syagrus picrophylla by G.M from PACSOA.  We only have one or two remaining.  They are presently about 14 feet tall in their pots.  Only a few left.

REGULAR PRICE THESE 25 GALLON $775
TEN DAY SPECIAL THESE 25G 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Syagrus picrophylla hybrid Syagrus picrophylla hybrid Syagrus picrophylla hybrid
Syagrus picrophylla hybrid Syagrus picrophylla hybrid Syagrus picrophylla hybrid
Syagrus picrophylla hybrid Syagrus picrophylla by Gileno Machado PACSOA  

 

VARIEGATED RHAPIS EXCELSA
EXOTIC - TEND TO BE SMALL, MINIATURE PALMS


DON'T LIKE TOO MUCH NITROGEN
LIMITED SUPPLIES AVAILABLE - NEVER INEXPENSIVE
TEN DAY SPECIAL ON ANY VARIEGATED RHAPIS WE HAVE

This is another post to remind readers that we still offer a good supply of the highly coveted variegated Rhapis excelsa.  Known as the "Gems of the Orient", these striking plants typically have yellow or white variegation on green leaves.  Most plants at mature size are three to six feet.  There are many exotic varieties - most popular in Japan where affluent collectors compete to obtain the most striking plants.  Propagation is by divisions only.  So, one must mother plants for divisions so you'd have a plant to sell. 

The plant leaflet photos below are an assortment of our Nursery plants.  The variegation consists of very narrow bands of yellow on green.  They are sort of hard to see here.  On any given leaflets there are lots of these narrow, subtle stripes.  Sizes available are 5 & 15 gallon and maybe a few larger.

Contact us if you are interested in getting one.  BTW, these are never inexpensive plants.  And, they are all different.  The variegation seems to be different from leaf to leaf on all varieties.  Prices on our 5g start at about $150 and the 15g at $450 or more.  IMPORTANT: These variegated Rhapis essentially want no fertilizer.  Fertilizer tends to drown out the variegation with nitrogen.  As we have an injector system on all our plants, it’s very difficult to “starve” these plants.  You’ll probably be better at growing them than us as you can easily avoid giving them fertilizer.

A 15 gallon plant is shown in the first six photos with close-ups of the variegation on some leaves.  Following are photographs of plants we still have at the Nursery or have sold from the Nursery.

TEN DAY SPECIAL:  25% OFF REGULAR PRICE ON ANY VARIEGATED RHAPIS THAT'S FOR SALE AND IN STOCK


Variegated Rhapis excelsa 15g Variegated Rhapis excelsa 15g Variegated Rhapis excelsa 15g
Variegated Rhapis excelsa 15g Variegated Rhapis Variegated Rhapis excelsa 15g
Variegated Rhapis Variegated Rhapis Variegated Rhapis
Variegated Rhapis excelsa Variegated Rhapis excelsa Variegated Rhapis excelsa

  

CHAMAEDOREA CATARACTARUM
THE CAT PALM



A SEMI-DWARF CLUSTERING PALM
SEMI-DWARF TO SIX FEET
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE

This species of palm has been sold under the name "Cat Palm", which is an abbreviation for "cataractarum".   For Chamaedoreas and in the past, it was fairly easy to find.  Nowadays it's very difficult to find, especially with mature size as shown here.  It is a clustering palm that gets six feet tall.  It really doesn't form any trunk.  It likes water as it has a native habitat near river beds.  It is cold hardy into the mid 20's F. and I'd recommend, at most, a few hours of sun or filtered light.  It is native to the southern areas of Mexico and possibly into areas of Central America.  With less than adequate water it tends to look scrappy.  At the nursery, we offer mostly large plants, either 10 or 15 gallon size.  They typically are suckering with a near mature height.

REGULAR PRICE THIS SIZE $245
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Special for your discount.


Chamaedorea cataractarum Chamaedorea cataractarum Chamaedorea cataractarum
Chamaedorea cataractarum Chamaedorea cataractarum Chamaedorea cataractarum
Chamaedorea cataractarum Chamaedorea cataractarum Chamaedorea cataractarum

 

DYPSIS PEMBANA
SINGLE TRUNK OR SUCKERING
NATIVE TO PEMBA ISLAND


TAKES FULL COASTAL SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZED PLANTS

There are both single trunk and suckering forms of this species.  Nowadays, most of the plants available of this species are the suckering form.  Both get to a height of 25 feet, have an attractive green trunk and a light colored crown shaft.  Leaves have a graceful arch and the leaflet color is green.  It's a great alternative for the garden.  Note how the trunks are beefy but not overly large.  The plants on special are already suckering.  Along our coast it will take part day sun but I'd recommend filtered or morning sun inland.  The plants on special are in 15 gallon pots and are ready to acclimate to your garden.  We do have smaller sizes available.  may have larger plants available.  I cannot tell you whether the plants we have (from seed) are the single or suckering type.

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON $245
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Special at the time of purchase.  The 8th photo of a garden plant is c/o  late friend Al Bredeson.  The last photo is by tranquilometro.


Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana
Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana
Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana by late Al B. Dypsis pembana photo by tranquilometro

  

ROYSTONEA REGIA
THE CUBAN ROYAL PALM



TALL, SINGLE TRUNK SPECIES
ELEGANT WITH LONG CROWN SHAFT
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

This super popular palm is native to south Florida and Cuba.  It gets a very tall trunk with a height of forty feet or more.  The crown shaft is long and a prominent green.  The base of the trunk is swollen just above the ground.  Often, you'll also see bulging in the mid-trunk.  It is a full sun plant and some are growing it in desert areas with success - in full sun.  Cold tolerance is like a King Palm, about 25 degrees F.  The 5 gallon we have are about four feet tall height in their pots.  Basal diameter is about 2 inches.  We also have 15g and bands.  We are hoping to offer larger sizes than shown here shortly.  There's a shortage of this species on the California market.  The Royal in the 8th photo was taken in San Diego.  
 
REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $135
TEN DAY SPECIAL THESE 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Mention this Special for your discount. 

READ MORE ABOUT ROYAL PALMS

 

Roystonea regia Roystonea regia Roystonea regia
Roystonea regia Roystonea regia Roystonea regia
Roystonea regia Roystonea regia Roystonea regia

 

DYPSIS ONILAHENSIS HYBRID
COULD END UP BEING SINGLE TRUNK OR A SUCKERING PALM



SHOULD TOLERATE COASTAL SUN WITH MEDIUM MAATURE HEIGHT
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE


This pure species is a suckering palm from Madagascar but can also be found as a single trunk specimen.  The crown shaft is often white or silver.  The plants on sale here are a hybrid of the Dypsis onilahensis.  Unfortunately, we do know know what it’s hybridized with.  So, it’ll be a surprise if you figure it out.  It may have either flat or droopy leaves/leaflets and white to silver crown shafts.  Overall height should be about twenty feet as a guess.  We can’t be sure as it’s a hybrid.  It should like coastal part day sun, perhaps more, and should be cold tolerant to the mid-twenties F.  The plants on sale are the 5g size with an age of about 5 years from seed.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $155
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Dypsis onilahensis hybrid 5g Dypsis onilahensis hybrid 5g Dypsis onilahensis hybrid 5g
Dypsis onilahensis hybrid 5g Dypsis onilahensis hybrid 5g Dypsis onilahensis hybrid 5g
  Dypsis onilahensis  

 

TRITHRINAX CAMPESTRIS
BLUE, SUCKERING FAN PALM
VERY COLD HARDY

 

LIMITED NUMBER OLD SUCKERING 5G
TEN DAY SPECIAL ONE GALLON SIZE

This South American suckering fan palm comes from Argentina and Uruguay.  From these locations, you might suspect it could have quite a bit of cold hardiness, and this is the case with not only this species of Trithrinax, but of the genus as a whole.  Availability of seeds of this species has been sparse to nonexistent.  And, as a young plant, it is quite slow growing.  Consequently, to get a good sized container plant can take a decade or more.  We are fortunate to offer some one gallon juvenile plants as shown below.  I'd estimate their age at 4 years.  They will need acclimation to full hot sun and leaves will be intensely blue.  This is a perfect selection for someone who lives in an interior area with lots of heat.

Overall height of this species is up to twenty feet.  Multiple stems are produced, but usually the number is just several.  Leaves are small, typically about two feet wide.  The segments of the leaves are pointed and sharp.  Trunks retain old leaf bases but, like Washingtonia, eventually fall off.  This is a drought tolerant species and can take temperatures well into the 100's F. and cold tolerance is into the teens.  Of note, most specimens I've seen are blue. 

REGULAR PRICE ONE GALLON $70
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

But, remember to mention this special when purchasing to get this price.


Trithrinax campestris 1g Trithrinax campestris 1g Trithrinax campestris 1g
Trithrinax campestris 1g Trithrinax campestris 1g Trithrinax campestris 1g
Trithrinax campestris Trithrinax campestris Trithrinax campestris

 

ARCHONTOPHOENIX BEATRICAE
AN  UNUSUAL TYPE OF KING PALM



SILVER BACKS TO THE LEAFLETS – GREEN CROWN SHAFT
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE

Common Name(s):  Alexandra King Palm, Alexandra Palm, the Alex Palm
Native Locality:  Northern and Central Queensland, Australia, both along the coast and inland
Overall Height:  70 to 80 feet in habitat but usually up to 40 feet in domestic gardens in sun
Trunk Diameter:  12 inches, sometimes swollen at the bottom.  Young trunks brown, older gray
Leaf Length:  6 to 10 feet
Leaflets:  Color dark to grass green, silver on the underside
Crown Shaft Color:  Olive green, sometimes a bit brown mixed in.  Slight bulge at bottom occasionally
Presence of Ramenta:  Absent
Flower Color:  White or near white
Seed Size:  1/2 inch
Other Comments:  This species holds a nice large crown of leaves with a tall, gray colored straight trunk.  There is a possible sub-species, that I will discuss below


REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $60
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZ 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember:  mention this Special to get your discount when you purchase.  The last photo shows a naturalized  colony of this species on the Big Island, the Island of Hawaii. 

Archontophoenix alexandrae band Archontophoenix alexandrae band Archontophoenix alexandrae band
Archontophoenix alexandrae Archontophoenix alexandrae Archontophoenix alexandrae naturalized HI

 

KING PALM
ARCHONTOPHOENIX CUNNINGHAMIANA



MEDIUM TO TALL, FULL OR PART DAY SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL 4 INCH JUVENILE PLANTS


The popular King Palm is also known as the Piccabeen Palm or Bangalow palm.  It is native to several areas in Australia.  It can in habitat get to sixty feet tall, but in Southern California is usually not over 40 feet tall.  It is crown shafted with a gray trunk.  The crown shaft is green with some brown speckled areas.  Leaf length is 8 to 10 feet.  It is not particularly rare.  Other species of King Palms are.  (we grow them all).  Ramenta is present on the back of the leaflets, a hallmark of this species.  Cold tolerance is about 25 degrees F.  The plants below on Special are 2 to 3 year old seedlings in 4 inch pots and easy to mail order.  Some  are multiple but most are singles.  Easy to mail order, weather permitting. 

REGULAR PRICE THESE 4 INCH SEEDLINGS $55
TEN DAY SPECIAL 4 INCH POT SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


We do have other sizes for sale
.


Archontophoenix cunninghamiana 4 inch Archontophoenix cunninghamiana 4 inch Archontophoenix cunninghamiana 4 inch
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana 4 inch Archontophoenix cunninghamiana 4 inch Archontophoenix cunninghamiana 4 inch
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

 

SABAL BRAZORIENSIS
DWARF FAN PALM NATIVE TO TEXAS

NATURAL HYBRID BETWEEN TWO SABAL SPECIES

 

VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZED SEEDLING
S


 
Sabal brazoriensis is a naturally occurring dwarf hybrid fan palm that was discovered in Brazoria County, Texas.  It is a cross between Sabal minor (a small dwarf species) and Sabal palmetto.  Identifying this hybrid puzzled taxonomists until genetic studies found that (in the long ago past) these two species hybridized.  It's location presently is known only to occur in Brazoria County.  Leaves are green and very large for its height.  Mature heights range from ten to twenty feet. It is extremely slow growing - so it'll be short for quite a while.  Leaves are very costopalmate - as opposed to other species.  Trunks are thick.  We germinated and are growing some of this sought after species.  It is touted to be super cold hardy although I cannot give an accurate number for you.  Some say it'll take close to zero degrees F.

REGULAR PRICE THESE RARE BAND SIZED PLANTS $70
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE



The photo of the garden specimen is by Brian F. Austin at PalmTalk.


Sabal brazoriensis band Sabal brazoriensis band Sabal brazoriensis band
Sabal brazoriensis band SYAGRUS OLERACEA 5g Sabal brazoriensis band
  Sabal brazoriensis palmtalk by Brian F. Austin  

    

LEPIDOZAMIA PEROFFSKYANA
A "USER FRIENDLY" LARGE CYCAD

GREEN LEAVES – NO SPINES
MEDIUM SIZED MATURE
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE AS SHOWN


I enjoy talking about this species because it is one of my favorites.  It is a large species over time.  I say 'user friendly" because this is one of the few species that has absolutely no spines; none of the leaflets, none one the stems.  A leaf brushing across your face feels no more intense than brushing past a Maiden Hair Fern. We have a huge selection of this species.  I am going to show you an assortment of plants.  Below are a few of the main characteristics of this species:


*Large species with trunks slowly getting to over ten feet
*Leaf length typically six to eight feet, sometimes bigger.
*Trunk diameter to 18 inches
*Smooth petiole with no spines
*Great for strong filtered light or full sun along the coast
*Large interesting cones
*Leaflets soft and glossy green in color
*New leaves emerge upward, older leaves lay more horizontal
*Easy to grow

I've found that even customers who say "I only like palms, not cycads" tend to love this species.
The plant size on special are our band sized seedlings.  Most have about three leaves presently, bigger than shown below.  These bands can be shipped.  I am also showing some garden specimens. 

REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $75
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Lepidozamia peroffskyana Lepidozamia peroffskyana Lepidozamia peroffskyana
Lepidozamia peroffskyana 15g 7.5 inches ( Lepidozamia peroffskyana Lepidozamia peroffskyana 15g 7.5 inches (

 

DIOON MEROLAE
SLOW GROWING SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED CYCAD


GRAY-GREEN LEAFLETS
TEN DAY SPECIAL OLDER BAND SIZED PLANTS

This is a slow growing New World cycad species that comes from Mexico.  It is very attractive.  One of the things that is particularly nice about this species is that the crown size is compact and not that large.  For this reason, it fits into a small sunny location in the garden where no other plant would work.  Its leaves are a silver-green in color (can be just green) and it holds many leaves.  An extremely old plant might have a foot or two of trunk.  In the wild there are specimens that are possibly a thousand years old with many meters of trunk, often leaning over toward the ground.  But, from a practical point of view, it is a small plant.  If you grow this species, you'll probably find that it will take fifty years or more to get three feet of trunk. 
 
Cold hardiness is into the low 20's F. and it prefers full sun except for harsh desert climates.  We offer many sizes of this species from seedlings up to trunked plants that are many decades old.  For mail orders, the band size is easy to ship.  These are not newly germinated seedlings but rather plants with an inch and a half or more of caudex.  Most germinated five years ago.  If you want larger, we do have citrus pot, 15g and boxed sized plants. I hope that you like this cycad; it's one of my favorites. For upscale landscaping, nothing beats it.

REGULAR PRICE THESE OLDER BAND SIZE JUVENILE PLANTS $125
TEN DAY SPECIAL PRICE THESE OLDER BAND SIZED PLANTS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

BTW, if these don't sell out, all will be repotted into 5g pots shortly.

Dioon merolae band Dioon merolae band Dioon merolae band
Dioon merolae band Dioon merolae band Dioon merolae band
Dioon merolae Dioon merolae Dioon merolae

 

ENCEPHALARTOS FRIDERICI-GUILIELMI
VERY RARE SOUTH AFRICAN BLUE CYCAD


COLD HARDY - SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZE MATURE
END OF SUMMER SALE PRICE THIS ACTUAL CYCAD

This species is endemic to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa.  These regions are arid and subject to semi-regular fires (evidenced by the scorched and blackened trunks).  Plants grow in sunny locations.  This species is small to medium sized.  Leaves are approximately one meter long.  Stems are stout and can get up to a height of  four meters over a few centuries.  E. friderici-guilielmi is primarily a solitary stemmed plant but can make some basal suckers.  This is a beautiful, fine leafed and blue cycad.  They are moderate growers and are an easy size to manage in the garden.  The leaves are unarmed, and are not pokey.  This species tends to be very cold hardy as well tolerant of heat.  Cold tolerance is down to about 20 degrees F.  This cycad also needs a soil that drains well.  They can get into rot problems if the soil stays too moist.  As this is not a large cycad, I would place it in the foreground of a planting.  We’re putting on Sale a 15 gallon plant that is about twelve years old and has a caudex of 4 inches.  This plant can be mail ordered in a big box.

REGULAR PRICE THIS ACTUAL 15 GALLON CYCAD $740
TEN DAY SPECIAL SALE THIS ACTUAL 15 GALLON CYCAD 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi 7 g caudex 4 inches Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi 7 g caudex 4 inches Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi 7 g caudex 4 inches
Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi 7 g caudex 4 inches Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi 7 g caudex 4 inches Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi 7 g caudex 4 inches
Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi garden Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi garden Encephalartos friderici-guilielmi

 

ENCEPHALARTOS NATALENSIS
MEDIUM SIZED GREEN CYCAD 


NATIVE TO SOUTH AFRICA

TEN DAY SPECIAL GREAT LANDSCAP READY 15 GALLON

This is a South African cycad species that has green leaves and makes a medium sized
adult plant.  By this I mean you, over several decades, will get a plant with perhaps 4 feet of
trunk.  It's crown width is about 8 feet.  It likes full sun and heat unless you are in a desert
locality.  It is a quick grower and has cold tolerance to the low 20's F.  It can go even to lower temperatures if you give it some cold protection.  It is also known to be a reliable and relatively fast growing cycad.  This is a mainstay species for any cycad garden.   We’re offering a 15 gallon with a caudex of 6 inches on sale with our End of The Summer Sale.  This plant can be mail ordered.  If this plant sells, we have others of similar size available as well as smaller and larger sizes.

REGULAR PRICE THIS ACTUAL 15 GALLON CYCAD $800
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS ATUAL 15 GALLON CYCAD 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Encephalartos natalensi 15g 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches
Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches
Encephalartos natalensis Encephalartos natalensis Encephalartos natalensis

 

ALOCASIA CAL-ODORA
THE MINIATURE ELEPHANT EAR
NEVER OVER ABOUT THREE FEET TALL



TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

Customers often shy away from the regular Elephant Ear 
Alocasia because of it's potential size of up to eight feet with huge leaves.  There is even one species that gets super tall and almost takes over the garden.  But, what I'm showing you here (Alocasia Cal-Odora) is a true dwarf with plants that never get much above your knees.  The leaves are a foot wide and color is green.  They are an ideal plant where you want a low profile companion plant to cover the garden floor.

This species can take full coastal sun or part day sun and filtered light in all areas.  They do like and respond to water.  We sell a ton of these but do have limited supplies of five and fifteen gallon plants.  We often put them on sale for reduced prices.  When people see how they perform they often come back for more.  In the firsts six photos below I’m showing the 5 gallon on sale.  I’m showing a photo of a larger 15 gallon which is also available.  Also, we offer super unusual and different types of Alocasia, so if you are a tropical plant freak, come and see us.  I’d say right now we have about ten different species or hybrids of Alocasia. 

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $95
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE



Alocasia cal-odora 5g Alocasia cal-odora 5g Alocasia cal-odora 5g
Alocasia cal-odora 5g Alocasia cal-odora 5g Alocasia cal-odora 5g
Alocasia cal-odora 15g Alocasia cal-odora in gardenl Alocasia cal-odora garden

 

PHILODENDRON XANADU
EXOTIC COMPANION PLANT


TOLERATES SOME COASTAL SUN
BIG AND FULL 15G PLANTS
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5G SIZE

This Philodendron is actually a hybrid that was commercial created.  It is known for its smaller size with small to medium leaves, deep cuts into individual leaves and compact overall form.  It is very attractive and is not a climbing plant.  We've had this variety before but typically in small sizes.  We just got in a few very nice 5g.  They will take some degree of coastal sun.  Inland area growers should put this in strong filtered light.  Cold tolerance is into the upper 20's F.

REGULAR PRICE 5G $65
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Just mention this Special when you purchase for this price.  The last photo is c/o subtropical.co.nz


Philodendron xanadu Philodendron xanadu Philodendron xanadu
Philodendron xanadu Philodendron xanadu Philodendron xanadus by subtropical.co.nz

 

BIRDS NEST ANTHURIUM
ANTHURIUM HOOKERI

THE PERFECT COMPANION PLANT


NEVER OVER ABOUT SIX FEET TALL
LEATHERY, DARK GREEN LEAVES
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE 5 GALLON PLANTS


Enthusiast are always looking for attractive companion plants that don't get too big.  Shown here is what's called the "Birds Nest" Anthurium.  Most of these plants are felt to either be the species Anthurium hookeri or a hybrid of it.  They are good for filtered light situations and rarely get over six feet tall.  The leaves are long, wide and very thick to the touch.  Their leaf surface is wavy.  We’re offering our 5 gallon size on a Ten Day Special.  This is the size most people buy.  Cold hardiness is into the mid-twenties F.  Flowers are red, as are the tiny seeds.   These plants are real winners. These can be mail ordered.

REGULAR PRICE 5G THIS SPECIES $95
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember:  Mention this Blog Only Special to get this price when you buy!  The last photo is c/o Wikipedia.


ANTHURIUM HOOKERI ANTHURIUM HOOKERI ANTHURIUM HOOKERI
BIRDS NEST ANTHURIUM  BIRDS NEST ANTHURIUM  ANTHURIUM HOOKERI
ANTHURIUM HOOKER ANTHURIUM HOOKER  ANTHURIUM HOOKER WIKIPEDIA 

 

BILBERGIA HALLELUHAY
SPOTTED SUN TOLERANT BROMELIAD



PINK HANGING BLOSSOMS - SPOTTED LEAVES

SPECIAL FULL 5 GALLON CLUSTERS

Bilbergia are an easy to grow type of Bromeliad and many will tolerate coastal sun.  This variety has red leaves with a scattering of white spots.  They grow in as tubular fashion and freely suckering.  Thus, you get quite a good sized clump in a few years.  Mature height of the plant is typically about 2 feet.  Blossoms are pink and hand down from the individual plants.

REGULAR PRICE THESE 5 GALLON CLUMPS AS SHOWN BELOW $95
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON CLUMPS THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE 


 
billbergia hallelujah 5g billbergia hallelujah 5g billbergia hallelujah 5g
billbergia hallelujah 5g billbergia hallelujah 5g billbergia hallelujah 5g
billbergia hallelujah 5g billbergia hallelujah 5g  

 

 

                          MONDAY, 10 FEBRUARY, 2025

CYPHOPHOENIX NUCELE
RARE, ELEGANT, THIN TRUNK PALM



UPRIGHT LEAVES
FROM NEW CALEDONIA

Shown here is a gorgeous example of one of the more beautiful of the New Caledonian palms.  Cyphophoenix nucele is from Lifou Island, gets to a height of twenty-five to thirty feet and takes strong filtered light or part day sun in most coastal areas.  It has a thin trunk with lots of silver color.  Leaves tend to but upright as opposed to C. elegans where the leaves are more arched.  The last three pictures are from the late Mardi Darian's garden in Vista, CA.  You'll notice how healthy it looks in strong filtered light.  The nursery plant shown is a 15g but we also have 5g plants.  I'd estimate the cold tolerance into the mid to upper twenties F.  This species is quite difficult to find and we have some plants from time to time. 


Cyphophoenix nucele Cyphophoenix nucele Cyphophoenix nucele
Cyphophoenix nucele Cyphophoenix nucele Cyphophoenix nucele
Cyphophoenix nucele Cyphophoenix nucele Cyphophoenix nucele

 

POTTING UP A NEW PALM SEEDLING

 

PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING TECHNIQUE -
VEITCHIA SEEDLINGS

This article shows you photos of young palm seedlings being potted up from a community pot - batch of many seedlings.  In a community pot of seedling, one will end up having seedlings that will need repotting into a growing container.  Shown here are some vigorous Veitchia seedlings that were germinated in a flat.  Flats are not our favorite for germinating (are not deep containers) but, for conservation of space, was what we used for these seeds.  You can see in the first two photos that these are well developed with about two or three leaves.  We prefer to have several leaves before we repot seedlings.

Photographs three to five show the seedlings after they've been removed from the germinating flat.  Note the compact and nice roots on the seedlings.  You must be careful when removing each seedling to protect the roots.  Cutting or damaging the roots can lead to damping off after removal. 

The last photo shows the seedling after being repotted into a one gallon.  Sometimes we put seedlings into our band containers ( 3 x 3 x 9 inches), but Veitchias typically are large, strong seedlings and respond better in a larger pot.  Of course, after potting up seedlings, water immediately and put them into filtered light.  Over time, you can give them more sun exposure. 

I hope this helps you have successful growing of your small new palms.


Repotting Palm Seedling Repotting Palm Seedling Repotting Palm Seedling
Repotting Palm Seedling Repotting Palm Seedling Repotting Palm Seedling

 

STUNNING CERATOZAMIA SPECIES WITH SUPER GOLD FLUSH


YES, THE LEAVES ARE REALLY A GOLD COLOR
BUT, OVER TIME, THEY WILL TURN GREEN

I wanted to shows you large photos of a truly stunning cycad that we had at the Nursery.  It's a Ceratozamia of some sort.  We're not quite sure what it is.  Ceratozamia latifolia is similar but typically throws emerging brown to red-brown leaves.  We've never had a Ceratozamia that threw gold.  It's amazing to look at.  I've chosen larger photos for this particular post so you get a good look at this plant.  Unfortunately, leaves will predictably turn green over the next month or so.  This plant is about six feet tall in the box.  It has one main caudex about ten inches tall with four five inch offsets.  The next to last photo shows the leaves eventual green leaf color.  BTW, this plant sold immediately after it threw this set of leaves.

Ceratozamia with gold flush Ceratozamia with gold flush
Ceratozamia with gold flush Ceratozamia with gold flush
Ceratozamia with gold flush Ceratozamia with gold flush

 

BURRETIOKENTIA KOGHIENSIS
RARE NEW CALEDONIAN PALM


NARROW TRUNK & WHITE CROWN SHAFT
TEN DAY SPECIAL LARGE 25G PLANTS

Back in the year 2000, I was the President of the International Palm Society.  I set up the 1998 Biennial in Thailand at Nong Nook Gardens.  I arranged with the Palm Society of New Caledonia to have to 2000 Biennial in their country.  The palms of New Caledonia are some of the most exciting and prettiest palms of the world.  This gave my son Jesse and I a great opportunity to see the New Caledonian palms in the wild. 

About 45 minutes out of Noumea (the capitol) is Mount Koghi.  This is the home habitat for Burretiokentia koghiensis.  It has a thin to medium trunk, a white crown shaft and gets to about 25 feet tall.  It's very beautiful and does great in Southern California.  Most grow it in part day sun.  Cold tolerance is into the mid-twenties F. (sort of like a King Palm with tolerance of cold).  Shown here are plants that we germinated about 10 years ago.  They are finally really nice, old 25g plants.  You'll not see locally grown plants of this species and size around at all.  And, never on sale.

REGULAR PRICE 25G $650
TEN DAY SPECIAL 25G 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

We only have a few of these, so don't dally.  It's a fabulous addition to any garden.  Mention this Special.


Burretiokentia koghiensis Burretiokentia koghiensis Burretiokentia koghiensis
Burretiokentia koghiensis Burretiokentia koghiensis Burretiokentia koghiensis
Burretiokentia koghiensis Burretiokentia koghiensis Burretiokentia koghiensis

  

VEITCHIA ARECINA
EXOTIC MEDIUM TO TALL PINNATE SUN PALM


CAN BE GROWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
RARE SPECIES - SELDOM SEE FOR SALE
TEN DAY SPECIAL TRIPLE 15G SIZE

We have a limited number of triples of this species - three plants in one pot.  This is like you so often see with King Palms.  Inherently, this is a single trunk, crown shafted pinnate palm native to Vanuatu, Fiji and Tonga.  In the wild, plants get to over 75 feet tall.  In So California it is more typical to see one to 30 to 40 feet.  They have a light colored crown shaft, speckled dark or black color near the inner crown area and sometimes on the leaf stems.  Leaves are six to eight feet long and leaflet tips are pointed or slightly blunted.  The trunk is narrow for a tall palm.

Shown here are triple 15g plants which we're putting on special.  There are quite a few people who are growing this species in the coastal strip in our area.   This size is shown in the first six photos below.  The 7th photo is as 25 gallon size which we also have.

REGULAR PRICE 15G $265
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15G 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Please mention this Blog Only Special prior to purchase.

Veitchia arecina 15g triple Veitchia arecina 15g triple Veitchia arecina 15g triple
Veitchia arecina 15g triple Veitchia arecina 15g triple Veitchia arecina 15g triple
Veitchia arecina Veitchia arecina Veitchia arecina

 

KING PALM
ARCHONTOPHOENIX CUNNINGHAMIANA



MEDIUM TO TALL, FULL OR PART DAY SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SINGLES, DOUBLES OR TRIPLES
SUN GROWN & ALL THE SAME PRICE!


The popular King Palm is also known as the Piccabeen Palm or Bangalow palm.  It is native to several areas in Australia.  It can in habitat get to sixty feet tall, but in Southern California is usually not over 40 feet tall.  It is crown shafted with a gray trunk.  The crown shaft is green with some brown speckled areas.  Leaf length is 8 to 10 feet.  It is not particularly rare.  Other species of King Palms are.  (we grow them all).  Ramenta is present on the back of the leaflets, a hallmark of this species.  Cold tolerance is about 25 degrees F.  The plants below on Special are fairly tall single and triple 15 gallon plants.  These plants have seen some coastal sun and should be ready to plant in most areas.  We have a limited number available. 

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON SINGLES OR TRIPLES $185
TEN DAY SPECIAL PRICE 15 GALLON SINGLES OR TRIPLES 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Mention this Blog Only Special at the time of purchase for this discounted price.  We do have other sizes for sale.


Archontophoenix cunninghamiana multiple 15g Archontophoenix cunninghamiana multiple 15g Archontophoenix cunninghamiana multiple 15g
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana multiple 15g Archontophoenix cunninghamiana multiple 15g Archontophoenix cunninghamiana multiple 15g
Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Archontophoenix cunninghamiana Archontophoenix cunninghamiana

 

ROYSTONEA REGIA
THE CUBAN ROYAL PALM



TALL, SINGLE TRUNK SPECIES
ELEGANT WITH LONG CROWN SHAFT
SINGLE PLANTS AND MULTIPLES
TEN DAY 15 GALLON SIZE


This super popular palm is native to south Florida and Cuba.  It gets a very tall trunk with a height of forty feet or more.  The crown shaft is long and a prominent green.  The base of the trunk is swollen just above the ground.  Often, you'll also see bulging in the mid-trunk.  It is a full sun plant and some are growing it in desert areas with success - in full sun.  Cold tolerance is like a King Palm, about 25 degrees F.  The 15 gallon shown here is a double.  In this size we also have single trunk plants in addition to multiples.  Many in Southern California are growing this species quite well.  The 8th photo below was at the home of the late Luis Hooper in La Brea, CA.  There's a shortage of this species on the California market.  This species is also very quick growing.  With our 15g you will probably have leaves over the house in 3 to 4 years.  We have singles and multiples.  BTW, the 15 gallon shown below is over ten feet tall in its pot.  If this one sells, others are quite tall as well.

REGULAR PRICE LARGE 15 GALLON $265
TEN DAY SPECIAL OUR LARGE 15 GALLON ROYALS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Mention this Special for your discount.

ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA
ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA
ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA
ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA ROYSTONEA REGIA

 

ROYSTONEA REGIA
THE CUBAN ROYAL PALM


LOVES SUN AND HEAT
PLANTS ON SPECIAL SIX FEET TALL

TEN DAY SPECIAL ON 5 GALLON SIZE
 

FOR SPECIES DESCRIPTION, SEE ABOVE

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $155
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Note:  All the garden photos below were taken in Southern California.  Yes, they grow easily in many areas here.

 
ROYSTONEA REGIA 5g ROYSTONEA REGIA 5g ROYSTONEA REGIA 5g
ROYSTONEA REGIA 5g ROYSTONEA REGIA 5g ROYSTONEA REGIA 5g

  

TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA
AKA TRITHIRNAX BRASILIENSIS
SPINY TRUNK - MEDIUM HEIGHT FAN PALM
EASYTO GROW AND VERY DURABLE PALM


EASILY TOLERATES INTO THE TEENS F.
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5G SIZE


This single trunk tropical fan palm is noted mostly for its spiny trunk.  The spines are long, randomly directed and almost needle sized.  It is native to South America and gets to a height of about twenty feet.  It likes full sun and is cold hardy into the mid-teens F.  Unlike Trithrinax campestris, the leaflet tips on this species are not sharp nor pointed.  It is a medium rate grower.  Our 5 gallon size is shown in the first five photos below.  These plants are easy to ship.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $145
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember:  Mention this Special when you purchase.  The 5 gallon on sale are shown in the first four pictures below.


TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA 5g TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA 4g TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA
TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA 5g TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA 5g TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA
TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA TRITHRINAX ACANTHACOMA

 

RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII
BEAUTIFUL GREEN CROWN SHAFTED PALM

 

TOLERATES A FAIR AMOUNT OF COASTAL SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE


Rhopalostylis  cheesemanii 
is from Roul Island in the Kermadecs.  It reportedly has darker brown tomentum on the crown shaft and petioles compared to
 R. baueri and the fruits are larger in size.  But, the most remarkable thing is that some enthusiasts have noticed is that it is a more aggressive grower in Southern California.  It is a green leafed, single trunk pinnate palm with a crown shaft.  Opposed to R. baueri, it has been known to do quite well in full sun right along the coast.  One of our staff, Rusty, swears by this species and thinks it's far superior to other Rhopalostylis.  In his yard it has grown at a phenomenal rate.  The pictures here show the darker petioles compared to R. sapida.  I have limited photos of larger garden plants.  Be aware that many people feel this should be considered a sub-variety of Rhopalostylis baueri.  Growth rate of this species is medium at best.  It is a stunning palm when mature.  The 5 gallon size can be shipped.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $145
TEN DAY SPECIAL 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


The 8th photo below is by Cloudforest.com website.

Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g
Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g
Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g Rhopalostylis cheesemanii by Cloudforest.com website Rhopalostylis cheesemanii 5g

 

BURRETIOKENTIA HAPALA
A GREAT NEW CALEDONIAN PALM FOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA



SUPER ATTRACTIVE CROWN SHAFTED PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL FIVE GALLON SIZE

Among palm enthusiasts, almost any species from New Caledonia is sought after.  This species falls into that group.  It is a crown shafted palm with a rather thin trunk of about eight inches that gets to a height of approximately 25 to 30 feet.  It has an intriguing brown color to the stems and crown shaft area.  It does not have the stripes you'd see with the Burretiokentia vieilllardii.  Cold tolerance is about 25 degrees F, or perhaps a bit less.  So, it's comparable to a King Palm.  If you can grow a King, you can grow this species.  One of the keys to culture is not letting the ground it's in go dry.  This species, like Chambeyronia, responds to water.  Shown below is the five gallon size that I'm putting on special. I'd recommend morning sun, a few hours of mid-day sun, or bright filtered light.  It's a great species to grow.  

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON SIZE $155
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON $125 

Remember:  Mention this Special for you discount.

Burretiokentia hapala 5g Burretiokentia hapala 5g Burretiokentia hapala 5g
Burretiokentia hapala 5g Burretiokentia hapala 5g Burretiokentia hapala
Burretiokentia hapala Burretiokentia hapala Burretiokentia hapala

 

CHAMAEDOREA OREOPHILA
RARE SINGLE TRUNK PALM


TOLERATES SOME SUN - FAIRLY COLD HARDY

TEN DAY SPECIAL ONE GALLON PLANTS

This is a great palm for Southern CA and other areas that may see winter colds into the mid-twenties F.  It is native to southwestern Mexico at high elevations to 4500 feet.  It tolerates bright filtered light or, along the coast, some degree of sun.  It is single trunked with a modified crown shaft and somewhat short green leaves.  It resembles a Chamaedorea elegans on steroids.  Trunks are about an inch thick and ringed.  In filtered light trunks remain green.  Mature height is about ten feet.  This is an extremely difficult species to find.  We happen to have some plants grown by Don Hodel.  The last two photos are by Australian friend Colin Wilson.

REGULAR PRICE 1 GALLON $75
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE $65

Remember  to Mention this Special!


Chamaedorea oreophila Chamaedorea oreophila Chamaedorea oreophila
Chamaedorea oreophila Chamaedorea oreophila Colin Wilson AU Chamaedorea oreophila Colin Wilson AU

 

GAUSSIA GOMEZ-POMPAE
BIGGER AND TALLER THAN GAUSIA MAYA


PINNATE LEAVES, NO CROWN SHAFT
VERY RARE  - NEW TO CULTIVATION
TEN DAY SPECIAL HUGE BAND SIZED PLANTS


This is a fairly recently described single trunk pinnate palm is from southern Mexico.  There it lives among rugged outcroppings in mountainous areas.  Little is known about its domestic culture.  It gets to heights of over 30 feet with an 8 to 10 inch thick trunk.  It has a clean trunk and no crown shaft.  Leaves are green and fairly straight.  The mature photos below were taken in Miami, Florida where it seems to be doing fine.  I would anticipate that it wont' take temperatures much below a freeze.  This is the first time I've offered it for sale.  The bands on sale are huge for their pots and need repotting.  Best would be into a 5 gallon pot.  They are over three feet tall in their pots.

REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $60
TEN BAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Gaussia gomez-pompae band Gaussia gomez-pompae band Gaussia gomez-pompae band
Gaussia gomez-pompae band Gaussia gomez-pompae Gaussia gomez-pompae

 

BUTIA PARAGUAYENSIS
BLUE-GREEN BUTIA FROM SOUTH AMERICA


ARCHING LEAVES
TEN DAY SPECIAL HUGE SEEDLING SIZE


This species is interesting because, in the wild, it is known as a dwarf species that forms minimal trunk.  But, when it is grown domestically, it forms a trunk about the size of Butia capitata.  It, as you'd guess, comes from Paraguay, with habitat extending into Brazil and northern Argentina.  The color is a blue-green, not as silver as Butia capitata.  The leaves are strongly arched as shown.  It is a full sun plant with cold hardiness into the teens F.  We haven’t had them available for a few years.  We are now offering band size seedlings.  Culture includes full sun and good draining soil.  Cold hardiness is into the teens F.  The bands on sale are way oversized and ready for a 5 gallon pot.  They are 4 to 5 year old.  I am also showing a photo of a 15g plant from the nursery that is no longer available.   The habitat photo is by TS at RPS.  Because of their height, male order shipping will be more than for most bands.  We are almost out of this hard to find species.

REGULAR PRICE OVERSIZEDE BAND SIZE $70
TEN DAY SPECIAL OVERSIZED BAND SIZE SEEDLINGS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


BUTIA PARAGUAYENSIS BUTIA PARAGUAYENSIS BUTIA PARAGUAYENSIS
BUTIA PARAGUAYENSIS Butia paraguensis TS RPS Butia paraguensis

 

ENCEPHALARTOS MUCHII
BLUE TO BLUE-GREEN CYCAD


  RARE AND VERY ATTRACTIVE CYCAD
TEN DAY SPECIAL GOOD 2 GALLON SIZE


Native to Mozambique, this small to medium sized cycad grows in scrub forest among rocks and boulders.  It is distinguished by its blue to blue-green color and by having leaflets that are prominently spiny.  In my experience, leaf color is sometimes very blue, other times blue-green.  You'll sometimes hear the description as "soapy green" to describe the leaves.  Overall, the leaf color is variable and I've shown several photos here to demonstrate this.  I've seen specimens that are as blue as an Encephalartos horridus


Trunk size is usually under three feet.  Upright leaves are about four feet long or less.  Leaves are keeled and leaflets are lanceolate and spiny.  This species likes full sun and is cold tolerant into the low 20's F.  The two gallon on sale are a good, strong two gallon plant with caudexes average 2 to 3 inches.  They came from parents domestically that both had extreme blue color.  These can be mail ordered but not outside the U.S. 

REGULAR PRICE THESE 2G PLANTS $185
TEN DAY SPECIAL THESE PLANTS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE



Encephalartos munchii blue Encephalartos munchii blue Encephalartos munchii blue
Encephalartos munchii blue Encephalartos munchii blue Encephalartos munchii blue
Encephalartos munchii blue Encephalartos munchii blue Encephalartos munchii blue

 

ENCEPHALARTOS NATALENSIS
MEDIUM SIZED GREEN CYCAD 


NATIVE TO SOUTH AFRICA

TEN DAY SPECIAL GREAT LANDSCAP READY 15 GALLON

This is a South African cycad species that has green leaves and makes a medium sized
adult plant.  By this I mean you, over several decades, will get a plant with perhaps 4 feet of
trunk.  It's crown width is about 8 feet.  It likes full sun and heat unless you are in a desert
locality.  It is a quick grower and has cold tolerance to the low 20's F.  It can go even to lower temperatures if you give it some cold protection.  It is also known to be a reliable and relatively fast growing cycad.  This is a mainstay species for any cycad garden.   We’re offering a 15 gallon with a caudex of 6 inches on sale with our End of The Summer Sale.  This plant can be mail ordered.  If this plant sells, we have others of similar size available as well as smaller and larger sizes.

REGULAR PRICE THIS ACTUAL 15 GALLON CYCAD $800
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS ATUAL 15 GALLON CYCAD 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Encephalartos natalensi 15g 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches
Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches Encephalartos natalensis 15g caudex 6 inches
Encephalartos natalensis Encephalartos natalensis Encephalartos natalensis

 

ENCEPHALARTOS ITURIENSIS
SUPER RARE CENTRAL AFRICAN CYCAD


LONG UPRIGHT GREEN LEAVES
TEN DAY SPECIAL TALL 15 GALLON PLANT

This species is native to the Ituri Forest in the Congo in Central Africa.  It is extremely rare to see it offered for sale.  This cycad would not be as cold hardy as plants further south in South Africa.  But, it should take weather into the mid-twenties F.  E. ituriensis is known for its long, upright leaves reaching well over twelve to fourteen feet tall.  It towers over E. whitelockii in terms of length.  Leaflets are armed and narrow.  The plants on special are four years old and carrying about four leaves.  They are four to five years old.  If you search the Net for photos of this species, they are essentially nonexistent.  This is because of political instability of the area, remote native location and the risk of Ebola infection.  Certainly, this has hampered availability of this species worldwide. 

The photos below show a 15 gallon plant with long leaves and an 8 inch caudex.  It is shown in the first seven photos below.  We are putting this actual plant on sale.  Remember, it’s very difficult to find this species, especially with size.  We may have a few smaller plants in stock. 

REGULAR PRICE THIS ACTUAL PLANT $1600
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS ACTUAL PLANT 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Presently I only have one nice 15 gallon specimen.  The last photo shows a plant we sold about a decade ago that was much larger with longer leaves.  Unfortunately, this sale plant has too long of leaves to ship without pruning down the leaves.  The 8th photo is c/o Wikipedia Commons.


Encephalartos ituriensis Encephalartos ituriensis Encephalartos ituriensis
Encephalartos ituriensis Encephalartos ituriensis Encephalartos ituriensis
Encephalartos ituriensis Encephalartos_ituriensis Wikipedia commons website Encephalartos_ituriensis

 

ENCEPHALARTOS WHITELOCKII
LARGER CENTRAL AFRICAN CYCAD
LONG UPRIGHT LEAVES
DIFFICULT TO FIND FOR SALE


TEN DAY SPECIAL ANY SIZE PLANT WE HAVE!

This unique and larger cycad is native to Uganda.  In fact, at one point it was called the "Uganda Giant Cycad".  This is because it has leaves that extend almost straight up toward the sky and can be twelve feet long or more.  Leaflets are narrow and armed with small spines.  The caudex is a light color and in the wild can be up to ten feet tall.  Historically, as this species is similar to E. laurentianus, it was called also "Encephalartos laurentianus Lake George", referring to its specific habitat.  The nursery plants I'm showing today are locally grown 15g plants.  We have other sizes as well, both larger and smaller.  The last photo shows one of our boxed specimens.  Note the appearance of these plants with their long leaves with narrow leaflets.  Enthusiasts love this species because it's a good growing cycad.  Right on the coast I'd give it half day sun.  It's not quite a sun-tolerant as many of the South African species.  Cold tolerance is into the low 20's F.

SPECIAL - 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE ANY SIZE THIS SPECIES FOR TEN DAYS


Encephalartos whitelockii Encephalartos whitelockii Encephalartos whitelockii
Encephalartos whitelockii Encephalartos whitelockii Encephalartos whitelockii
Encephalartos whitelockii Encephalartos whitelockii ENCEPHALARTOS WHITELOCKII

 

 

CAVENDISH BANANA
DWARF CULTIVAR


QUITE COLD HARDY AND SEMI-DWARF
WILL PRODUCE EDIBLE FRUIT
AND, CAN BE GROWN AS A HOUSEPLANT

TEN DAY SPECIAL ABSOLUTELY HUGE 15 GALLON PLANTS

We are a tropical fruit nursery but, we appreciate how popular growing bananas is.  So, we're offering a banana cultivar that offers three two nice qualities:  Short stature, pretty good cold hardiness and it makes edible bananas!  The Cavendish Dwarf cultivar hardly ever gets above six feet tall.  We recently got in some huge and very nice and larger than normal 15 gallon plants that had been grown outdoors.  Expect a mature height of six or seven feet.  This banana wants full sun in most areas.  Cold hardiness is at least to the low 20's F.  If cold does kill the growth above the ground, it typically comes back when weather warms.  And, yes it does produce edible bananas.  In fact, this variety of banana is often sold in organic farmer's markets. 

REGULAR PRICE 15G $185
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15G 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Mention this Special for your discount!  The last picture is c/o Wikipedia


Cavendish Banana huge 15g    
Cavendish Banana crown 15gCavendish Banana    

 

MONSTERA DELICIOSA
“SWISS CHEESE PHILODENDRON”


LARGE GREEN LEAVES WITH HOLES IN THE LEAVES
CLIMBING SPECIES

TEN DAY SPECIAL 7 GALLON SIZE

Monstera deliciosa is a climbing tropical plant native to areas from southern Mexico down through Latin America.  It climbs up tree trunks and can get up to 100 feet into the canopy.  It has green leaves with horizontal splits/openings.  A particular form of this plant doesn’t just have splits but rather holes/openings in the leaves.  The plants on sale are this latter type.  The trunks attached to whatever is near (tree trunks, fences, posts, etc) and are about an inch thick.  Trunks put out attaching roots for support.  Leaves can be much larger than shown here when mature.  They can easily reach two to three feet in width.  It is super easy to grow.  Just plant it next to almost anything.  We’re putting our limited numbers of 15 gallon and 7 gallon on sale.  The first six photos shown the 15 gallon size.  In terms of plant size, both containers have the same size plants.

REGULAR PRICE 7 GALLON $180
TEN DAY SPECIAL 7 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

The photos below are of the split leaf Philodendron, not the "Swiss Cheese" variety.

Monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosa
Monstera deliciosa Monstera deliciosa

   

ALOCASIA SUMO
HYBRID ALOCASIA - EXOTIC WITH SOME COLD HARDINESS


MEDIUM SIZED, LUSH TROPICAL COMPANION PLANT
TEN DAY SPECIAL ONE GALLON SIZE

Alocasia sumo is a hybrid species - a cross between A. portora and "purple cloak".  The cold hardiness comes from the portora parentage.  This is a medium sized hybrid with 3 to 4 foot long leaves that are diamond shaped with a purple hue to the underside of the leaves.  Leaves are a lesser purple-green and point upwards.  There are prominent veins on the leaves.  Plant height should be about 6 to 8 feet.  It is reported that this species is a "7b" zone species which means it should tolerate a freeze.  Obviously, it'd look best in summer.  We'd recommend filtered light or limited sun although some are having good results with full sun near the beach.  The juvenile plants on sale are in one gallon pots.  They are being grown in an un-heated greenhouse.  They are ready to be repotted into a 5 gallon pot.  Mail order possible, weather permitting.

REGULAR PRICE 1 GALLON $45

TEN DAY SPECIAL 1 GALLON 25% OFF RGULAR PRICE


Note, that if you want larger, we have nice 5 gallons and large 15g.  The 15tg size are shown below in the last two photos.  I’d offer a special price on these sizes as well.   


Alocasia sumo 1g Alocasia sumo 1g Alocasia sumo 1g
Alocasia sumo 1g Alocasia sumo 1g Alocasia sumo 1g
Alocasia sumo 1g Alocasia sumo Alocasia sumo
Alocasia sumo Alocasia sumo  

ENSETE VENTICOSUM "MAURELII"
THE RED BANANA



LARGE SINGLE TRUNK TROPICAL PLANT
RED COLOR TO FOLIAGE
TEN DAY SPECIAL ONE AND FIFTEEN GALLON GALLON SIZES


On sale are nice one gallon plants of the Red Banana, 
Ensete ventricosum mauerlii.  This is a quick growing tropical plant that can get to ten to fifteen feet tall and grows in full coastal sun.  Leaves are green with prominent red to both the dorsal and ventral sides.  Trunks are at least 18 inches thick and leaves are fleshy and soft - typical of bananas and Ensete.  It does not be edible fruit.  Cold hardiness is down to about a freeze.  Colder weather damages the leaves in winter.  This is a fast growing plant but typically only lives for 5 to 7 years before flowering and dying.  The garden photo is by Linda Cochran.  We're putting our nice 15g on Special as well as juvenile 1 gallon (first and second row of photos).  The 1 gallon should be easy to mail order.
 You'll note that the larger 15g plants show the red leaves a lot more.

REGULAR PRICE FIFTEEN GALLON $195
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

REGULAR PRICE 1 GALLON $50
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE



Ensete maurellii Red Banana Ensete maurellii Red Banana Ensete maurellii Red Banana
Ensete maurellii 1g Red Banana Ensete maurellii 1g Red Banana Ensete maurellii 1g Red Banana
rED BANANA Ensete ventricosa Maurelii BY LINDA COCHRAN  

 

PLUMERIA PLANTS
LARGE ONE  GALLON AVAILABLE
PRETTY AND DESIRABLE VARIETIES

 

SOME BRANCHING
THREE DIFFERENT BLOSSOMS
TEN DAY SPECIAL LARGE ONE GALLON PLANTS


We are pleased to offer three very beautiful varieties of Plumeria.  We got these in 2 days ago and also had a “Hot Pink” variety which sold out the same day.  Most are large for a one gallon and have branches.  They are growing now that it’s spring and have leaves.  They should produce flowers this summer.  I brought these in because all are super desirable varieties.  They came from a private Plumeria enthusiast.  These plants like sun and heat.  Cold tolerance is down to a freeze or slightly below.  If you plant some in your garden, remember to not water them in winter when it’s cold.  This will cause rot.   Limited supplies.  We also have other sizes available, mostly larger.

REGULAR PRICE THESE ONE GALLON BELOW $55
TEN DAY SPECIAL THESE ONE GALLON 25% OFF RGULAR PRICE

Remember:  Mention this Special when you purchase.


Plumeria pinang peach          Plumeria pinang peach Plumeria pinang peach
Plumeria pinang peach Plumeria pinang peach Plumeria pinang peach
Plumeria pink pansy Plumeria pink pansy Plumeria pink pansy
Plumeria pink pansy Plumeria pink pansy Plumeria pink pansy
Plumeria yellow Plumeria yellow Plumeria yellow
Plumeria yellow Plumeria yellow Plumeria yellow

 

 

                          FRIDAY, 7 FEBRUARY, 2025

COCCOTHRINAX BARBADENSIS
SLENDER TALL AND CLEAN TRUNK


SMALLER GREEN LEAVES
LIKES SUN AND HEAT


I'm showing you a rare and very cool 5g plant.  This is Coccothrinax barbadensis.  It comes from Trinidad,  Venezuelan Antilles, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and probably other Caribbean locations.  It is a taller species with a very thin, clean trunk.  Trunks have been described as "flagpoles" and get over forty feet tall.  With age, old leaf bases fall off giving a clean look.  It has fan leaves about five feet across.  Both upper and lower sides are green.  It likes sun, heat and is cold hardy into the twenties, probably about 25 degrees F. or so.

This is a 5g plant shown here.  It would be easy to ship.  We may have 15g size as well.  Coccothrinax are slow to grow and produce in containers.  They are much quicker in the ground.  This is a great starter size for you.  At this stage, a grower has over five or six years into producing a 5g plant as shown here. I am also showing some garden plants.  The last photo is one of our 15g nursery plants.  Of note, we may have smaller sizes available than are shown here.

Coccothrinax barbadensis Coccothrinax barbadensis Coccothrinax barbadensis
Coccothrinax barbadensis COCCOTHRINAX BARBADENSIS COCCOTHRINAX BARBADENSIS
Coccothrinax barbadensis Coccothrinax barbadensis Coccothrinax barbadensis

 

BLACK ROSE
AEONIUM ARBOREUM

BLACK-RED COMPANION PLANT
SMALL AND EASY TO GROW
AND, JUST FOR FUN - SHOWING OTHER COLORS

Country or area of origin: Canary Islands
Mature height: In ground, typically 2 to 3 feet
Sun Requirements:  Sun in coastal areas
Cold Tolerance:  To mid-20's F.   
Water Requirements:  Water conserving
Rate of Growth:  Fast growing in ground
Sizes Available: 5g 
Regular Prices:  5 gallon size as shown $85
Sale price:   25% OFF REGULAR PRICE
Size shown:  1 gallon

Comments:
This dwarf succulent is best known for it's almost black leaves.  It loves sun and is easy to grow.  Over time plants will have forking trunks with tons of leaves.  It's easy color for the garden without getting too big.  The first six photos show a one gallon planted in the ground in front of our nursery about 18 months ago.  Note that it's in flower now, showing a super yellow color.  These plants can be shipped.  Our availability varies, but we try to always have this black variety in stock.  We also have green and several variegated forms as well.  I'm showing other colors in the bottom row. 

Aeonium Black Rose Aeonium Black Rose Aeonium Black Rose
Aeonium Black Rose Aeonium Black Rose Aeonium Black Rose
Aeonium Black Rose Aeonium Black Rose Aeonium Black Rose
Aeonium Aeonium Aeonium

 

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CHAMAEDOREA SEIFRITZII
THE MOST CLASSIC OF THE BAMBOO PALMS



MATURE, FLOWERING SIZE 15G
FILTERED LIKE, SHORTER PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL FIFTEEN YEAR OLD 15 GALLON PLANTS

This New World suckering shade palm has pinnate leaves and never gets much above 8 to 9 feet.  This is the reason it's so popular.  It is sought out as one of the most popular interior palms.  This has been the case for about 100 years.  A good thing is that it does fit inside the home of the average house without hitting the ceiling.  Outdoors, it wants filtered light and is cold hard into the mid, perhaps lower 20's F.  The 15g on sale here are about ten or more years old and locally grown. They shouldn't get any taller and have about as many canes as a 15g pot will support.  And, they are much more sturdy and hardy than imported plants.  They've seen all of our cold weather. 

REGULAR PRICE THESE OLD AND MATURE 15G $395
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Just mention this Special at the time of purchase for your discount.  Although a tall box is needed, these can be shipped anywhere within the U.S. 

 

CHAMAEDOREA SEIFRITZII CHAMAEDOREA SEIFRITZII CHAMAEDOREA SEIFRITZII
CHAMAEDOREA SEIFRITZII CHAMAEDOREA SEIFRITZII Chamaedorea seifritzii

  

DYPSIS DECARYI
THE TRIANGLE PALM



MEDIUM MATURE HEIGHT
THREE SIDED CROWN SHAFT WITH COLOR
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE

This Madagascar palm is known as the "Triangle Palm" because the crown shaft has three flat sides.  This crown shaft has multiple colors including purple, silver and black.  It gets to a mature height of about 22 feet in 3 decades.  It loves heat and sun.  Leaves are a gray-green color and there is prominent speckling in the inner crown with dark colors.  It is slow growing.  It has a cold tolerance of about 24 degrees F.  The 15 gallon size on Special are nicely sized for their containers.  These are too big for mail order but we do have smaller more shippable sizes available.  These 15 gallon are acclimated to sun and ready to be planted in the garden. 

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON $235
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Special at the time of purchase


 
Dypsis decaryi 15g   Dypsis decaryi 15g   Dypsis decaryi 15g  
Dypsis decaryi 15g   Dypsis decaryi 15g   Dypsis decaryi 15g  
Dypsis decaryi  Dypsis decaryi  Dypsis decaryi 

 

WALLICHIA DISTICHA
SINGLE TRUNK, LEAVES IN ONE PLANE


A VERY INTERESTING AND PECULIAR PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE

This is an unusual palm that has all of its leaves in a single plane.  That is to say from the front, it is a fairly large, "Caryota-appearing" palm tree.  But, looking from the side, it is narrow and you can hardly see it.  The dictionary definition of "distichous" is:  "Arranged in two vertical rows on opposite sides of an axis: distichous leaves. "  In this case, the trunk of the palm is the axis.  

This species is native to the Himalaya Mountains in Asia, spreading from northern India across to northern Thailand.  There it grows at altitudes of up to 4000 feet.  Because of it's heritage and as you might guess, it does have some cold hardiness and can easily be grown in many areas of Southern California.  It tolerates temperatures down to about the mid to upper twenties F.  It prefers full sun.  Mature height is about 30 feet.  Usually this species is single trunk, but in the wild suckering specimens are found.  This is not to confuse it with another suckering species, Wallichia densiflora,  which is always a clustering species.  

Wallichia could be confused with Arenga and Caryota, both of which are also from the same part of the world.  All have leaflets that have jagged or toothed apical ends as shown here.  All also go through a flowering process that begins at the upper trunk and works its way down the trunk over time.  And, all have stems that die after suckering.  When there is only one stem (as with this species), the tree will die after it flowers.  Seeds of Wallichia disticha are very small as shown here.  The back sides of Wallichia and Arenga leaflets are silver whereas Caryotas are green on the back side.  This helps in identifying the genus.  Trunks of Wallichia disticha are also covered with dense brown fibers as shown here. 


We have very limited numbers of this rare species for sale.  For someone who likes different species, this one is for you.  But, we only have a few of the 15 gallon available.  

REGULAR PRICE 15G $275

TEN DAY SPECIAL 5G SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Wallichia disticha Wallichia disticha WALLICHIA DISTICHA
WALLICHIA DISTICHA Wallichia disticha Wallichia disticha

 

SYNECANTHUS FIBROSA
THE JELLYBEAN PALM
OPPORTUNITY TO GET OLD MATURE SIZE PALM


A FEW 20 YEAR OLD PLANTS FOR SALE
TEN DAY SPECIAL ON A FEW 15 GALLON PLANTS

This single trunk pinnate palm is native to various areas of Central America.  It has a thin ringed trunk with leaves that are about five feet long.  Leaflets are wide with irregular leaflets width and spacing.  Color is green.  Flowers protrude away from the stem with attractive yellow seeds.  It is a filtered light species.  There is another suckering species in this genus, S. warscewiczianus.  Cold tolerance is down to about a freeze or a bit less.  Mature height is about twelve to fifteen feet.  The plants we have on sale are super old (20 to 25 years) and are shown below in the first six photos.  I can pretty much guarantee you that you'll not find comparable plants anywhere in the western U.S.  I don’t normally have these for sale (wanted to keep them) so they are not listed in my availability list and I’m now selling the last ones on a Ten Day Special price. The plants on sale are shown in the first two rows of photos. The third row of photos is of palms now sold but were flowering size. The last photo is a fruiting mature palm c/o Palmpedia.

REGULAR PRICE THIS SIZE 15G (ONLY HAVE #2 OF THEM) $395
TEN DAY SPECIAL PRICE THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

 

Synecanthus fibrosa 15g   Synecanthus fibrosa 15g   Synecanthus fibrosa 15g  
Synecanthus fibrosa 15g   Synecanthus fibrosa 15g   Synecanthus fibrosa 15g  
Synecanthus fibrosa  Synecanthus fibrosa  Synecanthus fibrosa 
  Synecanthus fibrosa by PalmPedia  

 

DYPSIS LEPTOCHEILOS
THE TEDDY BEAR PALM


EVERYONE LOVES THIS PALM

ONE OF THE BEST MADAGASCAR PALMS
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

The Teddy Bear Palm has become super popular because it grows well in Southern California, has a rusty colored, fuzzy crown shaft, has a silver, ringed trunk and doesn't get too tall.  For most enthusiasts, it's among the "top ten" Madagascar palms.  Mature height is about 25 feet.  Right on the coast it does well with full sun.  Cold hardiness is about 25 degrees F.  Growth rate is medium.  One can grow it in part day sun as well.  The average enthusiast, once he sees a mature plant, just "has to have one".   Expect a mature height in California of about 25 feet or a bit more.  Trunk diameter is usually about eight inches.  The crown shaft is the most prominent trait - fuzzy, rusty red and quite touchable.  The latter trait is why it's called the "Teddy Bear Palm".  We’re putting five on Sale but only have a handful available..

REGULAR PRICE 5G SIZE $145
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Mention this Special for your discount.


Dypsis leptocheilos 5g Dypsis leptocheilos Dypsis leptocheilos
Dypsis leptocheilos Dypsis leptocheilos Dypsis leptocheilos
Dypsis leptocheilos Dypsis leptocheilos Dypsis leptocheilos

 

CRYOSOPHILA STAURACANTHA
SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED TROPICAL FAN PALM

 

SILVER UNDERSIDE TO THE LEAVES
MODIFIED SPINES ON TRUNK
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

This single trunk fan palm is native to Southern Mexico and parts of Central America.  It can get up to a height of 25 feet but most garden specimens are under 15 feet tall.  Two things are quite noteworthy:  First, the undersides of the leaves are a silver-white.  A picture below of sale size shows this quite well.  Secondly, the trunk is narrow and covered with "modified" spines.  They are not real sharp and are not true spines.  The dorsal side of the leaves is green.  This palm likes strong filtered light and right on the coast may take part day sun.  Cold tolerance is estimated to be in the high 20's F.  Growth rate is medium.  You have to have an overhead crown of leaves to really see the silver color.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $145
TEN DAY SPECIAL PRICE 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Special for your discount when you purchase.
  The plants on sale are shown in the first six photos.  I'm also showing a 15g size and a specimen c/o TS at RPS.


Cryosophila stauracantha Cryosophila stauracantha Cryosophila stauracantha
Cryosophila stauracantha Cryosophila stauracantha Cryosophila stauracantha
CRYOSOPHILA STAURACANTHA CRYOSOPHILA STAURACANTHA CRYOSOPHILA STAURACANTHA by TS RPS

 

SABAL BLACKBURNIANA
LARGE AND TALL FAN PALM

 

MEDIUM HEIGHT GREEN FAN PALM WITH STOUT TRUNK
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

This species of thick trunked fan palm is native to Dominican Republic and Haiti.  It can get to over 60 feet tall with a massive 2 foot thick brown trunk.  Leaves are larger than the similar but smaller Sabal palmetto.  Growth rate is quick.  It is also very cold hard and likes full hot sun.  It can go down to the mid-teens F.  The 5 gallon size shown below is about 5 years old.  Photos of garden plants in the last row are by Justen Dobbs and Wikipedia.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $145
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g 
Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g 
Sabal blackburniana Justen Dobbs PACSOA   Justen Dobbs PACSOA wikipedia   Justen Dobbs PACSOA 

 

CHAMAEDOREA MICROSPADIX
SEMI-DWARF SUCKERING BAMBOO PALM



COLD HARDY - NEVER OVER EIGHT FEET TALL
TEN DAY SPECIAL 2 GALLON SIZE


This suckering Chamaedorea has very thin canes, somewhat wide leaflets, green leaves and an overall small to medium size.  Mature plants are rarely over 8 feet tall.  Often leaves can have an iridescent sheen and sometimes are glaucous on the back side.  This species wants filtered light and is cold hardy into the upper teens F.  The 2 gallon on sale are nicely sized and suckering already.  They are equivalent to a 5 gallon plant.

REGULAR PRICE THESE LARGE 2 GALLON $85
SALE PRICE THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Only Special at the time of purchase.  These can be mail ordered.  The plants on special are shown in the first two rows of photos.  The last row shows a 15g at the nursery.


Chamaedorea microspadix suckering Chamaedorea microspadix suckering Chamaedorea microspadix suckering
Chamaedorea microspadix suckering Chamaedorea microspadix suckering Chamaedorea microspadix suckering
Chamaedorea microspadix Chamaedorea microspadix suckering Chamaedorea microspadix suckering

   

 

DYPSIS PEMBANA
SINGLE TRUNK OR SUCKERING
NATIVE TO PEMBA ISLAND


TAKES FULL COASTAL SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL ONE GALLON SIZE

There are both single trunk and suckering forms of this species.  Nowadays, most of the plants available of this species are the suckering form.  Both get to a height of 25 feet, have an attractive green trunk and a light colored crown shaft.  Leaves have a graceful arch and the leaflet color is green.  It's a great alternative for the garden.  Note how the trunks are beefy but not overly large.  Along our coast it will take part day sun but I'd recommend filtered or morning sun inland.  The plants on special are in one gallon pots and 3 years old.  We do larger sizes available.  I cannot tell you whether the plants we have (from seed) are the single or suckering type.

REGULAR PRICE ONE GALLON $75
TEN DAY SPECIAL ONE GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Special at the time of purchase.  The garden photos below are c/o Al Bredeson (deceased) and tranquilmetro. 


Dypsis pembana 1g Dypsis pembana 1g Dypsis pembana 1g
Dypsis pembana 1g Dypsis pembana 1g Dypsis pembana
Dypsis pembana Al Bredeson HI Dypsis pembana tranquilometro Dypsis pembana 25g\

 

SABAL ETONIA
SMALL FAN PALM NATIVE TO FLORIDA



GETS SIX TO EIGHT FEET TALL
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE


This small fan palm is native to almost all areas of Florida.  It is different than Sabal palmetto in that it is smaller.  Although not quite as small as the Sabal louisiana below, it rarely gets to a height of about eight feet.  Leaves are green and the trunk is a bit stout.  It tolerates full sun or part day sun.  It is difficult to find.  In the fifth photo, it is the band plant that the staff is holding in his left hand (right hand is Sabal louisiana, an even smaller species).  Cold hardiness is at least 15 degrees F. or a bit lower.  Mature palm photo by TS - RPS.

REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $65
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Sabal etonia band Sabal etonia band Sabal etonia band
Sabal etonia band Sabal etonia band Sabal etonia Rare Palm Seeds.com

  

DYPSIS PEMBANA
SINGLE TRUNK OR SUCKERING
NATIVE TO PEMBA ISLAND


TAKES FULL COASTAL SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZED SEEDLINGS

There are both single trunk and suckering forms of this species.  Nowadays, most of the plants available of this species are the suckering form.  Both get to a height of 25 feet, have an attractive green trunk and a light colored crown shaft.  Leaves have a graceful arch and the leaflet color is green.  It's a great alternative for the garden.  Note how the trunks are beefy but not overly large.  Along our coast it will take part day sun but I'd recommend filtered or morning sun inland.  The plants on special have three to four leaves and are 3 year old seedlings in band containers.  We do larger sizes available.  I cannot tell you whether the plants we have (from seed) are the single or suckering type.

REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $75
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Special at the time of purchase.  The 8th & 9th photos of a garden plant is c/o  late friend Al Bredeson. 


Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana
Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana
Dypsis pembana Dypsis pembana by late AB Dypsis pembana by AB

 

DYPSIS ARENARUM
THE SAND PALM



SIMILAR TO DYPSIS LUTESCENS
BUT WHITE CROWN SHAFT
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE

This thin trunked suckering palm is native to Madagascar where, in the northeastern area, it lives close to the sandy beaches.  Thus the common name.  It has green curved leaves with small leaflets.  The tubular crown shaft is white and the thin trunk is ringed.  It is distinguished from the Areca Palm by it's reddish petioles and blue-green leaflets.  It typically forms a clump of four to five individual plants.  It tolerates coastal sun and is cold hardy in the mid to upper 20's F.  It is as rare species.  We rarely have it for sale. Note, our band size are larger presently than shown below.

REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $65
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Dypsis arenarum band Dypsis arenarum band Dypsis arenarum band
Dypsis arenarum band Dypsis arenarum rps Dypsis arenarum band

 

RHOPALOSTYLIS SAPIDA
THE NIKAU PALM


NEW ZEALAND PALM - BULGING CROWN SHAFT
A FAVORITE OF ALL
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE BAND SIZE

Native stands of Rhopalostylis sapida are found in temperate parts of New Zealand and also on coastal areas of Chatham and South Islands.  In these localities it is found in shaded forests and in the more moist bottoms of mountainous gullies.  One does not see it at high elevation where severe cold may be seen.  Rather it's in the coastal and warmer regions.  Being a slow growing species, it is reported that it takes ten to fifteen years in habitat before one begins to see a formed trunk.  One report done by the New Zealand government reported that it took forty years to show trunk and that ten meter trees were 200 years old.  The point here is that, as a species, the Nikau Palm is slow growing in its natural habitat.  Soil in the area is good draining and rainfall is ample

This is a single trunk palm that has green, upright leaves.  The hallmarks of this plant are the upright pointing leaves and the swollen crown shaft.  Almost always, the crown shaft is prominently larger in diameter than the trunk.  The trunk has rings from old leaf attachments.  Overall height after many decades is 25 to 35 feet or, on old specimens, even more.  Trunk diameter is eight to twelve inches.  Leaves are usually eight to twelve feet long.  Growth rate is slow.  Of note, we’re putting 3 to 4 leaf seedlings on sale in bands on a Ten Day Special.  .

REGULAR PRICE BAND $60
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Mention this Blog Only Special at the time of purchase for this discounted price.  This size is a piece of cake to ship.


RHOPALOSTYLIS SAPIDA RHOPALOSTYLIS SAPIDA RHOPALOSTYLIS SAPIDA
RHOPALOSTYLIS SAPIDA Rhopalostylis sapida   Rhopalostylis sapida 

 

ENCEPHALARTOS ARENARIUS - BLUE VARIETY
RARE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD

 
MEDIUM SIZE MATURE - LIKES COASTAL SUN
STUNNING BLUE LEAVES
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE 5 GALLON PLANTS

Encephalartos arenarius is from the coastal dunes and forest close to Alexandria in the Eastern Cape.  This species is small to medium in mature size.  Leaf length can range from one to two meters (i.e. three to six feet approximately) depending on cultivar and exposure to sun.  Like many of the Encephalartos from the Eastern Cape, this species is variable in color, size and leaf type.  E. arenarius can range in color from a dull green to a powdery white color (bearing a likeness to E. horridus). 

The plants we are putting on special are the blue type.  To get this color they will want full sun or an ample amount of sun.  It prefers a well draining soil.  Speed of growth of this cycad is good.  You could expect to have a nice garden sized plant from these 5 gallon plants in about five to seven years.  Caudex size of the plants on sale is approximately 2 inches.  They all have six to seven leaves or more and are four to five years old.  These are showing a bit of their blue color already at this stage and not in sun – so you’ll get blue.  Easy to mail order.  I’m also showing a garden plant and several larger nursery plants.

REGULAR PRICE THESE FIVE GALLON $300
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Encephalartos arenarius blue 5g 2 inches Encephalartos arenarius blue 5g 2 inches Encephalartos arenarius blue 5g 2 inches
Encephalartos arenarius blue 5g 2 inches Encephalartos arenarius blue 5g 2 inches Encephalartos arenarius blue



DIOON EDULE VARIETY TAMAULIPAS
GLAUCOUS GREEN THIN LEAF MEXICAN CYCAD


ONE OF VARIOUS VARIETIES OF
DIOON EDULE
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

Dioon edule is a very durable species of cycad that is found in Mexico.  Enthusiasts have found that in different native localities that the plants of each region are different.  This has led to what we call "varieties" of Dioon edule.  In the Tamaulipas area of Mexico such a variety is found.  This is also the locality of the recognized species Dioon angustiolium. The Dioon edule variety tamaulipas is a glaucous green species with flat leaves and narrow leaflets.  The leaflets re minimally spined if at all.  Leaflets are spaced with a narrow gap between individual leaflets.  Leaf color is green to a blue-green.  Mature plants are dwarf and rarely over 6 feet tall overall in the garden.  It prefers full sun and is cold hardy into the upper teens F.  It likes good draining soil.  We are offering 5 gallon plants with a 3 inch caudex on this hard to find variety.  These can be mail ordered.  Unfortunately, I have no garden photos of this variety.

REGULAR PRICE THESE 3 INCH 5 GALLON $375
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS BATCH 5 GALLON 3 INCH CAUDEX 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

 
Dioon edule tamalupis 5g 3 inches Dioon edule tamalupis 5g 3 inches Dioon edule tamalupis 5g 3 inches
Dioon edule tamalupis 5g 3 inches Dioon edule tamalupis 5g 3 inches  

 

ENCEPHALARTOS LONGIFOLIUS – BLUE FORM
MEDIUM TO LARGE RARE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD


BLUE STACKED LEAFLETS - MINIMAL IF ANY SPINES
TEN DAY SPECIAL CITRUS POT SIZE WITH CAUDEX 3 INCHES

This rare South African cycad is also from the Eastern Cape region of South Africa.  It is a good sized cycad with leaf color variable from dark green to brilliant blue.  The plants on Special should be a nice blue form.  Trunks of this species can reach a height of twelve feet or more.  Leaf lengths are four to six feet with stacking leaflets and minimal if any spines when mature.  Leaves are often curled downward toward their ends.  It loves full sun along the coast but in desert areas would want a few hours of sun.  Cold tolerance is about 22 degrees F.   The citrus pot size on sale came from blue parents and will become more blue out of the greenhouse and in full sun.  Caudex size is 3 inches.  This size is easy to mail order.  BTW, this actual plant shown below is definitely not the green form.  You can see the leaves are gray colored and, outdoors in the sun should be blue over time.  The garden photos below show a blue plant,, a green plant and something in between.

REGULAR PRICE CITRUS POT WITH  3 INCH CAUDEX $450
TEN DAY SPECIAL CITRUS POT SIZE 3 INCH CAUDEX 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Only Special at the time of purchase to get this price!  Easy to mail order, weather permitting.


Encephalartos longifolius cit pot  3 inches Encephalartos longifolius cit pot  3 inches Encephalartos longifolius cit pot  3 inches
Encephalartos longifolius cit pot  3 inches Encephalartos longifolius cit pot  3 inches Encephalartos longifolius cit pot 3 inches
Encephalartos longifolius Encephalartos longifolius

 

SUPER UNUSUAL ENCEPHALARTOS HYBRID
F2 HYBRID WITH E. WOODII POLLEN



ENCEPHALARTOS (E. NATALENSIS X E. WOODII) X (ENCEPHALARTOS HORRIDUS X E. WOODII)
TEN DAY SPECIAL CITRUS POT SIZE

This should prove to be one of the most interesting hybrid Encephalartos available on the market.  It is an F2 hybrid.  These were done from domestic plants in Southern California.  The hybridizer took pollen from the E. horridus x woodii to pollinate a receptive female of E. natalensis x woodii.  As most know, E. woodii is extinct in the wild and only male plants are known to exist.  E. horridus x woodii (Encephalartos "horwood") is one of the most sought after hybrids around.  I've shown multiple photos of the plants on Special as well as close up photos of the leaves of both parents.  Caudex size is about 2 inches.

REGULAR PRICE THIS HYBRID CIRTUS POT $295
TEN DAY SPECIAL CITRUS POTS THIS HYBRID 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


I have limited numbers available.  Easy to mail order.


Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) x (horridus x woodii) Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) x (horridus x woodii) Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) x (horridus x woodii)
Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) x (horridus x woodii) Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) x (horridus x woodii) Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) x (horridus x woodii)
Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) x (horridus x woodii) Encephalartos (natalensis x woodii) Encephalartos (horridus x woodii)

    



REX BEGONIA
- FIREWOMAN
UNUSUAL MULTI-COLORED LEAVES


NICE COMPANION PLANT
TEN DAY SPECIAL 1 GALLON SIZE

Begonia are a very large class of plants, sometimes used in the garden and patio but also as houseplants.  There are about 1500 different species or hybrids.  This particular variety – Rex Begonia Firewoman - is different and very colorful.  Leaves show prominent pink/red color with silver and purple bands.  But they are not the easiest Begonia to grow.  Leaves have a crinkled texture.  They like filtered light with soil that is slightly damp but not soggy.  It’s usually said that this species is for zones 10 and 11.  We’ve found they can go down to almost a freeze.  These plants have will have smaller pink blossoms in summer. 

REGULAR PRICE 1 GALLON $50
TEN DAY SPECIAL 1 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Mention this Special for your discount


REX BEGONIA REX BEGONIA REX BEGONIA
REX BEGONIA REX BEGONIA REX BEGONIA

  

DRACENA DRACO
THE DRAGON TREE


LIMITED NUMBER PLANTS OF ONE GALLON SIZE AVAILABLE
IN GROUND MAKES MEDIUM SIZED MATURE TREE
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE

This species of Dracena actually makes a rather large tree.  It has thick silver leaves.  It is native to the Canary Islands.  It has the peculiar habit that, after a lengthy time, any given branch stops growing and then bifurcates or trifurcates, giving a very branched pattern. The trunk can get quite thick.  It has fragrant white blossoms.  It likes full sun and is cold hardy only into the mid-twenties F.  Shown here is our one gallon size which we're putting on sale.  This tree wants full sun and does get rather large (see photo below). 

REGULAR PRICE ONE GALLON $55
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE
25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Dracena draco 1g Dracena draco 1g Dracena draco 1g
Dracena draco 1g Dracena draco 1g Dracena draco 1g
Dracena draco 25g Dracena draco Dracena draco garden, mautre and branching

 

THE MOOSEHORN FERN
PLATYCERIUM SUPERBUM

 


GROWS EPIPHYTICALLY
MOUNT ON WOOD OR TREE TRUNK
DIFFICULT PLANT TO FIND - CAN BE SHIPPED

TEN DAY SPECIAL NICELY SIZED AND MOUNTED PLANT

Platycerium are a type of fern that we know as the "Staghorn Fern".  But, the normal type you see, P. bifurcatum, has deer antler types of leaves.  They are narrow and reach out from the attaching shield.  But, there's another type known as the "Moosehorn Fern" where the leaves are entire, stretching across the width of the plant.  Mature, they look entirely different.  These leaves can get up to six feet across – one giant shield like leaf.  They are not easy to find.  The standard Staghorn is not difficult to locate.  Both are an epiphytic type of plant that can be mounted on a tree trunk or grown on a flat wooden base.  They are not hard to care for but you don't want to let them go dry.  I water them by just spraying with a hose and occasionally give them some liquid fertilizer mixed into the water.  You want to water to hit the plant from above – like rain.  They can take a bit of sun or strong filtered light.  Cold hardiness is typically into the mid to perhaps low twenties F.  The plants we have presently are nicely sized.  The plant shown below has a shield that is about 12 inches wide and mounted on wood.  It's shown in the first three photos.  (Almost sold out!)

REGULAR PRICE MOOSEHORN FERN THIS SIZE $350

TEN DAY SPECIAL MOOSEHORN FERN THIS SIZE
25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

I can mail order these but they take a surprising large box to ship.  The last photo is a great picture and was taken by floragreatlakes.info website.

MOOSEHORN FERN MOOSEHORN FERN MOOSEHORN FERN
MOOSEHORN FERN Platycerum superbum MOOSEHORN FERN Platycerum superbum MOOSEHORN FERN Platycerum superbum
Playcereum superbum Moosehorn Fern Playcereum superbum Moosehorn Fern Moosehorn Fern Platycerium superbum by floragreatlakes.info website

 

LIGULARIA TUSSILANGINEA - AKA FARUGIUM TUSSILANGINEA
LILY-LIKE, FLAT GREEN LEAVES


YELLOW BLOSSOMS IN FALL
TAKES SUN - LIKES WATER
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE FULL FIVE GALLON


This is an interesting plant we propagate ourselves from seeds of existing plants.  They form small clusters of shiny green leaf plants that don't get over 18 inches.  Flowers come in the fall are yellow, daisy-like and medium sized.  This species enjoys water and will droop over with too little water.  Then, when given water, they bounce right back.  It's a good "indicator plant" for how well you are watering the garden.  They'll take sun in many areas or part day sun.  In full sun, give them plenty of water.  These plants do sucker and are easy to propagate from divisions. This is a great "filler plant" to put in areas where you want something but don't know what to use.  Below you’ll see our 5 gallon size that we’re putting on Special.  These can be mail ordered.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $85
SALE PRICE 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g
Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g
Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g by RT Ligularia Farfugium japonicum 5g Ligularia Farfugium japonicum

  

 

                          WEDNESDAY, 5 FEBRUARY, 2025   

GERMINATING PALM SEEDS:


DO YOU HAVE BAD PALM SEEDS?
WHICH SEEDS TO PICK?
HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A SEED IS NOT GOOD?
THE FLOAT TEST
THE PINCH TEST
CUT THE SEED OPEN
ALWAYS CLEAN OFF THE FRUIT

Many people love to germinate palm seeds and make their plants.  But, there are a few things you need to now right from the beginning if you want to successfully germinate.

RULES TO FOLLOW:

1.  Get fresh seeds.  Right off the tree is best.
2.  Pick seeds that are mature, often colorful.  Most common colors are red, orange, yellow, brown or black.  Immature, green seeds germinate poorly.  Don't pick or collect seeds that are green!
3.  Remove the fruit from the seeds until you have a clean, often tan colored inner seed.  Fruit can contain chemicals that retard germination.
4.  Pinch test seeds.  Take the picked seeds (with or without fruit) and squeeze hard between two fingers.  They should never collapse.  Any seed that collapses between your fingers is no good.
5.  Float Test the seeds.  Cleaned palm seeds almost always sink in water.  Floaters are almost always bad.   Inner cavities of rot within the seed make them float.
6.  Cut open a few seeds.  The inner seed should be white or light tan, solid and without signs of rot.  And, you definitely do not want to see inner cavities.  Inner cavities 99% of the time means the seed is bad.
7.  Remove all outer fruit before germinating.  Some experts feel that this outer fruit later has growth inhibitors.  Even fruit that is not a bright color or is dry or scaly must be removed.  This outer layer may be brown and hard but needs removal - see photos below.
8.  Always soak the cleaned seeds in pure water, especially if you had seeds shipped to you.  This rehydrates them.  If seeds are right off a tree and the fruit is moist and fresh, soaking is not necessary.  But, they would still be cleaned of any fruit.

Photos here show seeds with fruit, the float test with floaters and sinkers, seeds that failed the pinch test, seeds with hard outer layers that still have to have this layer removed and a few seeds cut open showing inner cavities (a bad sign).  For techniques on germination, see our article on 
Palm Seed Germination at this website.

Chambeyronia seeds with red fruit
Chambeyronia seeds with red fruit
Jubaea seeds ripe
Jubaea chilensis fruit, ripe
Jubaea chilensis cleaning fruit off seed
Cleaning fruit off Jubaea chilensis
Butia capitata seeds with yellow fruit
Butia capitata seeds with fresh, ripe and yellow fruit
palm seeds
Livistona saribus seeds with blue fruit
Green Chamaedorea tpejilote seeds
Green seeds Chamaedorea tepejilote
Green palm seeds
Green seeds, not ready to pick
Bad palm seed, collapsed
Bad palm seed, collapsed with pinch test
Bad palm seed
Bad seed, all collapsed with pinch test
Pelagodoxa henryana seed
You must remove the primative hard fruit from this Pelagodoxa henryanaseed
Metroxylon amicarum seed
Dry, scaly coat of Metroxylon amicarum must be removed
Attalea seeds
Same with these Attalea sp. seeds
Palm Seed Float Test
Float test:  Note floating seeds- no good
Palm Seed Float TEst
Float test - Astrocaryum seeds floating
Float Test Sinkers
Float Test:  Note good seeds sink to bottom
Cavity in Palm Seeds
Cavity in bad Astrocaryum mexicanum seeds
Palm Seed Cavity Astrocaryum mexicanum
Cavity in Astrocaryum mexicanum
Cavity in palm seeds
Cavity in bad Gastrococos crispa seeds
Clean Jubaea seeds
Totally cleaned Jubaea seeds
Homogenious inside of a cut palm seed
Good seed cut open - firm inner tissue throughout
germinating cham benzei
Results of proper seed care and germination

 

HOWEA FORSTERIANA
THE KENTIA PALM


AN ASSORTMENT OF SIZES TO CHOOSE FROM
SMALLER PLANTS EASY TO SHIP
GREAT PATIO, INTERIOR OR IN THE GARDEN PALM


Howea forsteriana, the popular Kentia Palm, is native to Lord Howe Island.  There it lives at lower elevations.  At higher elevations up the mountains one sees Howea belmoreana and Hedyscepe.  The Kentia does great here in So California.   It is a single trunk species that is often grown as a "multiple" with several plants in the same pot.  It does NOT sucker.  Along the coast it takes full sun or part day sun.  Far inland, filtered light is needed.   Cold tolerance is about 25 degrees F.  Mature height in sun is usually about thirty feet in 30 years.  Shown here are various sizes.  Smaller sizes can be easily shipped for folks who are looking for an interior plant or a Kentia for the patio. 

FIRST ROW PHOTOS: These are 2 gallon, multiples, about three feet tall in pots
SECOND ROW PHOTOS:  These are singles in one gallon, about 2 feet tall in pots
THIRD & FOURTH ROW PHOTOS:  Other sizes we offer with a few garden pictures (15 gallon to 25g or  box size)


Click here for an article on this species from our website

Howea forsteriana Howea forsteriana Howea forsteriana
Howea forsteriana Howea forsteriana Howea forsteriana
HOWEA FORSTERIANA HOWEA FORSTERIANA HOWEA FORSTERIANA
HOWEA FORSTERIANA HOWEA FORSTERIANA HOWEA FORSTERIANA

 

RHAPIS HUMILIS
RARE TYPE OF LADY PALM
FOUR LARGE SPECIMEN PLANTS AVAILABLE

 

LARGEST SPECIMENS YOU'LL SEE FOR SALE
GET TO OVER 20 FEET AND TAKE COASTAL SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL FOUR HUGE PLANTS!


Rhapis humilis
 is a tall, suckering and thin trunked fan palm.  It is a type of "Lady Palm" and this species is one of the most sought after.  This is because it's a great growing species, has strong canes that don't bend over and gets significantly tall for the genus - tallest of the Rhapis genus.  It does sucker and produces canes averaging one inch or a bit bigger in diameter.  Leaves hold up to twenty leaflets that are narrow, a bit droopy, dark green and come to a point at their ends.  The more common Rhapis excelsa leaflets come to a blunt tip at the end of the leaflets.  The amazing thing about this species is that it attains such tall heights.  I've seen specimens that have reached twenty-four feet!  Compare this to the average height of a R. excelsa at six to eight.  Finally, the Rhapis humilis is known to tolerate full sun along the coast. 

Plants like we're showing here are near impossible to find.  We have four plants which are each about fifteen feet tall in their pots.  These four plants are shown in the four rows of photos below.  Be aware that, in California, there are only large garden specimens growing in full sun and with heights of over 20 feet.  These are called the “California Rhapis humilis” and all plants sold come from divisions of existing plants.  This is a dioecious species and there’s only known to be male plants.  So, if someone tells you they grew them from seeds, you know they are not this true Rhapis humilis – more likely R. multifida (shown below in today's Blog) which doesn’t take sun well and only gets to heights under ten feet.  These 25 gallon specimens shown below would be perfect for an upscale garden or interior usage application.  The more expensive plants are in the first two rows of photos.  The garden photo is by FM at the LAA.  These oldest/largest divisions were taken from forty year old specimens and have taken ten years to establish as you see them now.

REGULAR PRICE THESE 25 GALLON SPECIMENS BELOW $1950
SALE PRICE THESE 25 GALLON REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF

 

Rhapis humilis Rhapis humilis 25g Rhapis humilis 25g
Rhapis humilis 25g Rhapis humilis 25g Rhapis humilis 25g
Rhapis humilis Rhapis humilis Rhapis humilis
Rhapis humilis Rhapis humilis Rhapis humilis

 

HEDYSCEPE CANTERBURYANA
FROM LORD HOWE ISLAND


SILVER CROWN SHAFT - SILVER TRUNK
UMBRELLA SHAPED CROWN OF LEAVES
ONE OF PRETTIEST PALM TREES AROUND
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE

We have available some nice 15g plants of Hedyscepe canterburyana.  This single trunk palm has a silver crown shaft, silver trunk (in shade) with prominent rings.  It is native to medium elevations in the mountains of Lord Howea Island (home of the Kentia Palm).  It is single trunk.  Mature height is about 20 feet.  They fruit here and seeds are large and red in color.  Along our coast here it takes full sun but also does well in part day sun or strong filtered light.  Trunks are beefier in sun.  Cold tolerance is about 25 degrees.  When folks see this plant in person, most agree it is one of the most desirable palms around.  We are putting our 15g size on special - shown in first six photos.  This size is about six years old.  The last photo shows the blue-silver trunk on a specimen in my own garden.  Important - they are slow growing!  

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON $250
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF

The 15 gallon size is shown in the first six photos.  Of note, we do have smaller sizes available.


Hedyscepe canterburyana Hedyscepe canterburyana Hedyscepe canterburyana
Hedyscepe canterburyana Hedyscepe canterburyana Hedyscepe canterburyana
Hedyscepe canterburyana Hedyscepe canterburyana Hedyscepe canterburyana

 

BISMARCKIA SPECIES MAYOTTE ISLAND
THE RARE GREEN BISMARCKIA



BISMARCKIA BUT WITHOUT THE BLUE COLOR
VERY ATTRACTIVE, LARGER GREEN FAN PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL OLD 15G SIZED PLANTS

One of the favorite characteristics of Bismarckia is the blue color to the leaves. But, there is a green variety on the island of Madagascar.  At another location, there is an endemic green Bismarckia known as the  "Mayotte Island" form.  There is very little published about these green forms of the Bismarck Palm.  It likes sun and is probably cold hardy into the low 20's F.  Most feel it's not quite as cold hardy as the blue form.  On these green Bismarckias, often you'll see red in the leaf stem or a hint of it on the leaves.  Of course, this is a full sun palm.  This is a very rare palm to find as everyone seeks out the blue type.  But, we have this more rare green form and have found they are showing nice cold hardiness to the low 20's F.  The plant shown below is about twelve years old.  We have a handful of them.

REGULAR PRICE 15G $250
TERN DAY SPECIAL 15G SIZE REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF


Bismarckia nobilis green form 15g Bismarckia nobilis green form 15g Bismarckia nobilis green form 15g
Bismarckia nobilis green form 15g Bismarckia nobilis green form 15g Bismarckia nobilis green form 15g
Bismarckia nobilis green form 15g Bismarckia nobilis green Bismarckia nobilis green

 

CHAMAEDOREA TEPEJILOTE
SINGLE TRUNK, TALL 
SHADE-LOVING PINNATE PALM


DARK GREEN RINGED TRUNK
OFTEN GROWN AS A "MULTIPLE"
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15G SIZE

This single trunk pinnate palm is native to areas extending from southern Mexico down to Columbia.  They are often grown for food as the male blossoms are cooked and eaten as a delicacy.  This species doesn't take sun here - it'll burn.  But, in shade it thrives in temperatures down to the mid-twenties F.  It is quick growing and has a rather thick, prominently ringed dark green trunk.  Flowers are quite prominent and, if you have several plants closely situated, the chances are you'll obtain fruit without even trying.  One photo shows a flower with green fruit. 

This species can also be grown inside the home as long as the air is not too hot and dry.  I personally like the looks of a collection of several plants grown together.  Over time, as they age and get overhead, there will be some "stair-stepping" of the crowns and this is quite attractive.  Cold tolerance outside is into the mid-twenties F.  It needs filtered light, even when tall.  We have singles and some multiples in our 15 gallon size which we are putting on sale.  They are very nice and really too big for mail order.  For the latter folks, get our 5 gallon size.

REGULAR PRICE 15G $245
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS 15G SIZE REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF

Just mention this Special for your discount.


Chamaedorea tepejilote 15g multiple Chamaedorea tepejilote 15g multiple Chamaedorea tepejilote 15g multiple
Chamaedorea tepejilote 15g multiple Chamaedorea tepejilote 15g multiple Chamaedorea tepejilote 15g multiple
Chamaedorea tepejilote Chamaedorea tepejilote Chamaedorea tepejilote TS RPS

 

DYPSIS PLUMOSA
THIN TRUNK PALM FROM MADAGASCAR

FLUFFY LEAVES – SILVER CROWN SHAFT
TOLERATES SUN ALONG TH COAST
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE 15 GALLON PLANT

This single trunk, crown shafted pinnate palm comes from Madagascar.  It is a medium size palm with a narrow trunk and plumose leaves.  Trunk diameter is four to six inches.  The trunk color is silver-green and it has prominent rings.  Leaflets are narrow and green in color.  The ends of the leaves curve downwards.  We have been growing this species for over two decades and found it to be a reliable grower.  When young the trunk is much thinner but fattens up with age.  It is quite cold tolerant, down into the  mid to low 20's F.   It's growth rate is good.  It likes full sun in most areas.  We are offering very tall 15 gallon plants on sale.  The plant shown below is about 12 feet tall – twice the height of most comparable 15g plants.  We do have some multiples which tend to be shorter.  As you can see, they are very tall and too big to ship by UPS.

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON THIS SIZE $245
DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF


Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa
Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa
Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa
Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa Dypsis plumosa

 

CHAMAEDOREA BENZIEI
RARE SINGLE TRUNK CHAMAEDOREA
LIKE C. RADICALIS ON STEROIDS!

 

NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND
15 GALLON SIZE NOW AVAILABLE AND ON 10 DAY SPECIAL


I have not shown this species that often because it's rarely available and very difficult to find - either plants or seeds.  It is native to Mexico at high elevations near Chiapas.  It is a single trunk, understory palm that has sort of a thick trunk up to 1.5 or 2 inches.  The flowers are reminiscent of Chamaedorea radicalis as they shoot high into the foliage.  Its overall appearance is also similar to the trunking radicalis but with bigger leaves, wider leaflets and a thicker trunk.  It gets up to about 10 to 15 feet.  It grows in filtered light and seems to be cold hardy into the mid-twenties at least.  Right on the coastline, some have grown it in full sun.  We have a limited number of 15 gallons available (first six photos) that we're putting on Special.  These can be mail ordered but would require a large box to ship.  Please appreciate that this is a super rare species and is seldom offered for sale. 

REGULAR PRICE 15G $245

TEN DAY SPECIAL 15G REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF

Remember: Mention this Special for your discount. 

  

Chamaedoreda benizei 15g Chamaedorea benizei 15g Chamaedorea benizei 15g
Chamaedorea benizei 15g Chamaedorea benizei 15g Chamaedorea benizei 15g
Chamaedorea benizei 15g Chamaedorea benziei Chamaedorea benziei

   

VEITCHIA (ADONIDIA) MERRILLII HYBRID
POTENTIAL TO GROW SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE GROWN HERE


VERY EXCITING – ONLY NURSERY TO OFFER THIS PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL LARGE 5 GALLON SIZE

There is an interesting story behind the plants I'm showing you here.  About five years ago, we got some seeds from a botanical garden that were labeled as Veitchia merrillii (aka Adonidia merrillii).  This palm resembles a miniature Royal Palm, so it is a popular choice by enthusiasts who see it in tropical areas.  Rarely does it get over twenty feet tall and many people like this smaller size.  But, native to the Philippines, you might expect it'd be too tropical and cold sensitive to grow here.  Well, that is the case and I don't know of one mature tree in Southern California. 

The seeds we got were thought to be pure Veitchia merrillii.  The seeds looked to be the right size for merrillii - the anticipated small size as you see with this species.  Seeds of other Veitchia species are much larger.  Of the fifty or so seeds that germinated, about half died off quickly in our greenhouses the first winter.  We figured - that makes sense - cold sensitive.  But, to our surprise, the other half grew quite well.  As they got bigger, it was apparent that they looked nothing like a true species Veitchia merrillii we have grown in the past.  The prominent speckling and dark color to the leaf stems was not expected - merrillii is plain green usually.  And, there is a diversity of appearance of the various plants we were now growing. 

We figure these are a hybrid of a Veitchia merrillii crossed with something else.  Most likely it's with another species of Veitchia that are more cold tolerant.  This is to our customer's benefit as this means perhaps they can grow these and end up with a smaller palm that resembles V. merrillii.  We have a limited number of these plants left.  They’ve gotten bigger and all have survived a freeze at our nursery.  So, maybe here’s your chance to grow a “Veitchia merrillii hybrid” 

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON THIS HYBRID $165
TEN DAY SPECIAL LARGE 5 GALLON REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF

Remember:  Mention this Blog Only Special at the time of purchase.  Obviously, I have no mature garden plants to show you as this is such a rare hybrid.  But, I’m showing in the last row of photos the Veitchia merrillii and finally the Veitchia arecina.  This is probably your last chance to get one of these hybrids.


veitchia merrilli hybrid veitchia merrilli hybrid veitchia merrilli hybrid
veitchia merrilli hybrid veitchia merrilli hybrid veitchia merrilli hybrid
Veitchia merrillii Veitchia merrillii in fruit Veitchia arecina garden

 

RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS
RARE SINGLE TRUNK PALM FROM MADAGASCAR

WHEN MATURE, LANDSCAPE SIZED SPECIMEN
TEN DAY SPECIAL FIVE GALLON PLANTS

This species of Ravenea is from both the west and eastern sides of the Island of Madagascar.  It was named after a river on the island.  It is a large and elegant pinnate palm with heights reportedly up to one hundred feet.  Trunk diameter is one foot.  It grows at elevations from sea level to six thousand feet in both dry and moist native habitats.  When younger, this species has flat erect leaves that go straight upwards.  However, with age, this species produces leaves that are keeled and curve downwards at the ends.  When mature the overall crown is hemispherical with the leaves in the upper portion of the circle.  Because of its large size, this plant should be considered a major landscape item and not a companion plant.  Photos below show how large this palm is when mature.

I have a limited number of five gallon plants on sale.  They should be grown in an area where they can work their way from strong filtered light into full sun.  Cold hardiness is into the mid-twenties F.  They like moisture but need good draining soil.  My thanks to TS at RPS for the photos below.

REGULAR PRICE FIVE GALLON $155
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5G REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF

 

RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS
RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS
RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS habitat Ravenea sambiranensis TS RPS  RAVENEA SAMBIRANENSIS TS RPS


RHAPIS EXCELSA
THE LADY PALM



ONE OF THE BEST INTERIOR PALMS
ALSO GREAT UNDERSTORY GARDEN PLANT
TEN DAY SPECIAL LARGE 5 GALLON SIZE
THIS SIZE CAN BE MAIL ORDERED


We have an assortment of Lady Palms which are near perfect - almost as nice as the expensive ones we bring in out of Hawaii.  But, they are locally grown and better priced.  And, we are offering them on special – five gallon size.  They are about 5-6 years old.  Rhapis excelsa is native to Asia and typically doesn't get much over 8 feet tall in a pot or in the ground.  Each leaf is composed mature of six to ten leaflets that have jagged ends and are green in color.  They do great in shady locations of the garden or inside the home.  They are a very nice patio plant.  Cold hardiness is about 20 degrees F.  They want low dose fertilizer.  Too much fertilizer will burn them.  The 5 gallon size can be easily shipped'  It's slow growing and a dwarf species. 

REGULAR PRICE THESE 5G $145
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON REGULAR PRICE MINUS 25% OFF

Rhapis excelsa 5g Rhapis excelsa 5g Rhapis excelsa 5g
Rhapis excelsa 5g Rhapis excelsa 5g Rhapis excelsa 5g
Rhapis excelsa 5g Rhapis excelsa 5g Rhapis excelsa

 

RHAPIS EXCELSA
THE LADY PALM 


ONE OF THE BEST INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR PALMS
SIZE ON SALE EASY TO SHIP
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE ONE GALLON PLANTS
THIS SIZE EASY TO MAIL ORDER - WEATHER PERMITTING


FOR DESCRIPTION, SEE ABOVE

REGULAR PRICE THESE 1G $70
TEN DAY SPECIAL 1 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Important:  Mention this Blog Only Offering for this price when you purchase.  One gallon shown in first 4 photos.

Rhapis excelsa 1g Rhapis excelsa Rhapis excelsa
Rhapis excelsa Rhapis excelsa Rhapis excelsa

 

SABAL ROSEI
GREEN FAN PALM FROM MEXICO



MEDIUM TO TALL MATURE HEIGHT
TEN DAY SPECIAL 2 GALLON SIZE


This majestic and rather tall fan palm is native to Mexico and get a mature height of 40 feet or a bit more in decades.  But, the trunk is rather thin - averaging 8 to 12 inches.  Retained leaf bases eventually fall off given it a smooth trunk with knobby areas of old leaf-base scars.  The leaves are large and green in color.  It prefers full sun and is cold  hardy to about 20 degrees F. or a bit colder.  We're putting our 2 gallon size on special - easy to mail order

REGULAR PRICE 2 GALLON $80
TEN DAY SPECIAL 2 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


sabal rosei sabal rosei sabal rosei
sabal rosei sabal rosei sabal rosei
sabal rosei sabal rosei sabal rosei

 

DYPSIS PRESTONIANA
SINGLE TRUNK, BEAUTIFUL
A REAL WINNER!


SUPER RARE MADAGASCAR PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE

Discovered by John Dransfield and named after a U.K. executive of Macdonald's Hamburgers (who funded the expedition to Madagascar), this single trunk palm is new to the market, super rare and quite attractive.   It has orange-brown leaf bases at the point of trunk attachment, plumose leaves and gets to a height of about 25 to 30 feet.  It is single trunked with a medium thickness and prominent rings.  It takes full sun in coastal areas and, once established, is a good growing palm.  Shown here are our band sized seedlings.  On occasion we have larger sizes for sale.  These are easy to ship.  Growers tell us that this species takes temperatures into the mid-20's F.  I know of several enthusiasts who live in cool areas and now have fruiting specimens of this species.  It is an excellent grower.

REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $65
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember:  Mention this Blog Special for this price.  Easy to mail order.  Habitat photo c/o TS at RPS.
 

Dypsis prestoniana Dypsis prestoniana Dypsis prestoniana
Dypsis prestoniana Dypsis prestoniana Dypsis prestoniana

 

CARYOTA URENS
THE GIANT MOUNTAIN FISHTAIL

 

FAST GROWING - SUPER TALL
REASONABLY COLD HARDY TALL BIPINNAT PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL BAND SIZED SEEDLINGS

Yes, this species of Fishtail is super fast growing.  And, it's not unusual for one to get above 70 feet tall.  Some people love the grandeur of these palms.  And, for some, they want it "right now".  Well, this is an opportunity to satisfy that need.  Planted out, once established, this is a super fast growing palm.  It would not be unusual to go from a seedling to a height of 30 feet in six or seven years.  This species is native to northern Thailand and surrounding countries.  The trunk is about 16 inches or so thick and light tan in color.  The leaves are compound – bipinnate.  This means the main stem branches off into secondary leaf stems.  Leaflets are jagged at their ends.  Also, this is a monoecious palm that dies about three years after flowering  It wants full coastal sun.  It is taller than Caryota gigas and has shorter leaves and a thinner trunk.  We’re putting young two-leaf seedlings on sale.  Easy to mail order.  BTW, these seedlings have probably thrown another leaf since these photos below were taken. 

REGULAR PRICE BAND SIZE $65
TEN DAY SPECIAL THESE BAND SEEDLINGS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Easy to mail order.  Limited numbers available.


Caryota urens band Caryota urens band Caryota urens band
Caryota urens band Caryota urens Caryota urens
Caryota urens Caryota urens Caryota urens

 

ENCEPHALARTOS ALTENSTEINII
LARGER GREEN CYCAD FROM SO AFRICA

 

FULL CROWN OF LEAVES - HUSKY TRUNK
TEN DAY SPECIAL OLDER BAND SIZE SEEDLINGS

This is a medium to large green cycad from the Eastern Cape region of the Republic of South Africa.  It was named after a Prussian statesman and is listed a a threatened cycad species.  Mature height after many decades can reach up to over sixteen feet.  Leaf length is six feet with trunk diameter of up to 18 to 24 inches.  Leaflets have spines, especially when young.  The base of the leaf stems are usually devoid of prickles or spines.  Leaf color is a shiny green.  Along the coast this species tolerates full sun or part day sun.  It easily withstands a freeze and has an absolute cold tolerance down to about 22 degrees F.  It can easily be grown on the patio if given adequate light.  Desert areas should consider only a few hours of direct desert sun.  It is best to give this species plenty of room in the garden.  It makes a spectacular specimen plant. 

We are offering seedlings in the band size on special.  They are 3 years old and have 4 to 5 leaves.  These are easy to ship within the U.S.

REGULAR PRICE THESE OLDER BAND SIZE $75
TEN DAY SPECIAL PRICE THESE SEEDLING
25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Encephalartos altensteinii band Encephalartos altensteinii band Encephalartos altensteinii band
Encephalartos altensteinii band Encephalartos altensteinii band Encephalartos altensteinii band
Encephalartos altensteinii Encephalartos altensteinii Encephalartos altensteinii

 

ENCEPHALARTOS MUNCHII
A RARE CENTRAL AFRICAN CYCAD

 

BLUE – GREEN SPINY LEAFLETS
SUPER DIFFICULT TO FIND
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS ACTUAL 15 GALLON PLANT

Native to Mozambique, this small to medium sized cycad grows in scrub forest among rocks and boulders.  It is distinguished by its blue to blue-green color and by having leaflets that are prominently spiny.  In my experience, leaf color is sometimes very blue, other times blue-green.  You'll sometimes hear the description as "soapy green" to describe the leaves.  Overall, the leaf color is variable.  Trunk size is usually under three feet.  Upright leaves are about four feet long or less.  Leaves are keeled and leaflets are lanceolate and spiny.  This species likes full sun and is cold tolerant into the low 20's F.  The first six pictures show a 15 gallon plant with a three inch caudex.  We're putting this actual plant on sale.  I suspect outdoors in sun (greenhouse grown so far) it'll show more of the blue color as the parents were blue.  If this plant sells, we may have others of similar size with an excellent discount.

REGULAR PRICE THIS ACTUAL 15 GALLON CYCAD $555
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS ACTUAL CYCAD 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

 
Encephalartos munchii 15g 3 inches Encephalartos munchii 15g 3 inches Encephalartos munchii 15g 3 inches
Encephalartos munchii 15g 3 inches Encephalartos munchii 15g 3 inches Encephalartos munchii 15g 3 inches
Encephalartos munchii Encephalartos munchii Encephalartos munchii

 

ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII
BLUE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD FOR SUN

 


GOOD OFFERING OF 15 GALLON PLANTS
CAUDEXES 3.5 TO 6 INCHES
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON E. LEHMANNII

This is a popular blue cycad from the Eastern Cape area of South Africa.  I say “popular” because some people don't like spines and prickles.  The leaflets of this species are narrow with only a point at the end.  They are nothing as gnarly as E. horridus.  The leaves and crown are very neat and uniform.  The nearest species to this one is Encephalartos princeps.  Trunks of E. lehmannii can get to five feet, but one with two to three feet of trunk is very old.  Leaves average about four feet long and are strongly curled.  Sometimes they'll almost do a 180 or more degree re-curve.  Leaf color is intensely blue like E. horridus.  But, you'll only see this color with full, hot sun.  In shade or inside a greenhouse they are often green.  Cold hardiness is about 21 to 22 degrees F.  In the desert only give it a few hours sun.  Next to Encephalartos horridus, this is the second most popular cycad we grow.  Shown below is an assortment of 15 gallon plants of this species with caudexes of 3 to 5-6 inches.  We have about a half dozen of them.  All are sun ready.  I am showing some of these 15g below.  The sale price  applies only to plants that are "ball" caudexes with no older vertical trunk.  Note, we only have a few of these and they'll sell quickly.  But we do have larger and smaller sizes available.

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON THIS SPECIES $150 PER INCH CAUDEX DIAMETER

TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SPECIES $112.50 PER INCH CAUDEX DIAMETER
. (25% OFF)

This size can possibly be mail ordered.  This caudex size price applies to plants that do not have vertical trunk height.

  

ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII
ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII Encephalartos lehmannii
ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII

 

MACROZAMIA MOOREI
LARGER COLD HARDY CYCAD


A CYCAD THAT EVENTUALLY LOOKS LIKE A PALM TREE
TEN DAY SPECIAL TWO 50 YEAR OLD SPECIMENS SHOWN BELOW


This larger cycad is native to Queensland, Australia.  Over many decades, it establishes a thick trunk and can get ten to twenty feet tall.  At this size the truly resemble a palm tree, both in crown size and trunk size.  It is recognizable because of its long, curved and keeled leaves (V shaped in cross section).  Other species like M. johnsoni and communis have much flatter leaves.  It is very cold hardy for a cycad and can easily grow outdoors in many areas of the SF Bay Area.  Some report that it tolerates low temperatures into the upper teens F.

The 24 inch boxed specimens shown below were imported into the U.S. about 25 years ago by a private individual - all legally with CITES permits.  They were about 25 years old back then.  Caudexes are fat and some have stem heights of two feet.  Of note, this species is slow to put on trunk height.  This species wants full sun.  The two specimens shown below are larger than anything on the market and have a reduced price on sale.

TEN DAY SUPER REDUCED PRICE ON EITHER OF THESE TWO SPECIMENS $1850 EACH
SALE PRICE 25% OFF ABOVE PRICE

The first  garden photo is c/o TS at RPS.

 
Macrozamia moorei   Macrozamia moorei   Macrozamia moorei  
MACROZAMIA MOOREI TS AT RPS MACROZAMIA MOOREI MACROZAMIA MOOREI

 

ALOCASIA DARK STAR
SMALLER HYBRID VARIETY WITH DARK STEMS



VERY ATTRACTIVE ELEPHANT EAR TYPE OF TROPICAL PLANT
FAIRLY COLD HARDY
TEN DAY SPECIAL JUVENILE 1 GALLON PLANTS

This hybrid variety is known for its near black stems and dark veins on the leaves.  Leaf color is green, both sides.  Overall mature height is about three feet.  This plant will sucker and has been said to grow in Zone 9.  There are reports of it taking down to the upper teens F.  It is a hybrid of multiple other varieties.  It is said to tolerates full sun, but I'd probably recommend part day sun or less, especially if you are far inland.  Note how the leaves are slightly ruffled with irregular edges on the larger nursery specimen.  We're putting young one gallons on sale - shown in first 6 photos.

REGULAR PRICE ONE GALLON $45
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Easy to mail order. 

Alocasia dark star Alocasia star Alocasia dark star
Alocasia dark star Alocasia dark star Alocasia dark star
Alocasia dark star Alocasia dark star  

 

CALOCASIA GIGANTEA THAILAND GIANT
HUGE ELEPHANT EAR TYPE PLANT



LARGE GREEN LEAVES, SUCKERING
TEN DAY SPECIAL JUVENILE ONE GALLON SIZE

Calocasia are types of Elephant Ear plants that are native to areas from India through Asia.  The species on special today is known for it's huge leaves which can be six feet long and four feet wide. This variety is known to have the largest leaves of this species.  Leaves are green and heart shaped.  Mature height can be ten feet.  They tolerate sun or part sun.  Plants are known to be grown in zone 7b and can take a freeze if the soil doesn't freeze.  In freezing areas new leaves will re-emerge in the spring.  In frost free areas it is a perennial plant. The last photo c/o the Missouri Botanical Garden shows a larger plant.  The plants on special shown below are in one gallon pots.  These photos were taken last month.  Plants are presently larger than shown here.  They are fairly quick growing.

REGULAR PRICE ONE GALLON $45
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Calocasia gigantea thailand giant Calocasia gigantea thailand giant Calocasia gigantea thailand giant
Calocasia gigantea thailand giant Calocasia gigantea thailand giant Calocasia gigantea thailand giant Missouri Botanical Garden Website

 

TWO VARIEGATED HIBISCUS
ONE WITH RED FLOWERS, ONE WITH YELLOW

 

FORM SMALL BUSHES OR TREES
TEN DAY SPECIAL ONE & FIVE GALLON PLANTS

Below I am showing you two different variegated Hibiscus. 

1.  
Variegated Hibiscus cooperi - first five photos - red flower
2.  Variegated Hibiscus tileaceus hamoe - photos 6 through 8 - yellow flower

All of our Hibiscus have been propagated from cuttings off a mother tree.  Some have several plants per pot.  As most of you know, Hibiscus make a bush or small tree.  Plants are being grown from temperate to tropical localities.  Leaves are typically green with finely serrated edges.  The two plants on sale are more rare variegated forms but still have the colorful blossoms.  All need adequate sunlight.  They do not like severe cold weather.  Cold makes the flower buds drop off.  Keep them damp but not soggy.  We have very limited numbers of both types and mail sell out soon. 

REGULAR PRICE 1 GALLON EITHER TYPE $45
TEN DAY SPECIAL 1 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

REGULAR PRICE 3 OR 5 GALLON SIZE $95
TEN DAY SPECIAL 3 OR 5 GALLON
25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


These can be mail ordered but are sort of fragile for traveling and no guarantees can be for perfect condition arrival.  Also, limited numbers available.


HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS RED HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS RED HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS RED
HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS RED HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS RED HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS
HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS HISIBSCUS TILIACEUS  

 

ALTERNATHEA PARTYTIME
DWARF COLORFUL SPECIES



RED AND GREEN LEAVES
TEN DAY SPECIAL OLDER ONE GALLON

This hybrid ornamental plant appeals to those who like color in the garden.  It only gets to about 2 feet tall and two feet wide and can tolerate good filtered light or sun.  The leaves are green with prominent pink-red mixed color as shown below.  They can be pruned to make a fuller plant and are not that difficult to grow.  They tolerate a freeze.  The one gallon on special are older plants and ready for planting.  Some are two feet tall and branching already.

REGULAR PRICE ONE GALLON $45
TEN DAY SPECIAL SALE PRICE ONE GALLON
25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Alternathea partytime Alternathea partytime
Alternathea partytime Alternathea partytime  

 

BILBERGIA CLUSTERS WITH CASCADING PINK BLOSSOMS
IN BLOSSOM IN THE SUMMER



GREEN LEAVES - SUN TOLERANT

LARGE CLUSTERS ON TEN DAY SPECIAL

This bromeliad genus is known for it's dependent and large pink blossoms.  The leaves on this species are green forming a tubular plant.  The blossoms are 18 inches long, cascading and pink in color with blue flower parts showing below.  They are very durable and easy to grow.  They want at least some sun but can be grown in the sun.  They want overhead watering.  These clusters each have five to ten individual plants in their 8 inch pots.  They usually blossom in summer and the blossoms are fairly long lasting.

REGULAR PRICE THESE 8 INCH CLUSTER PLANTS $100
TEN DAY SPECIAL THESE LARGE CLUSTERS IN 8 INCH POTS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE 


Bilbergia cluster in blossom pink 5g   Bilbergia cluster in blossom pink 5g   Bilbergia cluster in blossom pink 5g  
Bilbergia cluster in blossom pink 5g   Bilbergia cluster in blossom pink 5g   Bilbergia cluster in blossom pink 5g  

 

                          MONDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2025  


GASTROCOCOS CRISPA
AKA ACROCOMIA CRISPA


THE CUBAN BELLY PALM
SPINY PINNATE PALM
CENTRAL TRUNK SWOLLEN

Native to various areas of Cuba, this single trunk spiny palm is most known for the prominent bulge in the central trunk as shown here.  The spines on the trunk are variable.  Some older plants seem to lose their spines whereas others keep them.  See the photos below.  I've shown some photos that definitely show the bulge in the trunk.    

Heights can get to over thirty feet, crowns are full, leaves are plumose and overall appearance of the trees are very interesting.  This is a full sun species that can be grown in frost free areas of Southern California.  We probably have some smaller sizes available presently.  BTW, I am old fashioned and really like the old name of Gastrococos crispa.  But, taxonomists have to make a living.  You can pretty much be guaranteed they'll change 25% of the names you know and lover over the next twenty-five years.  They always have their reasons for this.    
 

Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa   Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa   Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa  
Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa   Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa   Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa  
Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa   Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa   Gastrococus crispa aka Acrocomia crispa  

 

ENCEPHALARTOS LEAFLETS
COLLAGE OF CLOSE UP PHOTOS


SHOWS DIVERSITY OF LEAF & LEAFLET APPEARANCES

This is a "just for fun" post of many close up photographs of the leaflets of an assortment of unusual Encephalartos species from either South or Central Africa.  I am showing you these to demonstrate the diversity of the leaflets of this genus as a whole.  Some are blue.  And, there's many colors of green.  Leaflet shapes are also quite varied. You'll see shorter leaflets compared to long narrow ones.  Some are spiny, others are more smooth at their margins.  The texture on some are smooth and shiny whereas others are furry showing hairs.  Some stack on each other, others are widely spaced.  Some are prominently veined.  Many pictures were taken twelve inches away while others show more leaflets, taken at two feet.  I'll not get into mentioning the species shown here but rather show them as a whole so you see how different they are from each other.  All photos were taken on nursery plants recently.

Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos
Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos
Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos
Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos
Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos
Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos
Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up
Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos Encephalartos leaflets close up photos
Encephalartos leaflets  Encephalartos leafletsa   

 

ARENGA MICRANTHA 
LARGE SUCKERING PINNATE PALM FROM INDIA THAT TOLERATES SIGNIFICANT COLD



GREEN LEAVES WITH SILVER BACKS

IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND – PROBABLY ONE OF FEW ON THE MARKET
TEN DAY SPECIAL ON AN OLD AND LARGE 25 GALLON WE HAVE LEFT

This morning I'm showing you an impossible to find suckering palm from northern India, Tibet and surrounding areas.  Quite remarkably, its native habitat is at elevations of 5000 to 7500 feet.  As you'd suspect, it tolerates temperatures way below freezing, probably into the upper teens F.  I don't really know for sure as of yet.  But, it's felt to be the most cold hardy of the genus Arenga.  It's not a smalArenga.  It can get up to 20 feet with trunks about 8 inches (mature) in diameter.  Like other species of the genus, the trunks are hairy and a bit shaggy.  Leaves are large and silver colored on their underside.  It is a part day sun or filtered light species.

Shown here is a decades old 25 gallon nursery plant.  It was grown from seeds that we got about 15 years ago.  Yes, they are slow growing.  I have this one specimen and maybe one other.  It is a huge plant for its container.  The habitat photo by is by T. Spanner.  The last photo of a domestic plant is by Eric CFPACS. 

REGULAR PRICE 25 GALLON $650
TEN DAY SPECIAL 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Arenga micrantha leaflet nursery plant Arenga micrantha 25g
Arenga micrantha 25g Arenga micrantha 25g Arenga micrantha 25g
Arenga micrantha 25g Arenga micrantha TS RPS Arenga micrantha Eric CFPACS

 

PHOENIX RUPICOLA
THE CLIFF DATE PALM

 

MEDIUM SIZE -THINNER TRUNK THAN CANARY
FAIRLY COLD HARDY
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE


I don't know if you've looked for this species, but the Cliff Date Palm is not so easy to find.  It is native to India and is about half the size of the Canary Island Palm in terms of trunk diameter and mature height.  Also, the crown is much smaller.  It is an armed species and has other characteristics of Phoenix like the induplicate leaflets (water held "in" - V shaped ).  But, many think this is the prettiest of all the Date Palms.  It typically gets fifteen to twenty-five feet tall.  The leaves are very pretty and green.  The crown is not overly large.  Leaves curve downwards.  Growth rate is medium, it tolerates full sun and is cold hardy into the mid-twenties or lower.  Shown here are our 15 gallon size which we are putting on sale.

 
REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON $225
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Special for this discount.  The isolated palm in the last row is from Balboa Park, San Diego.


PHOENIX RUPICOLA PHOENIX RUPICOLA PHOENIX RUPICOLA
PHOENIX RUPICOLA PHOENIX RUPICOLA PHOENIX RUPICOLA
PHOENIX RUPICOLA PHOENIX RUPICOLA  

 

TRITHRINAX SCHIZOPHYLLA
THE CARANDILLA PALM


BLUE-GREEN SUCKERING FAN PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15G SIZE


This rare and hard to find species of South American fan palm was previously known as Trithrinax biflabellata.  But, the latter was later found to be spineless and the two were given separate species status.  It is native to Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.  T. schizophylla is definitely a spiny palm with long needle-like spines on the trunk.  It is not quite as blue as campestris and is usually a suckering palm but sometimes is single trunk.  Mature height is six to fifteen feet.  Although the leaf is a rigid leaf, the leaflet tips are softer than the pungent T. campestris.  Leaf color is blue-green, not nearly as blue as campestris.  It is a very cold hardy species that tolerates temperatures down to at least 18 degrees F.  On sale are very old, outdoor grown 15g plants.  I think we've been growing these for about 12 to 14 years.  It likes full sun and loves heat.  It is possible to mail order this larger 15g size but it'd take a large box. 

REGULAR PRICE OLD 15G PLANTS $245
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 15G 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


As usual, mention our Blog when ordering to get this price.  The habitat photo is by Juan Pech. 

 
Trithrinax schizophylla Trithrinax schizophylla Trithrinax schizophylla
Trithrinax schizophylla Trithrinax schizophylla Trithrinax schizophylla by Juan Pech

  

DICTYOSPERMA ALBUM VAR RUBRUM
PRINCESS PALM, HURRICANE PALM



MEDIUM HEIGHT - CROWN SHAFT – THIN TRUNK
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE

This is a somewhat rare, collector type of palm that would be attractive in almost any coastal or near-coastal garden.  Native to the Mascarene Islands, this thin trunked, crown shafted palm gets to a height of about 25 feet.  This variety is called "rubrum" because of the red color that is present on the stems and on juvenile leaflets.  One photo shows this below.  The leaves are green, arching and without any spines.  Growth rate is medium.  This is a coastal sun or part day sun species with a cold tolerance in the upper twenties F.  I've had one in my garden for years in San Diego. 

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON $245
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Just mention this Blog Special when ordering to get this price.


Dictyosperma album rubrum 15g  Dictyosperma album rubrum 15g  Dictyosperma album rubrum 15g 
Dictyosperma album rubrum 15g  Dictyosperma album rubrum 15g  Dictyosperma album rubrum 15g 
Dictyosperma album rubrum  Dictyosperma album rubrum 15g  Dictyosperma album rubrum 

 

SABAL CAUSIARUM
LARGE TRUNKED TROPICAL FAN PALM 


SMOOTH AND LIGHT COLORED TRUNK
SUPER COLD HARDY
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

This is one of my favorite Sabal species.  It's native to various Caribbean Islands including Puerto Rico and Cuba.  It can get to height of at least 35 feet and has a trunk that is smooth and a light tan to gray color.  Trunks are thick, up to about 30 inches.  Leaf color is blue-green.  Growth rate is good and it likes sun.  Cold tolerance is into the mid-teens F.  The 5g size shown below are nice.  We’re putting this size on sale.  Get them in the ground and within a few years you’ll have a decent sized palm.  I’m showing some mature plants below as well. 

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $135
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Sabal causiarum 5g Sabal causiarum 5g Sabal causiarum 5g
Sabal causiarum 5g Sabal causiarum 5g Sabal causiarum 5g
Sabal causiarum Sabal causiarum Sabal causiarum in garden

 

SYAGRUS OLERACEA
THIN TRUNK & TALL SOLITARY PALM



PLUMOSE LEAVES - NOT AS TALL AS QUEEN PALM

TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

This species of single trunk pinnate palm is native to Brazil and can get to heights of fifty to sixty feet.  It can be grown in Southern California and is a smaller version of the Queen Palm.   Leaves are green and plumose.  It wants full sun and is cold hardy into the mid to upper 20's F.  One special are nice 5 gallon plants, still with their juvenile foliage.  They are presently larger than shown here.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON SIZE $145
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember:  mention this Blog Special at the time of purchase.  Last photo by John Demott, FL - via the I.P.S.

Syagrus oleracea  Syagrus oleracea  Syagrus oleracea 
Syagrus oleracea  Syagrus oleracea  Syagrus oleracea 
Syagrus oleracea  Syagrus oleracea by John DeMott IPS   



SABAL BLACKBURNIANA
LARGE AND TALL FAN PALM

 

MEDIUM HEIGHT GREEN FAN PALM WITH STOUT TRUNK
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON SIZE

This species of thick trunked fan palm is native to Dominican Republic and Haiti.  It can get to over 60 feet tall with a massive 2 foot thick brown trunk.  Leaves are larger than the similar but smaller Sabal palmetto.  Growth rate is quick.  It is also very cold hard and likes full hot sun.  It can go down to the mid-teens F.  The 5 gallon size shown below is about 5 years old.  Photos of garden plants in the last row are by Justen Dobbs and Wikipedia.

REGULAR PRICE 5 GALLON $135
TEN DAY SPECIAL 5 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g 
Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g  Sabal blackburniana 5g 
Sabal blackburniana Justen Dobbs PACSOA   Justen Dobbs PACSOA wikipedia   Justen Dobbs PACSOA 

 

CHAMAEDOREA SCHIPPII
AN ALMOST UNKNOWN AND NEVER AVAILABLE SPECIES

UNDERSTORY PINNATE SUCKERING PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL 2 GALLON SIZE

Taxonomically, this species of Chamaedorea is an accepted species.  When I got started in palms about 44 years ago, you could occasionally find one available but you really had to seek it out.  Then they disappeared from the market.  I have a friend with a mature matched and sexed pair of them who set seeds last year.  I haven't this species for sale for at least 20 years.  No one has them.  We're offering them in a small size and have very few available.

This is a suckering green leaf understory species of Chamaedorea.  They get a mature height of twelve to fourteen feet and have an appearance similar to C. costaricana.  But, the leaves are longer and the trunks are thicker.  Trunks remain vertical and don't usually lean.  This species has historically been used to make some of the more interesting Chamaedorea hybrids including the famous "Irving Cantor" cross.  They were chosen for hybridization because of their strong vertical trunks.  Cold tolerance is into the twenties F. 

REGULAR PRICE 2 GALLON $90
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS RARE PALM IN 2 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Remember:  Limited numbers and mention this Blog Only Special to get this price.


Chamaedorea schippii Chamaedorea schippii Chamaedorea schippii
Chamaedorea schippii Chamaedorea schippii Chamaedorea schippii

 

CARYOTA URENS
THE GIANT MOUNTAIN FISHTAIL
FAST GROWING - SUPER TALL



NOT AVAILABLE FOR YEARS
TEN DAY SPECIAL JUVENILE 2 GALLON SIZE

Caryota urens 
is a tall single trunk monocarpic palm species native to Asia.  It is fast growing and can get to a height of 70 feet.  It is definitely a canopy-forming palm species.  Leaves a green and leaflets are premorse (jagged at their ends).  Some people love the grandeur of these palms.  Trunks are tan, ringed and about 16 inches diameter on average.  It will get taller and more quickly get there than almost any other palm in your garden.  They want full sun and, especially if inland, plenty of water.  Because they are monocarpic (flower and then die), one needs a plant that is near death to get seeds.  This occurs rarely.  We were able to germinate seeds from such a plant.  They are presently in 2 gallon pots (on Special) to give their roots a chance to take offer and promote growth.  I’ve not had this species available for about six to eight years.  They are on their second leaf.  Of note, there’s been a high demand for this species because of its scarcity and non-availability.  I wish I had larger to offer but we just don’t.

REGULAR PRICE THIS HARD TO FIND PALM IN 2 GALLON SIZE $75
TEN DAY SPECIAL JUVENILE 2 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Caryota urens 2g Caryota urens 2g Caryota urens 2g
Caryota urens 2g Caryota urens 2g Caryota urens 2g
Caryota urens Caryota urens Caryota urens

 

RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII
MORE RARE SPECIES OF THIS GENUS
 



GORGEOUS CROWN SHAFT - VERY ELEGANT MATURE PALM
TEN DAY SPECIAL HUGE BAND SIZE

Of the Shaving Brush Palm family, this is the hardest one to find.  And, many think it's the prettiest and most desirable species.  Some consider it to be a variety of R. baueri.  We like to consider it a species.  Native to Raoul Island, an island well off the eastern side of New Zealand, this species has a medium sized trunk and reaches a height of twenty five feet.  The crown shaft is gorgeous but not as swollen as R. sapida.  I have some customers who report the crown shaft being a purple color.  On younger plants, the leaf stems are red colored as shown here.  Cold tolerance is the low 20's F.  It will take coastal sun or consider morning sun or strong filtered light inland.  The band size are four to five years old and absolutey huge for their pots - needing repotting or putting into the garden.

REGULAR PRICE THESE HUGE BAND SIZE $65
TEN DAY SPECIAL HUGE BAND SIZE 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Just mention this Blog special for this discount.  These can be mail ordered.   We also have 5g (shown below) and 15g sizes available.  The 8th photo is c/o cloudforest.com website.

RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII band RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII band RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII band
RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII band RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII band RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII band
Rhopalostylis cheesemanii
5g size
Rhopalostylis cheesemanii Cloudforest.com website RHOPALOSTYLIS CHEESEMANII

  

ARCHONTOPHOENIX "TERACARPA"
THE BEST KING PALM EVER!


BIGGER, FASTER GROWING, NO BROWNING OF LEAFLETS
TEN DAY SPECIAL HUGE BAND SIZE PLANTS


Archontophoenix teracarpa is a fictitious name given to an unknown species/type of King Palm that I have in my garden and no one can identify.  I've been collecting seeds from it for quite a few years and offering it for sale.  Everyone who gets one agrees - "It's the best King Palm ever!"  It got the name from the Latin "Large body", which it has.  After trying to identify the species over many years and with no success, we coined the name "Archontophoenix teracarpa".  The closest species to it would be A. maxima but it's not the same.  So, what are the differences that makes teracarpa more ideal?

It is faster growing
It gets taller than the regular King Palm
It tolerates full sun better
It doesn't brown tip in full sun
It has a blue crown shaft
It has a super thick trunk

The band size plants are about 3-4 years old and huge – about 2 feet tall and need to be planted or repotted into 5g pots.

REGULAR PRICE THESE HUGE BANDS $65
TEN DAY SPECIAL THESE HUGE BANDS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember:  mention this Special to get your discount when you purchase!


Archontophoenix teracarpa band huge Archontophoenix teracarpa band huge Archontophoenix teracarpa band huge
Archontophoenix teracarpa band huge Archontophoenix teracarpa Archontophoenix teracarpa

 

ENCEPHALARTOS LEHMANNII
RARE BLUE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD FOR FULL COASTAL SUN

A FAVORITE AMONG CYCAD ENTHUSIASTS
GOOD STARTER SIZE FOR CYCAD ENTHUSIAST
TEN DAY SPECIAL CITRUS POT SIZED PLANTS

This is a popular blue cycad from the Eastern Cape area of South Africa.  I say “popular” because some people don't like spines and prickles.  The leaflets of this species are narrow with only a point at the end.  They are nothing as gnarly as E. horridus.  The leaves and crown are very neat and uniform.  The nearest species to this one is Encephalartos princeps.  Trunks of E. lehmannii can get to five feet, but one with two to three feet of trunk is very old.  Leaves average about four feet long and are strongly curled.  Sometimes they'll almost do a 180 or more degree re-curve.  Leaf color is intensely blue like E. horridus.  But, you'll only see this color with full, hot sun.  In shade or inside a greenhouse they are often green because they are not getting full sun and have lots of humidity.  Cold hardiness is about 21 to 22 degrees F.  In the desert only give it a few hours sun. 

Shown below are E. lehmannii that are in citrus pot containers.  They have 4 to 6 leaves with caudexes of about 2.5 inches.  See first two rows of photos.  They can remain in these containers for 2 to 3 more years.  Easy to mail order.  We do have larger sizes available.  These citrus pot plants are easy to mail order.

REGULAR PRICE CITRUS POT WITH 2.5 INCH CAUDEX $375
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS CAUDEX SIZE CITRUS POT 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

The third row of photos show more mature or garden plants.

Encephalartos lehmannii 5g 2.5 inches Encephalartos lehmannii 5g 2.5 inches
Encephalartos lehmannii 5g 2.5 inches Encephalartos lehmannii 5g 2.5 inches Encephalartos lehmannii 5g 2.5 inches
Encephalartos lehmannii Encephalartos lehmannii Encephalartos lehmannii

 

DIOON MEROLAE
SLOW GROWING SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED CYCAD

 

GRAY-GREEN LEAFLETS - COASTAL FULL SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL CITRUS POT SIZED PLANTS

This is a slow growing New World cycad species that comes from Mexico.  It is very attractive.  One of the things that is particularly nice about this species is that the crown size is compact and not that large.  For this reason, it fits into a small sunny location in the garden where no other plant would work.  Its leaves are a silver-green in color (can be just green) and it holds many leaves.  An extremely old plant might have a foot or two of trunk.  In the wild there are specimens that are possibly a thousand years old with many meters of trunk, often leaning over toward the ground.  But, from a practical point of view, it is a small plant.  If you grow this species, you'll probably find that it will take fifty years or more to get three feet of trunk. 
 
Cold hardiness is into the low 20's F. and it prefers full sun except for harsh desert climates.  We offer many sizes of this species from seedlings up to trunked plants that are many decades old.  The citrus pot size on Sale today are a good size for mail order and for acclimating into your garden.  They are far from a seedling plant.  Caudex size is 2 to 3 inches and age is about seven years.  If you want larger or smaller, we do have both.  I hope that you like this cycad; it's one of my favorites. For upscale landscaping, nothing beats it.

REGULAR PRICE CIT POT WITH 2-3 INCH CAUDEX $300

TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE WITH 2-3 INCH CAUDEX 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Dioon merolae cit pot 2-3 inches Dioon merolae cit pot 2-3 inches Dioon merolae cit pot 2-3 inches
Dioon merolae cit pot 2-3 inches Dioon merolae cit pot 2-3 inches Dioon merolae cit pot 2-3 inches
Dioon merolae Dioon merolae Dioon merolae leaf

 

ENCEPHALARTOS ARENARIUS
RARE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCAD



MEDIUM SIZE MATURE - LIKES COASTAL SUN
LEAVES ON THESE PLANS WILL BE GREEN OR BUE GREEN
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE CITRUS POT SIZED PLANTS

This species of cycad is from the coastal dunes and forest close to Alexandria in the Eastern Cape.  It will be small to medium in mature size.  Leaf length can range from one to two meters (i.e. three to six feet approximately) depending on cultivar and exposure to sun.  Like many of the Encephalartos from the Eastern Cape, this species is variable in color, size and leaf type.  E. arenarius can range in color from a dull green to a powdery blue color (bearing a likeness to E. horridus).  I think the plants on sale today will be green or blue green in the sun as they mature.  It prefers a well draining soil.  Speed of growth of this cycad is good.  You could expect to have a nice garden sized plant from the size on sale today in about size on today in five or so years.  Caudex size is about 2-3 inches.  These plants would be easy to mail order.  

REGULAR PRICE CITRUS POT CAUDEX 2-3 INCHES $330
TEN DAY SPECIAL CITRUS POT CAUDEX 2-3 INCHES 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

Remember to mention this Blog Special for your discount when you order.


Encephalartos arenarius 5g 2 to 3 inches Encephalartos arenarius 5g 2 to 3 inches Encephalartos arenarius 5g 2 to 3 inches
Encephalartos arenarius 5g 2 to 3 inches Encephalartos arenarius 5g 2 to 3 inches Encephalartos arenarius
Encephalartos arenarius Encephalartos arenarius Encephalartos arenarius

 

DIOON EDULE
SMALL TO MEDIUM SIZED MEXICAN CYCAD


FOR A CYCAD, VERY COLD HARDY
TOLERATES DESERT SUN - ONE OF BEST FOR THIS
TEN DAY SPECIAL BIG 15 GALLON PLANTS

Dioon edule is a typically small to medium sized sun-loving cycad from Mexico.  There are known to be about six different varieties of this species - all from different localities.  Leaves are typically green to blue-green.  Leaflets at pointed at the end and otherwise un-armed.  Dioon edule is one of the few cycads that tolerates hot direct desert sun.  The Sago Palm can't claim this ability.  Cold tolerance is excellent, being able to take cold weather into the teens F.  We recently got in a handful of great 15 gallon plants with caudexes of about 6 inches or larger.  They are gorgeous.

REGULAR PRICE THESE 15 GALLON PLANTS $700
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS GROUP OF CYCADS 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE

This is a great buy.  But, remember to mention this Special for your discount when you purchase.  Mail order possible.

Dioon edule Dioon edule Dioon edule
Dioon edule Dioon edule Dioon edule
Dioon edule Dioon edule Dioon edule

 

ARAUCARIA HETEROPHYLLA
THE NORFOLK ISLAND PINE OR STAR PINE


LARGE AND TALL STURDY GREEN LEAFED TREE
TOLERATES OUR LOCAL WINTER COLD - WANTS SUN
TEN DAY SPECIAL 15 GALLON SIZE


There are about twenty different species of Araucaria worldwide.  This includes multiple species from New Caledonia.  The Norfolk Island Pine is one of these species.  It is native, of course, to the Norfolk Island.  All Araucaria tend to make good sized trees.  The Norfolk Pine in the wild can get to heights well over one hundred feet with a forty or more foot spread of the crown.  It develops a thick trunk and has prickly green leaflets.  Because of the latter, you cannot walk below it bare footed.  It is a full sun tree in most areas and is only marginally cold hardy - at best into the mid to upper 30's F.  Also, it doesn't like extremely hot weather.  With this said, there are a fair number of mature trees in the coastal San Diego area.  It is difficult to find any Araucaria for sale.  We rarely have them available.

REGULAR PRICE 15 GALLON $1195
TEN DAY SPECIAL PRICE 15 GALLON 25% OFF REGULAR PRICE


Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine
Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine
Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine Araucaria heterophylla  Norfolk pine

 

BIRDS NEST ANTHURIUM
ANTHURIUM HOOKERI

THE PERFECT COMPANION PLANT


NEVER OVER ABOUT SIX FEET TALL
LEATHERY, DARK GREEN LEAVES
TEN DAY SPECIAL NICE 5 GALLON PLANTS


Enthusiast are always looking for attractive companion plants that don't get too big.  Shown here is what's called the "Birds Nest" Anthurium.  Most of these plants are felt to either be the species Anthurium hookeri or a hybrid of it.  They are good for filtered light situations and rarely get over six feet tall.  The leaves are long, wide and very thick to the touch.  Their leaf surface is wavy.  We’re offering our 5 gallon size on a Ten Day Special.  This is the size most people buy.  Cold hardiness is into the mid-twenties F.  Flowers are red, as are the tiny seeds.   These plants are real winners. These can be mail ordered.

REGULAR PRICE 5G THIS SPECIES $95
TEN DAY SPECIAL THIS SIZE