Palms

Just thought it would be a good idea to create a thread only about palms, I know they dont figure quite so high in the garden since the onset of colder winters but who knows, this one is shaping up to be like about 10 yrs ago, very wet but mild.
We still have the bone hardy ones, Trachycarpus being the main one, fortunei and wagnerianus being the hardiest, and my fortuneis seem to be loving the wet, I guess it mimics the wet winter conditions in their home in the Himalayas.
They seem to be making massive root systems, or will if this lot hits the ground.

As to the Butia capitata, I think that is supposed to like it a bit dryer, but as long as it dont get too cold with the wet I got a feeling it will do OK.
Washingtonia has got a rain guard to stop the water getting lodged in the growing point, but as long as it stays mild I doubt that will suffer.

So lets see how your palms are doing?

 

Nooooooo Pete, don't get cocky about this winter! That's how I was two years ago when we had a relatively mild Dec and Jan. Then got clobbered with ten days of snow and -17C in February! Thanks for the reminder to go and take some photos of my Trachy and Chaemorops, though....the photos might be all I'll have to remember them by...

 

I wasn't meaning to get cocky, I was more kind of hoping.
Surely Trachys will be OK with you, although I must admit I've never seen -17C and I hope I never do.

 

If I told you that the UK government recently averaged winter temps in France by including the figures for the caribbean islands, in order to get out of paying the winter fuel allowance, would you believe me? You've got a much better chance of growing exotics outside than I have, trust me. The only plus here is a slightly longer growing season and stronger sun but that's largely offset by the high rainfall in winter and Spring, falling on clay soil.
On the bright side, I discovered that you can dig out a supposedly dead Cycas revoluta and still have a baby re-appear two years later!

 

How's everyone palms?
My trachycarpus fortunei abit wind battered but growing new spears but looking yellow
The butia been growing all winter since I got it in January in the GH.

 

sorry missed this John, yes lets see photos.

 

My Trachies and Chamearops are looing ok.
Hopefully get a good flush of fronds this summer

 

Just ordered some washingtonia seeds, has anyone else tried them?

 

If they are fresh, they should be easy enough to germinate.
I think they are only borderline hardy though.

 

I know I was adviced against it but I brought a brahea armata and a cycad revoluta from the ebay seller in Spain.
Not a bad price for both

 

I've grown Washingtonia from seed a few times, its one of the best for growing from seed as both W fillifera and W robusta grow really fast for palms, you can have a decent specimen in about 3 to 4 yrS

I had a couple that were coming on great until the onset of cold winters in 2009, still got one left, its a bit overgrown by other plants now but at least this year all its fronds have survived so could get some decent growth this year.

 

Nice plants mowgley, what are your plans for them?

 

Thx @pete
Hopefully the brahea is going in the same bed as the butia as heeding your advice
The cycad with be kept in the pot I think but looking at the rooting coming through the bottom of the pot it might need potting on.
Will be making a rain cover later on in the year to keep the worst of the rain out of the growing point.
The border they are going to be planted in is naturally dryish soil and has quite a good slope to aid drainage.