Difference between revisions of "Copernicia macroglossa"

Latest revision as of 17:44, 22 September 2016

Pronunciation: coe-purr-KNEE-see-uh mah-crow-GLOSS-uh

Common Name: Cuban Petticoat Palm

Copernicia macroglossa is a very marginal palm for California despite it's growing quite well and showing some impressive cold hardiness on the east coast. It just happens to be one of many palms that have poor 'cool tolerance', i.e... prolonged periods of cool weather (such as sub 40s). In zone 9b in Florida, some can get this palm up to a fairly large size before it ultimately succumbs to their periodic deep freezes. But temps down into the freezing range seem to have little effect upon it, as long as it heats up quickly soon after. Some California growers have managed to eke this one along year after year, and in Palm Desert there is even one of good size. However, this plant seems to be restricted to the nearly frost free inland deserts or the small pockets of 'perfect' weather in the southern tip of the state (warm zone 10bs). Grown well, this is a spectacular as well as curious plant.

Appearance and Biology

Habit: solitary with a crown of 12-15 fan leaves
Height: 10' estimate
Trunk: single; 6"-8" thick; clean and subtly ringed, or with petticoat or retained, cut leaf bases (so far no real trunking palms in California, either)
Crownshaft: none
Spread: 6'-8'
Leaf Description: palmate; flat; stiff; leaves divided about 1/4 to 1/2 their length; deep, bright green; 3'-4' long; semicircular
Petiole/Leaf bases: very short to nearly non-existent; armed
Reproduction: monoecious
Inflorescence: 5'-6' extended far beyond leaf tips; from within leaves; minimally branched; flowers brown
Fruit: spherical; 3/4'; green

Horticultural Characteristics

Minimum Temp: 32F
Drought Tolerance: moderate
Dry Heat Tolerance: good
Cool Tolerance: poor
Wind Tolerance: good
Salt Tolerance: moderate
Growth Rate: very slow
Soil Preference: adabptable
Light Requirement: full sun
Human Hazards: stiff somewhat rough, spiny leaves
Disease or Horticultural Problems: very touchy in California
Transplants?: unknown
Indoor?: unlikely to do well
Availability: rare

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 '''Common Name''': Cuban Petticoat Palm
 </center>
-'''''Copernicia macroglossa''''' is a very marginal palm for California despite it's growing quite well and showing some impressive cold hardiness on the east coast.  It just happens to be one of many palms that have poor 'cool tolerance', e.g.. prolonged periods of cool weather (such as sub 40s).  In zone 9b in Florida, some can get this palm up to a fairly large size before it ultimately succumbs to their periodic deep freezes.  But temps down into the freezing range seem to have little effect upon it, as long as it heats up quickly soon after.  Some California growers have managed to eke this one along year after year, and in Palm Desert there is even one of good size.  However, this plant seems to be restricted to the nearly frost free inland deserts or the small pockets of 'perfect' weather in the southern  tip of the state (warm zone 10bs).  Grown well, this is a spectacular as well as curious plant.
+'''''Copernicia macroglossa''''' is a very marginal palm for California despite it's growing quite well and showing some impressive cold hardiness on the east coast.  It just happens to be one of many palms that have poor 'cool tolerance', i.e... prolonged periods of cool weather (such as sub 40s).  In zone 9b in Florida, some can get this palm up to a fairly large size before it ultimately succumbs to their periodic deep freezes.  But temps down into the freezing range seem to have little effect upon it, as long as it heats up quickly soon after.  Some California growers have managed to eke this one along year after year, and in Palm Desert there is even one of good size.  However, this plant seems to be restricted to the nearly frost free inland deserts or the small pockets of 'perfect' weather in the southern  tip of the state (warm zone 10bs).  Grown well, this is a spectacular as well as curious plant.
+<center>
 {| colspan="2" style="background: #FCFCFC; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;" |
 | style="width: 50%; background: #f8e8df; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;" |
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 *'''Availability''': rare
 |}
+{{#Widget:AdResBan}}
 <gallery>
+File:Copernicia macroglossa nice GB 9-16.jpg|San Diego county, California
+File:Copernicia macroglossa Bruss.jpg|Vista, California
+File:copernicia macroglossa Matt .jpg|San Diego coutny, California
+File:Copernicia macroglossa Ha.JPG|San Diego county, California
+File:Copernicia macroglossa Lai.jpg|Topanga, California
+File:Copernicia macroglassa another tall one wiht thick skirt Fairchild.jpg|Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Miami, Florida
+File:Copernicia macroglossa another crown with lots of flowers and petticoat Fairchild.jpg|Fairchild Gardens
+File:Copernicia macroglossa huge petticoat Fairchild.jpg|Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Miami
+File:Copernicia macrogglossa near pond nN.JPG|Nong Nooch Tropical gardens , Thailand
+File:Copernicia macroglossa large n short NN.JPG|Non Nooch gardens
+File:Copernicia macroglossa Thai CM.jpg|
+File:Copernicia macroglossa Thailand.jpg|Thailand, mature palm
+File:Copernicia macroglossa w-trnkNN.jpg|Nong Nooch Tropical gardens
+File:Copernicia macroglossa crown Fairchild.jpg|Fairchild Gardens
+File:Copernicia macroglossa young plant not trunk yet Fairchild.jpg|younger palm, Miami
 </gallery>
 [[Category: Copernicia]]

Difference between revisions of "Copernicia macroglossa"

Geoff Stein - Author & Editor

Latest revision as of 17:44, 22 September 2016