Re: Chamaerops humilis
- To: m*@ucdavis.edu
- Subject: Re: Chamaerops humilis
- From: M* B*
- Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 20:34:50 -0700
>From: Dave Poole <dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk>
>To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu
>Subject: Re: Chamaerops humilis
>Date: Thu, 30 Dec 1999 03:29:36 +0000
>Reply-To: dave-poole@ilsham.demon.co.uk
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>Charels wrote:
>
>>Where did I get the idea that Chamaerops humilis grew
>>naturally in the mediterranean zone of Chile? Does anyone have any
>>evidence that it does?
>
>You may have seen pics of it planted there and I have no doubt that it
>would survive, but it is definitely a true mediterranean plant, native
>to both north and south coastal regions mainly in the western med. I
>believe it's most southerly range extends to the Atlas mountains of
>Morocco where it is represented by a particularly fine, blue leaved
>form - var. 'cerifera' which is almost as bright as the Mexican Blue
>Hesper palm and far hardier.
>
>>I got the idea somewhere and was about to buy one for our
>>mediterranean Botanical Garden when I checked and could not
>>substantiate the idea. Oops, I saved some money. Unless one of you
>>can give me some documentation that it does grow there!
>
>Well, if the justification for planting it is that it is a
>mediterranean subject, you could not find a more typical example.
>However, if the justification is for a plant native to Chile, then the
>infinitely more expensive and slower growing, Jubaea chilensis would
>be a more suitable choice.
>
>Dave Poole
Dear David, Charels and list-
Everything Dave and I wrote to Charels was on the mark except that
I have never seen the blue-form of C. humilis sold as var. cerifera,
though I've encountered the name. According to Encyclopoedia
principia var. cerifera is also solitary and that would give it
a distinct maintainance advantage.
Further Jubaea chilensis is available much larger that C. humilis
by buying a 24" or 36" box at Corona Palms---and its a much more
exciting tree, rather than a medium shrub. I believe the common
name is Jelly Palm. There are many gorgeous ones in So Cal but
they are much rarer in the north.
I did however plant one as the centerpiece of a Danville garden
12 years ago from a 30" box. It was about 8' tall when it went
in the ground by well watered, fed and cooked by the Contra Costa
County sun it is now 14' tall with more than 10 trunk feet and a
gorgeous canopy---so it ain't that slow with summer heat AND WATER.
Michael D. Barclay
>
Really Special Plants & Gardens, Kensington, CA
Cal Hort Council opga@wenet.net Growing 2,000 species of plants
15 miles from the Golden Gate. ARS Speakers Bureau lecturer.
