Re: Palms for California's Central coast

Barry, 

The Andean Wax Palm - Ceroxylon alpinum may prove to be a bit tricky
since it is a mountain species, revelling in cool, very humid
conditions and when young, requiring a fair amount of shade.  It needs
constant root moisture and a humus-rich acidic soil to thrive.  I keep
mine in dense shade where it is slowly building up, producing
progressively longer leaves.  

You might think about the Pindo Palm - Butia capitata.  Its quite an
impressive species with strongly arching, sea-green fronds to about
8feet long on older plants.  In terms of hardiness it should do very
well with you - tolerant of around minus 8C and seems to grow better
during the cooler spring or autumn months.  It has a reputation for
being rather slow, but my 5 foot plant was bought as a 15"  'seedling'
just over 2 years ago.   Here, it grows almost continuously, although
in winter it rarely puts out more than 2 fronds.  

Another worth looking at is the Himalayan Cliff Date Palm - Phoenix
rupicola.  Nowhere near as jaded as the Canary Island species, its
slender, elegant growth and wonderfully presented, rich glossy green
fronds take it into a class of its own.  Hardiness should not be a
problem with you.

Finally, Jubaea chilensis - the Chilean Wine Palm is a stunning
species with long, very finely divided arching fronds.  This one is
quite slow although I've heard reports of trunks extending by as much
as 12" per year in some areas of the US.  Hardiness is definitely not
an issue with this palm - we have a 140-year-old specimen growing down
the road from here.  It has taken everything the last century could
throw at it including arctic type freezes lasting several weeks during
the late 1940's and 1960's.  

Dave Poole
TORQUAY  UK
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