Re: Pandanus

Acrocomias have spines like porcupines have quills.
Washingtonia & Phoenix are soft kittycats by
comparison. (I believe Acrocomia would require more
heat to get along, frost tolerance notwithstanding,
but it's always worth a try!)

The New Zealand book, 'The Subtropical Garden,' is
full of plant ideas for coastal California. I think
Timber Press publishes it on this side of the pond.

-Jason Dewees
San Francisco


--- Barry Garcia <barry_garcia@csumb.edu> wrote:
> davidfeix@yahoo.com writes:
> >One plant which for some reason reminds me of
> pandanus
> >and that we can grow here is Astelia chathamica
> >'Silver Spear'.  The foliage also takes on this
> sort
> >of whorled habit, and is coarse but without the
> >vicious spiny leaves.  It is not woody nor tree
> like,
> >but the silvery foliage and ultimate size much like
> a
> >Phormium might make this plant of interest for you
> in
> >your own beach side garden there near Monterey.
> 
> What a stunning plant! I'll keep it in mind for the
> back garden if we ever
> get around to it (i'm going to keep bugging my
> parents about it).
> 
> Speaking of spines and tropicals, i had considered
> buying an Acrocomia
> totai. That specific palm seems tolerant of the
> temperature ranges along
> the California coast (seems they handle temps down
> to 18 F without getting
> killed). I also find it attractive. But, the only
> drawback is it's
> bristling with long black spines. Even the petioles
> are covered in spines.
> I guess it would keep cats out of them......as well
> as children (I've
> heard the spines can be trimmed back above the
> height of most people,
> though). But, it couldnt be that much worse than
> Phoenix canariensis and
> Washingtonia robustas in regards to spininess.
> 
> Also, i'm considering buying the book "the tropical
> look". It give
> suggestions as to what plants to use to achieve a
> tropical look in
> temperate zones.  
> 
> ____________________________________________
> 
> Some of us tow the line
> Some of us are out of reach
> Everybody party time
> Some of us, will never sleep again...
>                                                     
>            - Gorillaz
> 


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