Hardy Tropicals UK

I was wondering if anyone else is aware of this? I have seen this repeatedly mention as the most northerly mature Phoenix Canariensis. I even found a thread on cloudforest.com discussing it from last month, but nobody has posted anything about its recent condition.

Well, it now appears to be dead:

That's a shame I knew the other one died a few years ago but thought the left side one was ok, I wonder what caused their deaths?

It is a shame I know western Ireland had some pretty cold temps in 2010, but not sure if that was the case down as far as cork. If cold damage occurred with the extreme high humidity infection could have set in.

They did get snow in Cork in 2010, even on Fota Island where the Phoenix was located, but can't have got that cold there surely... Apparently they were planted in 1896, a real shame

It could have just died of old age?

All palms have to do that eventually.

The best thing now would be to plant 2 new CIDPS or maybe a couple of Buta palms.

billdango

Is does look blutty tall for a Phoenix canariensis_CIDP in that location, was it planted rather large or?

cordyman wrote:Is does look blutty tall for a Phoenix canariensis_Phoenix canariensis_CIDP in that location, was it planted rather large or?

As they appear to have been planted 118 years ago, don't think the size at planting time would have made much difference.

The 1890s was the time of the Dickensian Snow Christmas Cards, was a particularly cold winter spell.

Dave Brown wrote:

cordyman wrote:Is does look blutty tall for a Phoenix canariensis_Phoenix canariensis_CIDP in that location, was it planted rather large or?

As they appear to have been planted 118 years ago, don't think the size at planting time would have made much difference.

The 1890s was the time of the Dickensian Snow Christmas Cards, was a particularly cold winter spell.

both planted at that year? such a disparity in height

My guess is old age. It is possible that the terrible floods that Cork has had since December was the knock out, though I can't see standing water the water table must be high. Cork has been as hard hit as SW England though that has escaped most of the UK media.

I know Logan Botanic Gardens in Southern Scotland has some mature CIPD outside but they were not as mature as those in Cork.

cordyman wrote:

both planted at that year? such a disparity in height

They were both the same height, the one on the right lost half of the trunk after it died...

Cork Airport had a low of -7C in December 2010 & had an average low of 0C for the whole month, with heavy snow too. It may be that they were damaged & then in the damp Irish climate they rotted away. I doubt very much it would be old age that killed them as Phoenix canariensis can live much longer & grow taller than those specimens...

Nathan wrote:

cordyman wrote:

both planted at that year? such a disparity in height

They were both the same height, the one on the right lost half of the trunk after it died...

Cork Airport had a low of -7C in December 2010 & had an average low of 0C for the whole month, with heavy snow too. It may be that they were damaged & then in the damp Irish climate they rotted away. I doubt very much it would be old age that killed them as Phoenix canariensis can live much longer & grow taller than those specimens...

ah cheers! real shame

Any pics of them in there former glory?

The European Palm Society journal Issue 20 of Chamaerops dated October 1995 had a front and back cover spread showing both palms. (Sorry, can't get a link - maybe someone else?)

Here they are in their former glory...

Thanks, Nathan.

Surely, this would be a candidate for restoration through some sponsor/charity source?

Re-looking at the OP picture, it was taken in early autumn as the trees were stil in leaf and I would expect deciduous trees to be bare by now, so I think Nathan is right "they were damaged & then in the damp Irish climate they rotted away". Shame as they really did make the grow house look like it was 500 miles further south.