Hardy Tropicals UK

Washie Washingtonia has grown faster than Trachycarpus here over the last 15 years

more pics

Are you able to give the top any protection these days? or has it got to take its chances?! Mine was doing as well as yours until 2010 when I decided it was big enough to not need protection!!

charliep wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2019 7:49 am Are you able to give the top any protection these days? or has it got to take its chances?! Mine was doing as well as yours until 2010 when I decided it was big enough to not need protection!!

It was protected in 2010 and 2012, but been too big since then. Got clobbered by the 'Beast' on 28th Feb 2018, which gave low temp of -9.9C, then Storm Emma slammed into the 'Beast' on 1st March, bringing winds of 54 mph, while at -4.9C. Even Trachies sustained massive wind burn.

By May 2018 it had regrown 3 leaves, and by June 2019 had regrown 29 leaves

Amazing how it constantly keeps recovering Dave....if it was a boxer you'd have many titles!.

karl66 wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2019 5:12 pm Amazing how it constantly keeps recovering Dave....if it was a boxer you'd have many titles!.

It is it's fast growth that enables it to recover quickly. My Trachycarpus still bear the scars of the beast 18 months later.

I am amazed you can grow washies were you live, they just don't thrive here, despite it being warmer than were you live I'm not sure if its the wind or sand they don't like. Just out of interest can you grow CIDPs.

A suitable symbol to highlight how well you can come back from adversity

chainsaw kid wrote: ↑Sun Oct 27, 2019 8:30 pm I am amazed you can grow washies were you live, they just don't thrive here, despite it being warmer than were you live I'm not sure if its the wind or sand they don't like. Just out of interest can you grow CIDPs.

Washingtonia robusta originates on the Pacific coast of US and Mexico, so I wouldn't have thought wind and sand would be a problem. Mine certainly gets a thrashing now it is taller. The experiments I did when I could get to the spears, suggested growth started around 13C and accelerated up to 30C. The most common failing is when people plant out too small. Also they need a pretty good microclimate while they are establishing, and prevented from drying out.

Here is a link to my Washingtonia hardiness rating viewtopic.php?f=114&t=12913

Phoenix canariensis_CIDP is not hardy here, lost SO many over the years, including my Southsea harvested ones.

Dave Brown wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 10:07 am Phoenix canariensis_Phoenix canariensis_CIDP is not hardy here, lost SO many over the years, including my Southsea harvested ones.

That is odd I can grow CIDPs. I suspect it may be the Washingtonian dry out on the sand. Although I have dug them up from a beach in the Canaries.

chainsaw kid wrote: ↑Mon Oct 28, 2019 5:45 pm That is odd I can grow CIDPs. I suspect it may be the Washingtonian dry out on the sand. Although I have dug them up from a beach in the Canaries.

It's all about lack of winter sun for the CIDPs. Neighbours, diagonally opposite, have a large one in the front garden, but is planted about 6 feet from their south facing front house wall. It gets sun, when shining, all winter, and baked in summer. My garden is a slight northerly slope, making longer shadows in winter. I have massive amounts of south facing windows, and the last thing I want, is something the size of Phoenix canariensis_CIDP blocking out sun, so it can't be planted where it would need to be.

Washingtonia can't tolerate dry soil, it grows in burrancos, in desert areas, but only where the soil doesn't dry out.

Well that's it then, any one know were I can buy a burranco?

Thanks to this forum I've managed to grow Washies here
Yours is a real inspiration and motivator for me Dave
Thanks!

Mine says hi

21-12-2019
May 2008
The tall Washi in 2019 can be found in front of the banana

Hi Dave - Your Washy has an incredible recovery rate. I don't think you have to worry about it any more.
Mate its awesome !