Christmas, Kentia, and Butterfly Palms in Sunset Zone 15?

18 years ago

Has anybody had success with growing these palms in my zone? I am interested in creating a "tropical paradise" in my backyard with palms, bananas, gingers, heliconias, and other tropicals. I have some overhangs that I can keep plants under, if that will help. I know that the Kentia Palm can be grown in the Bay Area, but will it survive in my zone? Any other tropical (and tropical looking) palms and trees that will grow here?

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Comments (3)

wanda
18 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Phoenix robelinii (Pygmy date palm), Sago Palm, Phoenix canariensis will grow here. You might also try a Tupidanthus.

wanda
gardenguru1950
18 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Here's a whole bunch of plants that will give you that tropical-esque look in Zone 15 (where I live)["st" = inidcates slightly tender]...

Trees --

Bauhinia variegata ORCHID TREE (st)
x Chiranthofremontia MONKEY HAND FREMONTIA
Ensete ventricosum MaureliiÂ ABYSSINIAN BANANA (st)
Palms (see separate list) PALMS
Podocarpus nagi NAGI
Schefflera puekleri TUPIDANTHUS (st)
Strelitzia nicholai GIANT BIRD-OF-PARADISE
Tabebuia chrysotricha GOLDEN TRUMPET TREE
Tabebuia impetiginosa LAVENDER TRUMPET TREE
Tristaniopsis laurina ÂElegantÂ RED WATER GUM

Palms --

Brahea armata MEXICAN BLUE PALM
Brahea edulis GUADALUPE PALM
Butia capitata PINDO PALM
Chamaerops humilis MEDITERRANEAN FAN PALM
Jubaea chilensis CHILEAN WINE PALM
Livistona australis AUSTRALIAN FOUNTAIN PALM
Livistona chinensis CHINESE FOUNTAIN PALM
Phoenix loureiri ASIAN DATE PALM
Rhapis excelsa LADY PALM
Trachycarpus fortunei WINDMILL PALM

Large Shrubs/Small Trees --

Camellia reticulata RETICULATE CAMELLIA
Cocculus laurifolius LAUREL-LEAF SNAILSEED
Cordyline australis HARDY DRACAENA
Fatsia japonica JAPANESE ARALIA
Mahonia bealei LEATHERLEAF MAHONIA
Mahonia lomariifolia CHINESE MAHONIA
Melianthus major HONEYBUSH
Medium Shrubs --

Abutilon FLOWERING MAPLE, CHINESE LANTERN
Anigozanthos KANGAROO PAWS
Aucuba japonica JAPANESE AUCUBA
Cestrum nocturnum NIGHT-BLOOMING JESSAMINE (st)
Cordyline stricta AUSTRALIAN TI PLANT (st)
Cycas revoluta CYCAD, SAGO "PALM"
Doryanthes palmeri SPEAR LILY
Fuchsia fulgens MEXICAN FUCHSIA
Fuchsia triphylla (and hybrids) BUSH FUCHSIA
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (hardiest: ÂAgnes GaltÂ,
ÂBrilliantÂ, ÂCrown of BohemiaÂ,
ÂRoss EsteyÂ, ÂWhite WingsÂ) HIBISCUS (st)
Hydrangea quercifolia OAKLEAF HYDRANGEA
Phormium tenax hybrids NEW ZEALAND FLAX
Strelitzia reginae BIRD-OF-PARADISE

Small Shrubs/Big Perennials --

Acanthus mollis BEARÂS BREECH
x Amarcrinum memoria-corsii HYBRID CRINUM
Anigozanthos KAGAROO PAW
Aristea ecklonii BLUE STARS
Aspidistra elatior CAST-IRON PLANT
Musella lasiocarpa GOLDEN LOTUS BANANA
Phormium tenax hybrids (esp. ÂApricot QueenÂ,
ÂDazzlerÂ, ÂDuetÂ, ÂMaori MaidenÂ,
ÂMaori QueenÂ, ÂMaori SunriseÂ,
ÂRainbow WarriorÂ, ÂShirazÂ, ÂSurferÂ NEW ZEALAND FLAX
Zantedeschia aethiopica ÂGreen GoddessÂ GIANT CALLA-LILY

Ornamental Grasses (And Grasslike Plants) --

Austrostipa ramosissima AUSTRALIAN PLUME GRASS
Baumea rubiginosa ÂVariegataÂ STRIPED RUSH
Carex atrata BLACK ALPINE SEDGE
Carex dissita BUSH SEDGE
Carex dolichostachya ÂKaga-nishikiÂ GOLD FOUNTAIN SEDGE
Carex elegantissima ÂVariegataÂ GOLDEN-EDGED SEDGE
Carex morrowii cultivars JAPANESE SEDGE
Carex phyllocephala 'Sparkler' SPARKLER SEDGE
Carex tumicola BERKELEY SEDGE
Chondropetalum tectorum CAPE RUSH
Elegia capensis BROOM REED
Elegia equisetacea HORSETAIL RESTIO
Hakonechloa macra ÂAureolaÂ JAPANESE FOREST GRASS
Rhodocoma capensis ELEGANT RESTIO
Rhodocoma gigantea DEKRIET, BAMBOO RESTIO
Sasa palmata (can be a rampant spreader) PALM GRASS
Setaria palmifolia PALM GRASS (st)
Xanthorrhoea johnsonii AUSTRALIAN GRASS TREE

Small Clumping Bamboos --

Bambusa multiplex rivierorum CHINESE GODDESS
Fargesia murielae UMBRELLA BAMBOO
Fargesia nitida FOUNTAIN BAMBOO
Otatea acuminata aztecorum MEXICAN WEEPING BAMBOO

Bulbs/Annuals --

Amaryllis belladonna NAKED LADIES
Cyclamen persicum CYCLAMEN
Iris ensata JAPANESE IRIS
Ricinus communis CASTOR BEAN (st)
Solenostemon scutellarioides COLEUS (st)

Small-Medium Perennials --

Astelia nervosa chathamica SILVER SPEAR
Astelia nivicola ÂRed GemÂ RED GEM ASTELIA
Begonia x richmondensis RICHMOND BEGONIA
Bergenia cordifolia BERGENIA
Clivia miniata FLAME LILY
Clivia nobilis RED LILY (st)
Dianella intermedia NEW ZEALAND BLUE-BERRY
Dianella tasmanica (esp. ÂVariegataÂ) FLAX LILY
Grasses (see separate list) GRASSES
Helleborus lividus CORSICAN HELLEBORE
Helleborus x stearnii HYBRID HELLEBORE
Heuchera CORAL BELLS
Iris Louisiana LOUISIANA IRIS
Liriope LILY TURF
Ophiopogon jaburan GIANT LILY TURF
Tradescantia pallida ÂPurpureaÂ PURPLE HEART (st)
Soleirolia soleirolii BABYÂS TEARS
Zantedeschia aethiopica CALLA-LILY

Container Specimens --

Brugmansia ANGELÂS TRUMPET (st)
Ipomoea batatas ORNAMENTAL SWEET POTATO (st)
Lotus berthelotii, maculatus, and hybrids PARROTÂS BEAK (st)
Rhododendrons (Vireyas) MALAYSIAN RHODODENDRON (st)

Vines--

Akebia quinata FIVELEAF AKEBIA
Bougainvillea (ÂHawaiiÂ, ÂLavender QueenÂ,
ÂSan Diego RedÂ, B. spectabilis are
the most winter hardy) BOUGAINVILLEA (st)
Clematis x cartmanii ÂAvalancheÂ AVALANCHE CLEMATIS
Distictis buccinatoria BLOOD-RED TRUMPET VINE (st)
x Fatshedera lizei ARALIA IVY
Hedera canariensis variegata VARIEGATED ALGERIAN IVY
Hydrangea anomala petiolaris CLIMBING HYDRANGEA
Lonicera hildebrandtiana BURMESE HONEYSUCKLE (st)
Macfadyena unguis-cati CATÂS-CLAW
Pandorea jasminoides BOWER VINE
Passiflora alata ÂRuby GlowÂ RUBY GLOW PASSION FLOWER
Passiflora caerulea ÂConstance ElliottÂ CONSTANCE ELLIOTT P.V.
Passiflora hybrids (the hardiest: ÂBlack KnightÂ,
ÂBountiful BeautyÂ, ÂElizabethÂ, ÂFredericÂ,
ÂIncenseÂ, ÂLavender LadyÂ, ÂNancy GarrisonÂ,
ÂPossum PurpleÂ, ÂRed RoverÂ, ÂRed SunsetÂ,
ÂSusan BrighamÂ HYBRID PASSION VINES
Passiflora incarnata MAYPOP
Passiflora jamesonii CORAL PASSION VINE
Passiflora mollissima BANANA PASSION VINE
Solanum jasminoiodes WHITE POTATO VINE
Vigna caracalla SNAIL VINE (st)

Ferns --

Adiantum capillus-veneris SOUTHERN MAIDENHAIR
Adiantum aleuticum WESTERN MAIDENHAIR
Adiantum pedatum FIVE-FINGER MAIDENHAIR
Asplenium bulbiferum MOTHER FERN
Asplenium scolopendrium HARTÂS TONGUE FERN
Blechnum occidentale HAMMOCK FERN
Blechnum spicant DEER FERN
Cyathea cooperi AUSTRALIAN TREE FERN (st)
Cyrtomium falcatum HOLLY FERN
Dicksonia antartica TASMANIAN TREE FERN (st)
Microlepia strigosa LACE FERN
Nephrolepis cordifolia SOUTHERN SWORD FERN
Platycerium bifurcatum STAGHORN FERN
Polypodium aureum HAREÂS-FOOT FERN
Polystichum munitum SWORD FERN
Pyrrosia lingua JAPANESE FELT FERN
Pyrrosia lingua ÂCristataÂ CRESTED JAPANESE FELT FERN
Pyrrosia polydactyla PALM-LEAF FERN
Rumohra adiantiformis LEATHERLEAF FERN
Woodwardia fimbriata GIANT CHAIN FERN

Hardy (?) Bromeliads --

Aechmea recurvata and vars benrathii and ortgiesii
Billbergia distachia and var maculata
Billbergia nutans
Billbergia pyramidalis and var striata
Billbergia ÂSanta BarbaraÂ
Bromelia balansae
Dyckia ferox
Dyckia fosteriana
Dyckia fosteriana x brevifolia
Fasicularia pitcairnifolia
Puya alpestris
Puya berteroniana
Puya chilensis
Puya raimondii
Puya spathacea
Tillandsia grandis
Tillandsia ionantha
Tillandsia recurvata

and even...

CREATING A TROPICAL-ESQUE GARDEN USING CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANTS

Medium to Large Trees --

Lithocarpus densiflora TANBARK OAK
Quercus tomentella ISLAND OAK
Umbellularia californica CALIFORNIA BAY-LAUREL

Small Trees --

Fremontodendron californicum FLANNELBUSH
Garrya elliptica SILKTASSEL
Lyonothamnus floribundus asplenifolius SANTA CRUZ IRONWOOD
Prunus illicifolia lyonii CATALINA CHERRY

Smallest trees (actually large shrubs but, with selective pruning,Â) --

Aesculus californica CALIFORNIA BUCKEYE
Calycanthus occidentalis CALIFORNIA SPICEBUSH
Dendromecon harfordii ISLAND BUSH POPPY
Comarostaphylis diversifolia SUMMER HOLLY
Fremontodendron californicum FLANNEL BUSH, FREMONTIA
Myrica californica PACIFIC WAX MYRTLE
Rhamnus californica COFFEEBERRY
Sambucus mexicana BLUE ELDERBERRY

Really Big Shrubs (up to 15-20 feet and sometimes more) --
(eventually, these can be trained as small trees by "limbing up", if so desired)

Comarostaphylis diversifolia SUMMER HOLLY
Dendromecon harfordii ISLAND BUSH POPPY
Fremontodendron californicum FLANNELBUSH
Garrya elliptica SILKTASSEL
Myrica californica PACIFIC WAX MYRTLE
Sambucus mexicana BLUE ELDERBERRY
Large Shrubs (8-15 feet) --

Calycanthus occidentalis CALIFORNIA SPICEBUSH
Dendromecon harfordii ISLAND BUSH POPPY
Fremontodendron ÂCalifornia GloryÂ C. G. FREMONTIA
Fremontodendron ÂPacific SunsetÂ P. S. FREMONTIA
Fremontodendron ÂSan GabrielÂ S. G. FREMONTIA
Garrya elliptica COAST SILK-TASSEL
Myrica californica PACIFIC WAX MYRTLE
Rhamnus californica COFFEEBERRY

Medium Shrubs (5-10 feet)--

Dendromecon rigida BUSH POPPY
Fremontodendron ÂKen TaylorÂ K. T. FREMONTIA
Mahonia ÂGolden AbundanceÂ G.A. BARBERRY
Mahonia nevinii NEVINÂS BARBERRY
Mahonia ÂSkylarkÂ SKYLARK MAHONIA
Rhamnus californica ÂEve CaseÂ, ÂMound San BrunoÂ COFFEEBERRY

Small Shrubs and Taller Subshrubs (2-5 feet) --

Carpenteria californica ÂElizabethÂ BUSH ANEMONE
Galvezia juncea BAJA BUSH SNAPDRAGON
Galvezia speciosa ISLAND SNAPDRAGON
Garrya veatchii SILK-TASSEL BUSH
Mimulus aurantiacus Hybrids BUSH MONKEY FLOWER
Vaccinium ovatum (taller in shade) EVERGREEN HUCKLEBERRY

Large Perennials --

Romneya coulteri and hybrids MATILLIJA POPPY
Romneya trichocalyx MATILLIJA POPPY
Woodwardia fimbriata CHAIN FERN

Medium Perennials --

Adiantum capillus-veneris MAIDENHAIR FERN
Adiantum pedatum FIVE-FINGER MAIDENHAIR
Blechnum spicant DEER FERN
Epipactis gigantea GIANT STREAM ORCHID
Iris macrosiphon BIG-TUBE IRIS
Penstemon centranthifolius SCARLET BUGLER
Penstemon spectabilis SHOWY PENSTEMON
Polypodium glycyrrhiza LICORICE FERN
Polypodium scouleri WESTERN LEATHERLEAF FERN
Polystichum dudleyi DUDLEYÂS SWORDFERN
Polystichum munitum WESTERN SWORD FERN
Polystichum munitum WESTERN SWORD FERN

Small Perennials --

Adiantum aleuticum ALEUTIAN MAIDENHAIR FERN
Adiantum jordani JORDANÂS MAIDENHAIR FERN
Anemopsis californica YERBA MANSA
Asarum lemmonii WILD GINGER
Athyrium felix-femina LADY FERN
Chlorogalum pomeridianum AMOLE, SOAP PLANT
Heuchera maxima and hybrids CORAL BELLS
Iris douglasiana DOUGLAS IRIS
Iris Pacific Coast Hybrids PCH IRIS
Lilium humboldtii HUMBOLDT LILY
Lilium washingtonianum WASHINGTON LILY
Lobelia cardinalis CARDINAL LOBELIA
Lobelia dunnii BLUE LOBELIA
Mimulus cardinalis SCARLET MONKEY FLOWER
Mimulus guttatus CREEK MONKEY FLOWER
Salvia spathacea HUMMINGBIRD SAGE
Sisyrinchium bellum BLUE-EYED GRASS
Sisyrinchium californicum GOLDEN-EYED GRASS
Verbena lilacina LILAC VERBENA

Grasses and Grasslike Plants --

Carex barbarae SANTA BARBARA SEDGE
Carex nudata CALIFORNIA BLACK-FLOWERING SEDGE
Carex pansa CALIFORNIA MEADOW SEDGE
Carex praegracilis CLUSTERED FIELD SEDGE
Carex spissa SAN DIEGO SEDGE
Carex tumulicola BERKELEY SEDGE
Cyperus eragrostis TALL FLAT SEDGE
Deschampsia caespitosa TUFTED HAIRGRASS
Deschampsia elongata SLENDER HAIRGRASS
Eleocharis macrostachya SPIKE RUSH
Eleocharis montevidensis SPIKE RUSH
Equisetum hyemale HORSETAIL
Juncus effusus COMMON RUSH
Juncus patens RUSH
Nolina parryi BEAR GRASS

Groundcovers --

Arctostaphylos ÂPacific MistÂ P. M. MANZANITA
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi cultivars KINNICK-KINNICK
Asarum caudatum WILD GINGER
Asarum hartwegii HARTWEG'S GINGER
Carex barbarae SANTA BARBARA SEDGE*
Carex nudata CALIFORNIA BLACK-FLOWERING SEDGE
Carex pansa CALIFORNIA MEADOW SEDGE*
Carex praegracilis MOUNTAIN MEADOW SEDGE*
Carex spissa SAN DIEGO SEDGE
Carex tumulicola BERKELEY SEDGE*
Ceanothus gloriosus cultivars POINT REYES CEANOTHUS
Fragaria chiloensis BEACH STRAWBERRY
Mahonia repens CREEPING BARBERRY
Rhamnus californica ÂSeaviewÂ LOW COFFEEBERRY
Ribes viburnifolium EVERGREEN CURRANT
Satureja douglasii YERBA BUENA
Vancouveria planipetala INSIDE-OUT FLOWER

Joe
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John, this spot is on the east side of our house, and not too far away from the house, itself, which is a very tall two story structure. It does get shade in the afternoon, which is why I think a Kentia will do okay. From what I understand with Kentias in our area, they grow best in 35%-80% of full sunlight, tolerating direct sun only after about five years old. Any Kentia I'm going to be planting will be 5 years old or older, since I'm buying something in a very large container to get the height. I did discuss this at length with the guys at Junglemusic.net, THE "palm guys" in San Diego county (and probably for most of the western USA). They were the ones who suggested Kentias, as well as my landscaper and a few others. So, we should be okay with a couple of Kentias in this spot. Patty S.
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kerrican2001
18 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
That is a great list, Joe.

To make things easy for you, we are in Walnut Creek near North Gate Road, also in Zone 15 (although fairly hot summers), and our subtropical look comes from a smaller palette of plants:

Queen palm (dominant species in our yard)
Phoenix roebellini (a little sun sensitive, but apparently not cold sensitive)
Musella Lasiocarpa
Musa Basjoo (hardy Japanese banana)
Strelitzia reginae (does REALLY well)
Fatsia japonica
Clivia minnata (keep out of the sun or it burns!)
Sago palm (Cycas revoluta)
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (red flowers seem to be much hardier than other colors -- like the difference between zero winter damage and total defoliation just inches away from one another)
Bougainvillea (San Diego Red and Barbara Karst -- grow REALLY fast and look good year round)
Butia capitata (does really well)
Brahea armata
Oleander
Phormium Tenax
Cast iron plant (also keep out of the sun)
Phoenix canariensis (pretty standard, tough palm)
Trachycarups fortunei
Mediterranean fan palm
Cordyline australis (super tough but likes good drainage)
Macadamia - 'Beaumont' (surprisingly hardy Australian native)
Sapote - very hardy tropical fruit tree
Feijoa - very hardy subtropical fruit shrub
Strawberry guava - also surprisingly tough and fast growing
Avocado - go for 'Mexicola Grande' 'Stewart' 'Bacon' 'Fuerte' or 'Zutano' in general, although I prefer the Mexicola Grande to all of them.
Schinus molle - California pepper tree -- very soft and feathery eventhough not really "tropical"
Jacaranda - also surprisingly tough and fast growing, but needs really good drainage also -- we lost our first one and replanted another in a much better spot

This list overlaps with JOe's, but it's smaller and these are proven in Zone 15 for sure.

I would stay away from Kentias unless in a shady spot under an overhang for sun and cold protection. Worst enemy will be sunburn, second worst would be frost, but overhang should do the trick, and they can take some frost actually.

Christmas, Kentia, and Butterfly Palms in Sunset Zone 15?

Comments (3)

wanda

gardenguru1950

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kerrican2001

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