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Tropical Plants

Hardier substitutes for coconut palm?

18 years ago

I don't know if any palm could match the beauty of the coconut palm, but for those that live in zones where they cannot grow, what are some palms that could be used to mimic its form and/or foliage? The zone range I'm thinking of is 9b to 10a, the coastal southern tip of Texas. I was browsing some possibilities:

Bamboo palm-Chamaedorea microspadix

Butterfly palm-Chrysalidocarpus lutescens

Majesty palm-Ravenea rivularis

Can you add any? Thanks.

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Comments (10)

ilima
18 years ago
Pindo Palm - Butia capitata
Date Palm - Phoenix canariensis and P. reclinata

ilima
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abetsocal
18 years ago
Kentia Palm
King Palm
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Not sabal and coconut. Like tropicalzone7 said above they are to genetically different. The crosses above are real, but what you get from seed is very variable and so is hardiness. Now I know for a fact they haven't tried Beccariophoenix and the coconut palm. I think thats the scientific name for " california frozen coconut palm", which is not a coconut palm but a close cousin recently found. No one has a flowering tree yet so everyone is waiting to see. I don't see why they can't try with the mature trees in its natural location but thats all I know. It looks very much like a coconut palm, check out google images of the two. Its also hardy to I believe 28-29f and can be grown in places with extended cool/mild winters such as SoCal... If a cross was to be made, it could be interesting, I don't think it would have fruit you can eat but its a could happen. I think these maybe restricted to the higher end of zone 9. Maybe though though instead of crossing the coconut palm, use this Beccariophoenix instead and it could be alot more hardy.
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I've seen several ads, articles and postings about "cold hardy coconut palms" on EBay, Garden Forums and Misc Websites. It is likely that what you saw at Home Depot is most likely this: (from EBAY) Parajubaea sunkha, common name: Bolivian Coconut, Zunca Palm *A stunning palm from the foothills of the Andes Mountains, Bolivia. Rare in cultivation as seed has only recently been made available, and is still quite expensive. The Bolivian Coconut, so named because of its resemblance to the common coconut, and producing edible fruit(much smaller than the common coconut, yet similar in taste), has proven to be cold-hardy into the high teens Farenheit. If you like the look of a coconut, grow this one, it's 20 degrees F more COLD-HARDY. A very robust grower, capable of taking full sun at an early age, these are easily adaptable to a Tropical, Mediterranean, or Arid type garden. A very rewarding plant to grow. Or this: (From Wikipedia) Beccariophoenix alfredii, also known as the High Plateau Coconut Palm, is a recently discovered species of Arecaceae (palms), endemic to Madagascar. It is in the genus Beccariophoenix, and is closely related to the genus Cocos. Beccariophoenix alfredii is very similar in appearance to the coconut palm, although somewhat cold hardy, making it a good look-alike for the coconut in cooler climates.
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If you want a coconut palm to grow well, you will want warmer day time temps than california and more humid days as well. Summer temps in Los Angeles, California average around 29C (84F-85F) during the day and about 18C-19C at night (about 64F-65F) but winter temps are typically around 20C (68F) during the day and 9C (48F) at night. But it can get to 30C (90F) anytime of the year. Summers can be very cool in LA. This year summer temperatures were only around 20C (or low 70sF) during the day and a coconut palm will HATE that. Coconut palms need a few things.... -Humidity -A climate that will not go below more than 2 or 3 times a year and never below 30F except in the coldest years. -A climate with winter temperatures in the 70sF or warmer are best and little rainfall during the coldest times of the year-if it gets cool outside -If its going to be hot outside, they need water. They can handle periods of drought very well, but must at the very least stay humid. -They also need sun. Dont plant them in shade since they do like the sun and naturally grow in almost full sun (but can tolerate shade well in climates that are truly tropical). Coconut palms are far from widespread anywhere in California because of the dry weather, cool winters, and cool nights during the summer (as well as the potential for very cool days even in the summer). California also can get very hot and even reach the triple digits temperatures Fahrenheit right up to the coast. But there are some (very very few) coconut palms in California that do pretty well and have been there for many years (the one on Newport Beach is one I know of). So even in a dry climate, you can grow these palms, but they wont do as well and will not fruit unless conditions are right. Coconut palms are very fast growers if they are in a good climate. Mine goes inside for the winter which it doesnt like too much, but is still probably my fastest growing palm since the summers here are warm and usually very humid. The one Im thinking of in california is, I believe, around 20 years old and is MUCH smaller than a 20 year old coconut palm usually is because it doesnt grow in the cooler weather. Hope you dont mind reading through this long follow-up!!! -Alex
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gardenalive
18 years ago
Queen palms

In some ways the fronds resemble that of coconut palms.

Another beautiful palm to consider is the Cuban royal, however, its' trunk is lighter in color than that of the coconut palms.

But it's a beautiful palm nontheless and I believe should be utilized more often along the Texas coast if possible.

I'm gonna experiment growing royals probably next year. My zone is technically a zone 10a since minimum lows are in the low 30s (F). I don't know how the cooler than South Florida daytime temperature will affect them.

Does anybody have success growing royals in California?
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unautre
18 years ago
King, Foxtail, Ph. sylvestris (not so massive as Canary).

For a fast growing pinnate, Carpentaria accuminata.
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Anakaleki
Original Author
18 years ago
I think Butia palm is too stocky to look much like coconut, but I have found the leaves to be a perfect substitute to use for weaving normally done with coconut fronds.

I looked up kentia and king palm and they really look very much like coconut.

I remember seeing royal palms in Florida at my aunt's house. They make you feel dwarfed standing next to one.
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ARAD
18 years ago
Hi Andrew, unfortunately your choice is very limited because of the climate that you live in. I'm afraid that neither Kentia, King or Foxtail palms will survive in Friendswood, TX. No way for Carpentaria, or Royal. You may try Satakentia Liukuensis, a palm from Okinawa, South Japan, although I'm not sure it'll make it where you live. Pindo is very slow, so are the Phoenix species. Try Queen palm (if you like it), much faster grower and probably hardy enough. Good luck!
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rlriffle_FL_zone10
18 years ago
I have to agree with ARAD: almost all the suggestions are impossible as permanent outdoor subjects in Friendswood, TX. Your choices from the above are the pindo (Butia), Phoenix (almost any species other than pure reclinata or pure rupicola). The "areca" (Dypsis/Chrysalidocarpus lutescens) is almost as tender as a coconut; and majesties are at least as tender as kings. Queens should last a good while--until another great freeze comes along, like the one in Dec. 89.
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rlriffle_FL_zone10
18 years ago
Btw, Chamaedorea microspadix is probably reliable where you are. However, imho, it looks nothing like a coconut as it is a small clumping species.
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Anakaleki
Original Author
18 years ago
Thank you for all the info. I have tried majesty outside but it is very slow to recover. I guess I will have to settle for queen palms or something I can move in and out of the garage.

Although there was one palm that looked very much like majesty palm that was planted in front of a carwash and it seemed to sustain no damage over the winter. I will have to ask where they got it.
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zone13
13 years ago
Beccariophoenix alfredii - hardy to 25F
Satakentia liukensins - There's a nice specimen in Galveston
xButiagrus - hardy to high teens, nice specimen at Moody Gardens
Ravenea glacua - hardier then Majesty palm(Ravenea rivulris), more drought tolerant
Syagrus amara - There's a nice specimen in Galveston
By "southern tip of Texas" you mean the Lower Rio Grande Valley? If yes, go ahead and try a coconut, there are fruiting specimens scattered in Brownsville, Port Isabel, and South Padre Island.
By the way there are 30 foot Royal palms(Roystonea regia) at Moody Gardens.
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