Great plant; I didn't know they bloomed, and I always assumed they were palms--that's clearly in the bird of paradise family.

***I'm just saying I never thought about it, not that you're wrong.

They aren't in the Bird of Paradise family (Strelitzia), but they are a close relative (Ravenala). I really want to get another close relative, Phenakospermum Guianense. Its commonly known as the South American Bird of Paradise.

Seed pods

Congrats. That's another that was said to be too tropical for California back when.
I want to try that in the bay area. Was it fast as a seedling? Over a summer?
Well,if the drought ends!

It was pretty fast as a seedling and it moved up to a five gallon container rather quickly, but when I finally put it in the ground, it just exploded with growth.

hi
These are quite common in florida but have yet to see a Phenakospermum even in the Bo gardens . Are they more difficult to grow? Would seem culture is very similar.
They have pix of a flowering one in hawaii Bo gardens WOW lol gary

Phenakospermum are just hard to find. They are available here http://tropilab.com/palulu-big.html , but the rhizome they sent me had even the smallest root hairs cut off and it never grew.

Here is a link that might be useful: Phenakospermum

Hi
While googling the genus ran accross a post from you from 04 . take it it didn't make it??
. Wasn/'t really interested in getting one just curious as to why they are so rare while ravenala is so common ?.
had a Ravenala on the property when we bought it. Fought with it for several years then had it removed
Never could figure out how to manage it lol
Thanks for the info !! I'd bet somebody ,somewhere is growing them in florida ,could see how they could easily be mistaken for each other Thanks again gary

If you try again?use a plant(hydroponic stores carry them) heating pad on the rhizome,keep damp..and it should pull through.
Also Gary you might want to do all that in 100% perlite to keep bacteria down..when you see roots out the drainholes..you're set.

Well, I live way down south in coastal San Diego and mine appears ready to die, very sensitive to cold. It got to 33 only two days and I think that was enough to kill it. They are available from Jungle Gardens tropical nursery in Encinitas.

They are said to just die off for no obvious reason in California. But,its got to be the chill. Still,there are tall old ones. Something microclimate at work. Or..better draining soils,winter warmed...the usual luck.

Are you interested in selling your traveller palm?