Author Archives: Canarius

Growing Acerola Fruits in Cold Climates

Canarius | Tuesday November 30th, 2010 |
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Acerola is a cherry like fruit native to tropical America. The fruit is extremely high in vitamine C. It grows from a small tree  which is also ornamental. The scientific name is Malpighia glabra. It is usually grown in tropical and subtropical countries but it can be tried further North.

Can Malpighia glabra grow out of the tropics?

  • Acerola is hardy to-2 C (28 F). It grows and fruits outdoors in coastal Mediterranean climates. Malpighia glabra needs no protection in warmer Southern Portugal, Spain, Italy and Greece and also in the French Riviera.

    Fruit of Acerola

    Fruit of Acerola

  • Malpighia glabra has a fast fruiting cycle. It goes from flower to fruit in just 3-4 weeks.  Acerola does not need a long summer. One or two crops of acerolas can be expected in northern latitudes.

    Flower of Malpighia glabra

    Flower of Malpighia glabra

  • Malpighia glabra grows well in pots. It can be kept as a small shrub and it will still fruit freely.  In colder areas, potted plants can be moved to a warmer site in winter, and can be placed in full sun during the warmer months.

    These are the plants of Acerola that we sell at www.canarius.com

    These are the plants of Acerola that we sell at www.canarius.com

  • Acerola stands drought and can do a winter rest. Potted shrubs can be kept on the dry side during the winter months. It will drop some leaves and will come back with leaves and new flowers when warmth and water are provided.

Hardy Bromeliads for Outdoor Conditions

Canarius | Tuesday October 19th, 2010 |
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Bromeliads, or Bromeliaceae, are highly appreciated plants because of their incredible colours and inflorescences, and their ease of growth in pots.

  • Garden Centers througout the world sell floppy-leaved hybrids with green leaves.
  • Canarius on the internet offers tough-leaved species with colourful leaves, grown in the Canary Islands.

Neoregelia chlorosticta blooming with yellow and red leaves

Floppy leaved, green bromeliads

  • Taxonomy: These plants often belong to the genera Guzmania and Vriesea
  • Conditions: They come from humid forest environments. They grow well in low light, sheltered conditions. They are sensitive to wind, drought, sunlight and temperature shocks. They are good for the terrarium.
  • Where: in the greenhouse, terrarium, sheltered patio.

Tough-leaved, colourful bromeliads

  • Taxonomy: Most of them belong to the genera Aechmea, Billbergia and Neoregelia.
  • Conditions: They grow well in non-tropical climates. They like temperature changes and can better stand outdoors conditions in general. They seldom burn in the hottest sun, they stand wind very well. Many of the tough-leaved Bromeliaceae are resistant to occasional frosts, without any damage. They will always tolerate drought for days or even weeks. Most of our species will thrive outdoors in mediterranean climates, with minimal protection.
  • Where: In the garden, sunny patio, balcony or terrace, being Subtropical and Mediterranean to Warm Temperate. They can be kept in your home during the colder months.

Aechmea lueddemanniana is a stiff-leaved bromeliaceae with long lasting flowes and fruits.

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Our Shop

Please visit the Bromeliad Section of our Shop and check back often, because we offerent different bromeliads at different times of the year. We ship bromeliads to anywhere in Europe. Our bromeliads are already growing in many European countries, such as Spain, Ireland, Italy, Poland, and Germany. All bromeliads in catalogue are sold as bare-rooted “pups”, which are the robust basal suckers produced after blooming. Our pups are very easy to root – some will already show some roots when you open the box.

Aechmea triangularis with dark leaf tips before blooming

All bromeliads in catalogue are sold as bare-rooted “pups”, which are the robust basal suckers produced after blooming. Our pups are very easy to root – some will already show some roots when you open the box.

Bottle palms with super roots

Canarius | Thursday October 14th, 2010 |
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This picture shows a picture of a bottle palm, Hyophorbe lagenicaulis, cultivated in the Canary Islands in a 12 cm pot. This palm shows a spectacular root system, just like many of the palm species we ship from Tenerife to your home. When a palm like this gets to your home, it will need to be transplanted to a pot of 17-20 cm . The stronger root system will soon fill the new pot and your palm will quickly jump to a much larger size.

Unpotted Hyophorbe lagenicaulis

The bottle palms we ship from Tenerife show a spectacular root system

The palms we offer are grown in shade houses, in different areas of Tenerife, where the use of chemicals is kept to a minimum. We enjoy an even subtropical climate with a cool winter but our nurseries are not heated, in order to produce strong hardy plants that can be grown in cooler climates. The only exception are the heated areas for seed sprouting and rooting. Our plants are free from pests and diseases.

We offer more than 120 species of palm trees. Come and check our quality in the Palm Shop.

Read more about Our Plants

Cycas tansachana seedlings grow a thick base

Canarius | Tuesday October 12th, 2010 |
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Cycas tansachana is one of the largest cycads, native to limestone mountains in Thailand, about 100 Km North of Bangkok. It has a clean yellowish trunk and large leaves with long stiff leaflets. It can reach up to 7 m, with many branches and large base up to 1 m wide. It is attractive as a young plant because of the swollen base.  Cycas tansachana is suited to pot colture.

Thick stems in young Cycas tansachana

Thick stems in young Cycas tansachana

This picture shows a picture of Cycas tansachana taken in March 2010. These are two year old plants, growing in the nursery for www.canarius.com. They are already showing an large, thick base.

You can buy plants of this species and many more in our Cycad Shop at Canarius.

Aechmea blanchetiana in Europe – How to grow the large bromeliad of Modern Tropical Gardening.

Canarius | Monday September 20th, 2010 |
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Aechmea blanchetiana in Europe.

The inflorescence of Aechmea blanchetiana can reach 1,80 m in height.

The inflorescence of Aechmea blanchetiana can reach 1,80 m in height.

Aechmea blanchetiana is the ultimate large bromeliad for landscaping outdoors, reaching intense orange-yellow colour in full sun. Aechmea blanchetiana is native to the Atlantic coast of Brazil, where it grows both terrestrially, in coastal sand, or epiphytically, on the branches of tall forest trees.

Clumping large rosettes of wide and shiny leaves, producing a spectacular floral display which lasts for months. The heavily branched inflorescence appears in July and grows to 1,7 m (5 ft) tall, in red and yellow.

You can buy this spectacular plant at www.canarius.com, in the Bromeliad Section of our shop.

How to grow Aechmea blanchetiana?

  • It likes full sun and waterings every 2-4 days.
  • It needs very little root space and can grow in small pots or rockeries.
  • It takes frosts of about -3 to -4 C with little damage
  • It takes coastal conditions with some salt
  • It takes hard drought with little damage.
  • It adapts to semi-shade but leaves turn green, larger and floppier.
  • Keep fertilizer low. High nutrients will make the leaves turn green.

TIP: Larger plants become much more resistant to cold or drought. Leave the pups on the mother plants and you will get a large clump in 3-4 years.

Can I grow Aechmea blanchetiana in Europe?

Yes, this large bromeliad can be planted outdoors in coastal Mediterranean Climates. Adult plants are fully hardy to about -3 C (26 F). You will need to provide minimal protection during colder winters.
If you get harder frost or heavy hail, you can bring the plants indoors during the colder months. You can grow huge blanchetianas in very small pots because these bromeliads need very little root space. They will become green in lower light. Put them outdoors in full sun when the warm weather is back and wait until they turn golden again.

This large bromeliad is often used outdoors in full sun.

This large bromeliad is often used outdoors in full sun.

Why is Aechmea blanchetiana important in Modern Tropical Garden?

It was popularized by the famous German-Brazilian architect Roberto-Burle Marx, in Brazil, in the 60′s. He used large mass-plantings in his projects. After a while it jumped to the garden landscapes of Miami and California and then to the rest of the world.

How are the blanchetianas offered by from Canarius?

We offer large sized 30-40 cm (12-16 “) “pups” of Aechmea blanchetiana produced outdoors in the Canary Islands. Visit our shop at www.canarius.com we offer the right yellow-orange type. Some people call it Aechmea blanchetiana var. rubra but this name is not valid. This type is the true, typical Aechmea blanchetiana with intense orange-yellow colour in full sun.

You can also buy other large bromeliad species, like Aechmea callichroma, or Aechmea aquilega which are similar in size, shape and resistance with a different, pink or orange colour.

Crop of pups of Aechmea blanchettiana, ready for shipping.

Crop of pups of Aechmea blanchettiana, ready for shipping.

Time Lapse Video of Cycas debaoensis, a bipinnate cycad from China.

Canarius | Wednesday September 8th, 2010 |
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This video shows one of the most beautiful leaves of the world unfolding gracefully. A tiny shoot grows into a very complex leaf.

Cycas debaoensis is one of the many species of cycas from China that have bipinnate leaves. The cycad shop at www.canarius.com has the best selection in Europe of bipinnate cycads.

Some bipinnate cycads, with leaves similar to the ones shown above.

  • Cycas bifida
  • Cycas debaoensis
  • Cycas longipetiolula
  • Cycas multifrondis
  • Cycas multipinnata

Visit our shop and buy plants in pots, up to five years old.

Wild plants of Butia capitata and also Honey and Jam production

Canarius | Monday September 6th, 2010 |
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This video shows the spectacular palm grove of Butia capitata, located in Rocha, Uruguay.

  • It shows an excting palm population in the wild
  • It gets in touch with the local people who make their living out of the  palm grove with the delicious fruits of this palm .
  • You will see tall specimens lining large circles, planted in early colonial times for cattle.
  • You will hear bad news about the lack of regeneration. All specimens are old with no juveniles.

You can buy Butia capitata and other cold-hardy palm
trees in the Palm Section of our Shop – We ship young plants to
anywhere in Europe.

(A video of jelly palms in habitat.)

What is Butia capitata, pindo palm or jelly palm?

Butia capitata is a hardy feather palm with sweet, tasty fruits, native to Brazil,
Uruguay and Argentina. It is popular in cultivation and it is the only
frost-hardy palm that can produce delicious fruits in colder
climates.

You can buy potted living plants of Butia capitata, of different
sizes from our catalog at www.canarius.com.

Aechmea blanchetiana – Video clip of the large bromeliad from Brazil.

Canarius | Saturday September 4th, 2010 |
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Aechmea blanchetiana is the ultimate large bromeliad for landscaping outdoors, reaching intense orange-yellow colour in full sun. Aechmea blanchetiana is native to the Atlantic coast of Brazil, where it grows both terrestrially, in coastal sand, or epiphytically, on the branches of tall forest trees. Clumping large rosettes of wide and shiny leaves, producing a spectacular floral display which lasts for months. The heavily branched inflorescence appears in July and grows to 1,7 m (5 ft) tall, in red and yellow.

You can buy this spectacular plant at www.canarius.com, in the Bromeliad Section of our shop.

This video posted on Youtube shows Aechmea blanchetiana, just like the ones we grow, showing different colours according to different light exposures.

The Mamey Sapote – Mamey Rojo or Red Mamey

Canarius | Thursday September 2nd, 2010 |
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The Mamey Rojo – Mamey Colorado or Red Mamey. Information from the Canary Islands and a video with The Tropical Fruit Growers of South Florida.

We are proud to offer grafted plants of Mamey Colorado, a fabulous tropical fruit tree, which is hard to find in Europe. We sell the improved variety “Pantin” and we ship our grafted trees to anywhere in Europe.

Pouteria sapota Pantin – Mamey Colorado

This is a video published by the “Tropical Fruit Growers”, presenting the famous tropical fruit called – Mamey Sapote or Mamey Colorado - with Mr. Julian Lara.

Red Mamey is a tropical evergreen tree native to Central America commonly grown as an ornamental.

The tree has an open crown with a central thick trunk and some large branches. It could reach up to 20 m (60 ft) in tropical regions. Leaves are 30 cm (12 “) long and 10 cm (4 “) wide, the shape is obovate or oblolanceolate and they are group and the end of small branches. Flowers are small, whitish and sessile. The fruit is a berry, oval-shaped, with a persistent calyx; its size varies from 8-20 cm (3-8 “) length. The skin is thick and reddish, similar to very soft sandpaper. The flesh of ripen fruits is salmon-pink, orange or red and the texture varies from smooth, firm to finely granulate. It has a sweet unique taste similar to almonds. Usually there is a long, elliptic seed, but could be four. Fruits weight 0,3-2,7 kg (0,7-6 lb). Available in the summer. Could be eaten fresh and used in milk shakes, soups, preserves and deserts. The grafted variety “Pantin” is most spread in Florida and from all the varieties of red the mamey this has the best taste.

Canarius offers grafted mameys. Grafting trees is an art and it is very difficult to graft Pouteria as it takes many months and many failures to achieve the goal.

This fruit tree in Spanish is called:

  • Mamey Sapote
  • Sapote Rojo
  • Mamey Rojo
  • Mamey Cubano

The video clip of the Mexican Cycad Dioon merolae in Habitat

Canarius | Tuesday August 31st, 2010 |
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This cycad is native to the hills of this region in Central America. This video was produced by the students at the University of Chiapas in Mexico, and publlished in March 2010.
A great report about the wild cycad Dioon merolae in habitat in Chiapas, Mexico:

  • Distribution maps
  • Landscapes of desert areas in Mexico
  • Young and adult plants in habitat
  • Cone and seed production
  • Religious use for the Catholic church

This video is in Spanish, with subtitles in English.

Come and visit the cycad shop at www.canarius.com. We offer this species and many more and we ship to anywhere in Europe.

The video clip of the Cycad Dioon Merolae in Habitat