Category Archives: Palms

Posts about Palms, ranging from delicate tropical species to cold hardy palms

List of palms of the park of Maspalomas – Palmetum

Canarius | Monday April 5th, 2010 |

The Palmetum of Maspalomas

The Palmetum of Maspalomas is a public area of 20.000 m2 devoted to palms, in the dry and sunny South of Gran Canaria.

Palmetum of Maspalomas opened in July 2008 and now hosts a growing collection of rare palms.

This is the list of species of palms growing in the park:

  • Acoelorrhaphae wrightii
  • Adonidia merilli
  • Allagoptera arenaria
  • Archontophoenix alexandrae
  • Archontophoenix cunnighamiana
  • Areca catechu
  • Areca lutencens
  • Areca triandra
  • Arenga australásica
  • Arenga engleri
  • Arenga micrantha
  • Arenga tremula
  • Bismarckia nobilis
  • Brahea armata
  • Butya yatay
  • Carpentaria acuminata
  • Caryota maxima
  • Caryota obtusa
  • Caryota mitis
  • Caryota urens
  • Ceroxilon alpinum
  • Chamerops humilis
  • Chanbeyronia macrocarpa
  • Coccothrinax sp
  • Copernicia alba
  • Copernicia berteroana
  • Cryosophila argentea
  • Dictyosperma album
  • Dypsis lastelliana
  • Dypsis leptocheilos
  • Dypsis madagascariensis
  • Eleais guinensis
  • Gaussia maya
  • Howea belmoreana
  • Howeia forsteriana
  • Hyophorbe lagenecaulis
  • Hyophorbe verschafeltii
  • Jubaea chilensis
  • Jubaeopsis caffra
  • Latania loddigesii
  • Latania lontaroides
  • Latania verschaffeltii
  • Livistonia benthamii
  • Livistonia chinensis
  • Livistonia australis
  • Livistonia marieae
  • Nannorrhops ritchiana
  • Parajubaea torally var. microcarpa
  • Parajubaea torally var. torally
  • Phoenix canariensis
  • Phoenix dactilifera
  • Phoenix reclinata
  • Phoenix roebelenii
  • Pseudophoenix sargentii
  • Pseudophoenix vinifera
  • Pritchardia hillebrandii
  • Pritchardia pacifica
  • Ptychosperma elegans
  • Ptychosperma macarthurii
  • Ptychosperma salomonense
  • Raphia farinifera
  • Ravenea rivularis
  • Ravenea xerophyla
  • Rhapis excelsa
  • Roystonea oleracea
  • Roystonea regia
  • Serenoa repens
  • Syagrus romanzoffiana
  • Syagrus schizophylla
  • Trachicarpus wagnerianus
  • Trachycarpus takil
  • Trithrinax brasilensis
  • Thrinax sp
  • Veitchia joannis
  • Veitchia arecina
  • Wallichia densiflora
  • Woodyetia bifurcata
  • Sabal mauritiiformis
  • Sabal palmetto
  • Sabal yapa

The collection of palm trees is impressive Maspalomas Palmetum is very interesting.

List of new palm species for May-June 2010

Canarius | Wednesday March 31st, 2010 |

New palm species are always sprouting in the palm nursery. Seeds take two or three years of growth and then they can be sold through the website at Canarius.com, in the palm section of the shop.

In the next few months we will add the following palm species to our catalog.

They are more than seedling now and they will reach their optimal size in few m0nths.

Palm species 2010

  • Arenga hookeriana
  • Brahea sarukhanii
  • Brahea sp. Nuri
  • Brahea sp. Super Silver
  • Butia odorata
  • Calamus erinaceus
  • Chamadorea ernesti-augusti
  • Chamadorea microspadix
  • Chamadorea pinnatifrons
  • Chamadorea plumosa
  • Coccothrinax boschiana
  • Copernicia hospita
  • Corypha umbraculifera
  • Cyphopoenix elegans
  • Cyphopoenix nucele
  • Dictyocaryum lamarckianum
  • Dypsis ambositrae
  • Dypsis pinnatifrons
  • Euterpe edulis
  • Guihaia argyrata
  • Licuala peltata var. sumawongii
  • Parajubaea cocoides
  • Phoenix roebeleni
  • Pritchardia munroi
  • Ravenea madagascariensis
  • Ravenea sambiranensis
  • Ravenea xerophila
  • Trachycarpus fortunei
  • Trithrinax brasiliensis

We await your comments and questions about our palm species for 2010.

Palm Honey Video – Miel de palma de La Gomera

Canarius | Monday February 15th, 2010 |

Great video, showing the traditional process of palm honey production.

You can buy different types of palm honey from the Canary Islands in the Honey Section of our Shop.

Miel de palma de La Gomera

La miel de palma es un sirope que se fabrica en la isla de La Gomera, una de las siete Islas Canarias.

El proceso es el siguiente:

  • Se cortan las hojas superiores de la palmera (Phoenix canariensis).
  • Se rebaja el cogollo hasta encontrar la parte blanda y blanca que forma la “médula” del tronco.
  • Se coloca un canal para que mane la savia que produce esta “herida” en la palmera.
  • El corte debe “curarse” diariamente al oscurecer para que mane la savia durante la noche. Si se hiciera de día, el calor del sol estropearía el líquido.
  • Al amanecer, el artesano recoge el líquido y lo hierve durante mucho tiempo hasta que obtiene un líquido dulce, espeso y negro: la Miel de Palma de la Gomera.

Se trata de un excelente alimento, de muy buen sabor y con muchas propiedades curativas y dietéticas. Las palmera no mueren por este proceso y cada cinco años, aproximadamente, pueden volver a ser convertidas en “guaraperas“.

La mejor época para la extracción es el verano y las zonas más famosas son las de Taguluche, Tazo, AlojeraEl Ingenio.

Palmetum de Santa Cruz de Tenerife – Video Clip January 2009

Canarius | Tuesday January 5th, 2010 |

The Palmetum de Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the best botanical garden to see palms in Europe, with 470 species of palms. This fine video shows beautiful sceneries with piano music.

List of species shown in the video

  • 0:14 Sección/Section: Madagascar (Con el lago delante/with the pond in the foreground)
  • 0:20 Dypsis leptocheilos (Grupos/Clumps), Bismarckia nobilis (detrás/behind)
  • 0:23 Sección/Section: America Central. Sabal palmetto.
  • 0:27 Dypsis leptocheilos, Bismarckia nobilis
  • 0:37 Océano atlántico/Atlantic ocean, Araucaria columnaris
  • 0:43 Araucaria columnaris
  • 0:46 Dypsis leptocheilos. D. madagascariens detrás/behind
  • 0:49 Dypsis leptocheilos, Capitel/Crownshaft
  • 0:52 Ravenea rivularis derecha/left. Acoelorraphe wrightii detrás/behind
  • 0:57 Hyophorbe verschaffeltii. Bismarckia nobilis detrás/behind
  • 1:01 Cocos nucifera. Vistas al oceano en el Talud Sur/Ocean view on the Southern slopes.
  • 1:05 Latania loddigesii, con frutos/in fruit.
  • 1:11 Dypsis lutescens (izq./left), Arenga westerhoutii (dcha/right).
  • 1:16 Section: Australia. Center: Livistona decora. Sides: Howea forsteriana. Back: Wodyetia bifurcata
  • 1:26 Section: Caribbean islands. Roystonea regia. Copernicia baileyana (dcha/right).
  • 1:31 Riachuelo en la sección caribeña/Stream in the Caribbean section. Acoelorraphe (izq./left). Other palms (dcha/right).
  • 1:35 Roystonea lenis (izq./left), R.regia (izq./left) (dcha/right).
  • 1:38 Panoramica con palmeras/Landscape with palms. Roystonea regia (tall, center)
  • 1:41 Dypsis decaryi
  • 1:52 Corypha utan
  • 1:56 Copernicia baileyana (Hojas palmeadas/fan leaves), Roystonea regia arriba/above.
  • 2:00 Livistona australis
  • 2:04 Bentickia nicobarica (Hoja/Leaf) and Veitchia joannis (Fruits)
  • 2:08 Sección del Caribe/Caribbean section.
  • 2:13 Copernicia baileyana
  • 2:16 Acrocomia crispa
  • 2:28 Sabal palmetto (Centro/Center), tronco/trunk
  • 2:35 Arenga pinnata (tronco/trunk)
  • 2:38 Arenga pinnata (Centro/Center), Veitchia.
  • 2:44 Hemithrinax ekmaniana (esquina abajo izq./corner below left)
  • 2:47 Section: Indochina. Arenga pinnata, Arenga engleri, Arenga tremula.
  • 2:50 Hemithrinax ekmaniana
  • 2:53 Roystonea regia (trunk) and other Caribbean palm species.
  • 2:56 Sección del Caribe/Caribbean Section. Roystonea regia (altas/tall). Coccothrinax spp..
  • PIC1: En el Octógono (Invernadero de Sombra) / Inside the octagon (Shadehouse)
  • PIC2:Dypsis lutescens, Bismarckia nobilis, Howea forsteriana
  • PIC3: Cocos nucifera
  • PIC4: Southern Slope: Cocos nucifera, Latania loddigesii, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii, Araucaria columnaris
  • PIC5: Bismarckia nobilis, gris azul / grey blue
  • PIC6: Ladera Sur / Southern Slope: Cocos nucifera, Latania loddigesii, Hyophorbe verschaffeltii.
  • PIC7: Ladera Sur / Southern Slope: tapizantes suculentos / succulent groundcovers.  Araucaria columnaris.

Cold-Resistant Palms for Europe

Canarius | Tuesday January 5th, 2010 |

Some palms can take frost and snow. Some grow very well in central Europe. The palm family includes about 2.400 species, mostly distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Most species need warm temperatures but few exceptions occur in the cooler areas of the globe, at higher altitudes or higher latitudes. Hardy palms come from Chile, New Zealand, Morocco, Northern Mexico or China.

Copernicia alba from Argentina is moderately hardy, to about - 8 C

Copernicia alba from Argentina is moderately hardy, to about – 8 C

Most hardy palms bear palmate (fan-shaped) leaves. Fewer have pinnate leaves, and the hardiest are Jubaea and Butia. Most are solitary (single trunked) palms, some are clumping. Collectors will love the frost-hardy genus Butia with about 14 species, and Trachycarpus with nine species and a number of forms and varieties.If you are in a cold area, you might be restricted to use less than ten palm species. Just learn all you can about them and use them well in your landscape. After all, the average tropical garden has less than ten palm species! Plant palms in groups, in lines, in large pots, on the slope, by the pond. Just chose your palm species and enjoy the tropical effect in your garden.Hardiness is given for adult palms. Young plants are often less resistant to cold. If you are purchasing young palms, give them some protection in winter during a few years. Grow well your palms. In northern climates most palms will benefit of exposure to full sun and protection from northerly winds. Check our tips to grow Tropical plants in Cold Europe.

Canarius offers many species able to resist snow and frost.Come and visit the Palm Section of our Shop. We ship to anywhere in Europe.

Some cold-hardy species, according to hardiness:

-18 to -21 C (-0.5 to -6 F):

The hardiest of all palms are two North American species. Rhapidophyllum hystrix and Sabal minor. They are both small fan-leaved palms that can fit in any garden. Rhapidophyllum has long black needles, Sabal minor has a short underground stem. They can be tried virtually anywhere in Europe, as they have been grown successfully from Greece to Scandinavia. Rhapidophyllum can be too slow if summers are not warm enough.

A leaf of the fully hardy Sabal minor. This palm can take about - 21 C.

A leaf of the fully hardy Sabal minor. This palm can take about – 21 C.

-12 C to -18 C (-10.5 to -0.5 F):

Jubea chilensis is the most majestic of all hardy palms. It is all about size, because Jubea has the largest trunk of all palms. It is a pinnate (feather-leaved) palm native to high elevations in Chile. Palm collectors in the tropics dream of having one Jubaea, but it needs some cold to thrive. Fruits are edible nuts and taste much like coconut.Various Trachycarpus species, can take hard frosts, such as T. fortunei, T. nanus, T. takil, T. princeps, T. wagnerianus. Different plants in the N American genus Sabal are hardy, like S. uresana and Sabal x texensis, which the natural cross between Sabal minor and Sabal palmetto. Some more species resist to only – 14 C (6.8 F): Trachycarpus oreophilus and T. geminisectus and the beautiful Trithrinax campestris from Argentina, with silvery stiff, thick, leaves. Nannorrhops can take hard frosts if it is well drained.

Juvenile Trithrinax campestris with silvery leaves

Trithrinax campestris is hardy to about -15 C

Juvenile Trithrinax campestris with silvery leaves

Juvenile Trithrinax campestris with silvery leaves

-9 to -12 C (-15.5 to -10.5 F):

More and more species can be grown where temperatures do not fall too hard. Braheas are blue leaved desert fan palms from Mexico. The most popular are the stately Brahea armata and the low, trunkless B. decumbens. Another desert palm from the Middle East is Nannorrhops ritchiana. Canarius offers different forms originating in different countries. Some forms show incredible grey-white leaves.The exciting genus Butia, has elegant, arching pinnate leaves. About 14 species can take hard frosts, some of the most desirable are Butia eriospatha, B. capitata, B. odorata, B. paraguayensis, B. purpurascens, B. yatay. Some butias bear delicious sweet fruits, juicy and aromatic.Few rainforest palms tolerate hard frosts. Some Mexican Chamaedorea species are hardy, such as Chamaedorea microspadix and Chamaedorea radicalis. Their fine foliage adds a delicate touch to any garden, patio or conservatory. A strong, hardy palm is the Mediterranean fan palm, Chamaerops humilis. It is a clumping fan palm native to SW Europe and Morocco. The moroccan form is known as Chamaerops humilis cerifera. It has beautiful waxy-blue foliage and it is very hardy as it comes from the higher Atlas Mountains. More species of Trachycarpus can be planted outdoors if temperatures never go below 12 C : T. latisectus, T. martianus, T. oreophilus and T. princeps.The genus Phoenix includes the famous date palm, Phoenix dactylifera and the Canary Island palm, Phoenix canariensis. They do take frost, like some other members of the genus: P. loureiroi, P. humilis, P. sylvestris, P. theoprastii. More and more Sabal species can be grown if frosts are not too hard. The following species can take about – 10 C: Sabal domingensis, S. etonia, S. maritima, S. mexicana, S. palmetto, S. rosei. Hardy palms from North America are the dwarf Serenoa repens and the tall, stately whashingtonias, with two species: Washingtonia filifera and W. robusta. A different fan palm is Trithrinax brasiliensis, with large, round, flat fan leaves and beautiful, tropical-looking, yellow flowers.

Frost hardy Chamaerops humilis cerifera from the mountains of Morocco

Frost hardy Chamaerops humilis cerifera from the mountains of Morocco

-2 to -9 C (-28.5 to -15.5 F):

Lots of new genera and species can be tried in milder areas: Arenga engleri and A. micrantha resist to about – 7 C. Different species of Livistona, Parajubaea, Syagrus, Acrocomia aculeata, Copernicia alba. If it really never goes below -4 C, Rhopalostylis from New Zealand, some Caryota species from Asia the wax palms from the Andes, Ceroxylon, such as C. andinum and C. amazonicum, a number of Chamaedorea species, some of the high-elevation Dypsis from Madagascar, the showy, large, grey leaved Bismarckia nobilis, or the fabulous red-leaf palm, Chambeyronia macrocarpa.

Arenga engleri can take frost at - 9 C

Arenga engleri can take frost at – 9 C

Never below -2 C (never below -28.5 F):

The list is just too long. 200 or more palm species can be grown outdoors in lucky climates. If you are in located in the coastal Mediterranean, many of the palms offered by Canarius will grow for you.

You can buy all these palms and many more in the Palm Section of our Shop – We ship to anywhere in Europe.

This is our Parajubaea torallyi torallyi in a 12x14 cm pot

This is our Parajubaea torallyi torallyi in a 12×14 cm pot

Our Trachycarpus takil in a 12 cm pot, ready to be shipped

Our Trachycarpus takil in a 12 cm pot, ready to be shipped