Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Is it too early to buy my Christmas Tree Palm?

Let’s just get something straight right away…I am NOT declaring summer “almost over” and I am NOT wishing the next 5 months away. Actually it’s quite the opposite; I stopped at Portland Nursery the other day on my way home because you just never know what you might find and it is always the right time to buy a plant July, August….doesn’t matter, there is no season to my plant lust.

So what should greet me upon entering the nursery? Well just a fine selection of palm trees! A comment that Louis made the other day came rushing back to me…”it's going to be the year of summer! NO WINTER!!!! ahahahaha!!! take that winter lovers! they can all buy Christmas palms this year”…uhm, Christmas Palms….there’s an idea. Last year I got all caught up in lusting after a Blue Atlas Cedar…a couple years back was the year of the Christmas Tree Fern, ya! A Christmas Palm seems just about right! But which one…this tall Chamaerops humilis ‘cerifera’ (Mediterranean fan palm, blue form…said the tag, but it doesn’t look very blue to me) is lovely, $499.99 though…

At what cost instant impact?

Trachycarpus wagnerianus…

The crate would certainly be nicer in the living room than a black plastic pot. I wonder if it would fit through the door? I guess I won’t have to worry though, since it’s $999.99. I do love the long hair on the trunk. Perfect for tucking in a few Tillandsia!

Chamaerops humilis, $59.99…

Complete with a few funky leaves…

Butia capitata “Feather Palm - from High Plateau Brazil” $119.99…

“keep moist year round; not wet, in well drained soil; some protection needed below 15; to 15 ft in 20 years”…sounds like it’s a temperamental thing. Beautiful though…and those arching fronds would look so nice with ornaments hanging from them…

Trachycarpus fortunei, $59.99…a little small for true Christmas tree impact.

I am drawn over and over again to the small Trachycarpus wagnerianus, such perfect leaf shape!

Here’s a smaller Chamaerops humilis ‘cerifera’ for only $49.99

And what would look better next to a Christmas Tree Palm than a Tree Fern Monkey?

Whoa…shopping alert for you locals…30% off all annuals!

And you know what that includes? Colocasia and Alocasia!

Danger…more palms…

I’ve definitely decided this is the one for me…it’s the blue leaves…so pretty.

Uhm…$199.99…that’s a little steep. Let’s see, it’s 20 weeks until Christmas…that’s just $9.99 a week!

I wonder if they have layaway?

Heck $199.99 is almost free compared to $1,599 for this bad boy!

Just cause I was there I decided to peek into the shade house, and what do you think I spied! Just happy Schefflera taiwaniana for $45! Of course my first instinct was to pick it up and run home with it (after paying first, of course). But instead I just took a few pictures.

I love that it’s got so much leaf variation.

I’ve been trying to find it a good home ever since that moment.

On my way back to the car (without my Christmas Tree Palm, in case you’re wondering) I spied this plant in one of their display containers.

Lupinus albifrons…my latest plant crush! (they had none for sale)

26 comments:

  1. YES!!!! Christmas palm, christmas palm!!! those prices are a bit steep I would agree. but, those palms are really really wonderful. I love the chamaerops humilis cerifera! the butia capitata is nice but if you are ever feeling the butia plunge ... hold out until you can get butia eriospatha. almost identical but the later handles our cool much better.

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    1. Ya the prices are the only thing that stopped me. I'm thinking maybe I'll see what Means has in stock next time I'm out that way (http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2012/07/head-out-on-highway-30-looking-for.html)...cuz I'm really liking this Christmas palm idea!

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  2. Oh and I think I should add... never too early to buy a christmas palm!

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  3. as always great pictures and commentary. FWIW and FYI lupinus albifrons is available by mail-order from annie's annuals (the "standard" form---they have a dwarf form as well, apparently but currently not available, drat). "george in bandon, oregon"

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    1. Thank you George...and a friend was just there too, wish I had seen this plant before her visit! I guess there is always mail order!

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  4. Restraint - thy name this week must be "Loree". You were so good(?)

    Do you know what "W/C" means at the end of the line that says: "Perhaps the hardiest palm" on the tag for the very blue Chamaerops humilis ‘cerifera’? (maybe West Coast?) I like that palm, too!

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    1. Well there was the one Colocasia that came home with me...

      I don't know about the W/C but saw it on a few tags. I like West Coast, I also thought maybe "with care" or "with coverage"...

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  5. Nice palm choices and the prices aren't that much higher than here in Texas since most of them are not native. Love those funky leaves too.

    The alocasias and colocasias are gorgeous too. I need to treat mine better.

    Nice nursery visit.

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    1. Still...they aren't a Bismarckia nobilis though are they...no THAT would be the ultimate.

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  6. "Is it too early", "buy" - I like how you ask! And it is not too early or late to plant those, either.

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    1. Oh but it wouldn't have the pleasure of being planted until next spring. I've got to have my Christmas tree in the house after all!

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  7. Oh, you had to show a huge 'Mojito' Colocasia on sale, didn't you? That's the one elephant ear I couldn't keep alive for some reason. A small one made it through the winter (in the garage), but then it died back once during the summer, then grew back smaller, then a raccoon dug it out of the pot, then it came back with tiny, tiny leaves that fried when a spot of sunlight touched them. Poop.

    This is a great time for nursery bargains, especially if you're going to do some fall perennial planting.

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    1. I'm sorry...no harm intended! Mine died last year too, luckily I scored a (cheap) beautiful one at a plant sale in Spokane last June.

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  8. I want that Lupinus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I may even have a spot for it! Do you think it gets PM like regular Lupines do, though?

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    1. I really don't know...but looking at, and fondling, the leaves they feel much tougher than regular Lupines. As George pointed out Annie's has it...I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Cistus does too, but I didn't find it in their catalogue.

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  9. I really really really want that schefflera, don't get me wrong, but I'm in a holding pattern on the ole plant budget.

    Also, do you think I can pass off leaving the sprinklers going all night long (on the hell strip) as refreshing summer rain?

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    1. Maybe you should buy a lottery ticket! If it was meant to be yours then you'll win! (who are you trying to fool with the sprinklers?)

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  10. My vote is for Chamaerops humilis ‘Cerifera.' It would look great with your ornaments and you could play Elvis singing "Blue Christmas" all season long!

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    1. Oh...good point! I do have several versions of 'Blue Christmas'

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  11. For many years, I used Christmas as an excuse to spend $$$ on plants (some of them were a real stretch to view as holiday centerpieces). Lately we've used a topiary form with lights, ornaments and stuff from the garden like dried alliums and hydrangea blossoms as a stand-in for O Tannenbaum. Hah! The thrift of the holidays gives me carte blanche the rest of the year (as long as the credit card holds out)...can't wait to see what your house looks like this yuletide.

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    1. I like your Christmas-time thrift. I have a similar thought in that using the tinsel tree year after year has saved me enough $ that occasionally I can splurge on something crazy!

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  12. In defense of the Butia, it is as easy to grow as the Chamearops especially in a pot. Very nice arching habit where the leaves almost recurve back to the trunk and olive silver.

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    1. And like I said they would look LOVELY with ornaments hanging from them!

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  13. Gorgeous plants as always, and love the Lupinus too! Oh and that Schefflera, could never have enough of them. Very restrained btw, who knows, the palm you like might still be there come December. I reckon the small Trachycarpus wagnerianus is a good investment buy. They are tough already at that size and size up quick once it is planted out and established. Worth considering that one too :)

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    1. So if it were up to you I'd be buying the Schefflera and the Trachycarpus wagnerianus...you guys are dangerous!

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  14. Hi, I just was introduced to your blog by my garden crazy friends! I've been searching for palms and found a guy named Jim at Oregon Palm Nursery in Woodburn. He had some really great deals and I picked up a smallish (2' tall maybe) Mediterranean Blue Form Palm for $30 and a 3' tall Chinese Windmill Palm for $30. He asks that you make an appointment since it's at his house and he may not be there. If you're interested, here's his info: Jim at Oregon Palm Nursery 503-201-7347. Anyway, thanks for the inspiring blog!

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