Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - July 07, 2016
From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives
Title: Planting Canary Island Date Palm in Austin, Texas
Answered by: Anne Van Nest
QUESTION:
I want to plant a Phoenix canariensis on the south side of my property in West Austin, in a sheltered location. We are on very shallow soil - on top of limestone. Does the plant have any chance of survival? I can prepare a reasonably large hole for planting. I am having some luck with Butia capitata and a Mexican Fan palms, as well as Sago Palm cycads.ANSWER:
Sorry for the delay in answering your question. Also, Mr. Smarty Plants doesn't usually answer questions about non-native plants, but we do make exceptions once in a while when our other plant interests come to the forefront.
Wikipedia says that Phoenix canariensis, the Canary Island date palm is best grown where temperatures never fall below 10-14 F for extended periods. It can be protected during short cold spells. So if you are ready to wrap your palm snuggly during extreme cold periods of your Austin winter, give this palm a try.
The www.palmpedia.net website has some good information and lots of wonderful images (including the snow topped Canary Island date palms below).
They say ... Within the limits of its hardiness (down to about -10°C) P. canariensis is adapted to more habitats and soils than almost any other palm. This, combined with its relative hardiness to cold, make it one of the most widely-planted palms on Earth. Excellent specimens can be found from London to Sydney, from Honolulu to Pakistan, from Tasmania to Durban, and almost anywhere else with a suitable climate. Which is a wide swath of the world.
Best in Mediterranean climates, like those in Italy, southern California, Chile, etc., P. canriensis will also grow in the tropics. Fine stalwart specimens can even be found in cool (but not cold) maritime climates like Northern Ireland, Tasmania, or San Francisco. In climates cold enough to freeze the entire crown (such as parts of New Mexico), regrowth is slow and often stunted.
While best in full sun and the usual well-drained loamy soil, P. canariensis can tolerate a wide range of exposures, including deep shade, and a wide range of soil types, including sand and heavy clay. It has a unique ability to tolerate both severe drought and flooding very well, which makes them ideal to plant in housing tracts in which the soil was heavily compacted.
More Non-Natives Questions
Brown spots in St. Augustine grass
July 05, 2008 - Mr. Smarty Plants, My husband and I are in the Air Force and were recently moved to Cibolo Texas. We built a home and hired a landscaper to finish the yard May 07 (with irrigation system). We laid d...
view the full question and answer
Moving School House lilies in Austin
March 02, 2009 - I live here in Austin in zipcode 78729. I have a clump of School House lilies in the back of the garden. I would like to move them to another bed under a tree. Is this a good time to move them? Should...
view the full question and answer
Pruning Citrus Suckers
October 06, 2014 - Mr. Smarty Plants, you are the only person that has "not" insisted that the little balls on Satsuma and lemon trees were clumps of bugs. They are surely what you described in the answer to my previo...
view the full question and answer
Care of non-native Navel Orange tree
January 27, 2008 - What kind of care does a Navel Orange tree need? Mine looks really bad this year, not much fruit and small fruit.
view the full question and answer
Verbena bonariensis won't bloom in Galveston, TX.
July 03, 2014 - My Verbena bonariensis is thriving, but never blooms. The plants look healthy, are about 6 feet tall and in full sun. The buds turn light purple but never open to flower. My neighbor's vb are ...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |