An excellent 'How to' article, this time about
the tricky business of germinating the seeds of our biggest palm,
Jubaea chilensis, together with the very best Jubaea photo I've
ever seen. Michel Lambreghts, 8 Rue Albert 1er, 4620
Fléron, Belgium Chamaerops No.21, Winter Edition 1995/96
Photo:
Jubaea chilensis in the south of france
Since the very beginning of my interest in palms,
Jubaea chilensis has always been a secret star to wish upon. A star,
because of its impressive beauty, its massive mature stature, its
cold, frost and fire tolerance, its coconut-like fruits and, also,
because of its relative rarity in nature and in palm nurseries.
As my passion (should I say my love?) for Jubaea seems to be shared
by many palm enthusiasts, I think that my personal experience in
germinating 'coquitos' will interest many friends of the European
Palm Society. Because Jubaea seeds are often said to be slow and
hard to germinate, because I had previously tried it so many times
without any success and finally, because when talking with palm
nurserymen I've often felt that there is something like a "taboo"
regarding the discussion of germination techniques for this small
'coconut'. During my previous trips to the south of France, I always
brought back a dozen seeds and put them, scarified or not, in various
mediums and at different temperatures, but without any result. Somehow
they simply refused to sprout, even after a year. During my summer
holiday last August, I came across a private garden near Hyeres,
where four fantastic mature Chilean Wine Palms stood in single file
(see the photograph). They were all in fruit, but unforttmately
all immature, with green soft skin. At first glance, I saw none
lying on the ground. Too early in the year: such a pity! Then I
looked closer, not with my eyes, but with my fingers. I felt around
in the grass beneath the trees and discovered more and more seeds.
They were obviously naked seeds from previous years, the youngest
of them being at least one year old. Not too long a time for trying
germination? After a pleasant talk with the owner, I was allowed
to collect as many seeds as I wished. And for sure he found it very
funny to watch me walking on my knees! When I had filled a full
plastic bag, the owner invited me to taste coquitos' and cracked
some of them with a stone. It seemed a crime to me! Like eating
sleeping babies lost in vegetable ivory. . . But I must admit that
it was delicious. And this was also the beginning of my success
in sprouting Jubaea seeds. Cracking! It was just a matter of cracking.
I had read it before but found it too dangerous for my precious
seeds. But with dozens of them, it was worth a try, especially when
I realised that most of the seeds had been cleared of their fibres
by Mother Nature, slowly, in the grass. A first pack of about a
hundred seeds were cracked (with a stone, as the old French man
showed me!) and
Germinating Jubaea
