I went to Ticino in May in search of a new Jubaea.
Unfortunately, as the large specimens are rare and much in demand,
I came back home with empty hands. Finally, with the help of the
Palm Centre (thank you Martin!) I received a much wished-for Jubaea
in July that I immediately planted it in the garden, in a large,
deep hole with well draining soil. The next autumn, my wife gave
me a second Trachycarpus that measured 180cm. Though I was anxious
to have it in the ground, I'd learned my lesson, and decided to
keep it in its pot for the first winter. For extra caution, I used
rain protection and mulch on the Jubaea to help it through its first
winter. The first Trachycarpus remained without protection. Luckily,
the winter of 1999-2000 was less cold with -8°C and the Jubaea
and the Trachycarpus are in good health.
My last acquisitions are a Brahea armata of 160cm
and a Butia yatay. The Brahea was planted in the garden at the end
of March in a very sandy soil. Like others, I am surprised by its
speed of growth. At the end of May, it had already produced a whole
leaf. I also have many young plants: Brahea armata, Chamaerops humilis,
Sabal minor, Washingtonia filifera, Jubaea chilensis, Syagrus romanzoffiana,
Phoenix canariensis, Trachycarpus fortunei, T. takil and T. latisectus.
My goal is to try acclimating Phoenix theophrasti and Parajubaea
torallyi, which seem to me particularly interesting.
Palm Trees of Lake Geneva
