Blue Ribbon Palm of the Month: August,2000
Foxtail Palm:
Wodyetia
bifurcata
"CLASSIC ELEGANCE!!" These two
words are the best words to describe Our AUGUST choice for: thewisegardener.com's
choice for Blue Ribbon Palm-of-the-Month! The Foxtail Palm,
features many admirable qualities: relative freedom from mineral deficiencies, (except in
South Florida where deficiencies are very common!), appropriate size for most
"average sized" homescapes, relative cold tolerance, a clean crownshaft, and a
very "formal" general shape, or form!! These are all unequalled, in The
Palm Doctor's opinion!
 The
Foxtail Palm comes to the USA from the State of Queensland, Australia. Its first
relatives were a "rare" lot, indeed (The first few hundred seeds sold for
upwards of $5.00US apiece!!) As the foxtail is rather fecund in its seed production,
however, seed prices fell rock-hard and foxtail palm prices plummeted. That was
great news for North American Foxtail Palm lovers everywhere!
A Foxtail Palm will grow moderately rapidly to a mature
height of 25 feet; it loves Florida's climate (ample moisture supply, as is found in its
native Queensland.) It is essentially a USDA Zone 9B through 11B specimen.
The Foxtail will take temperatures down to an occasional 27 degrees F. (-3 degrees C.)
For those of you palm fanciers who love the look of the
Cuban, or Florida ROYAL PALM (to be featured later this year), the Foxtail Palm offers the
same general shape, with a similar bulge in the center of its trunk, but unlike the Royal
Palm, the Foxtail is NOT too large for most contemporary properties.
In order to establish your Foxtail Palm well, in its
new home, in lieu of the kangaroos of the Australian State of Queensland, make sure that
its planting site is enriched with organic/composted material and topsoil; keep
well-watered for its first month "home" (every other day is great!), and
fertilise, after the first month with a timed-release palm food with magesium &
manganese sulfates (agricultural grade, please!) You should notice a new spear
emerging out of the crownshaft, and your Foxtail Palm should begin to establish itself
rather well, indeed! I can set up a regular treatment/fertilising regimen for you,
that will assure your beautiful Foxtail Palms stay happy! Call me at: (954) 249-6287
to set up a regular feeding program! Call today so they'll look healthier next
month!!
The Foxtail Palm has recently shown a propensity for
harbouring palm borers. If left untreated, this pest can cause the palms to decline.
Look on the trunk for what appears to be grayish "pins" sticking out
perpendicularly to the trunk, and in advanced cases, a "weeping" of brownish sap
streaking down on various places on the trunk. A professional palm care specialist
like myself should be called in the treat the palm with a systemic pesticide, and a
concentrated nutritional drench.
The Foxtail Palm is an Australian-imported palm that
features admirable attributes, widely endearing it to the Western Hemisphere's palm lovers
and general public; it is for those reasons, and my personal experiences with this
species, that it is only natural the FOXTAIL PALM be chosen
Blue Ribbon Palm for August! Thank You, palm
lovers! G'day, mates!!
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