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atropica
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:00 am Posts: 129 Location: Newbury, Berks, UK
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Rhapis excelsa hardiness
I've had the plant for four years and its about 3-4ft tall. Up to now I've always brought it inside for the winter but don't really have enough room this time so its tucked up against the wall of the house with fleece at the ready. Am I being unnecessarily cautious or wildly optimistic?
_________________ Andy
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:10 am |
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tonymusa
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2007 5:47 pm Posts: 209 Location: East Yorkshire UK
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I left one out once Andy, the leaves were badly burnt by frost, it survived but because there slow growing
they take to long to recover, you may get away with it in a mild winter but its a gamble, if your going to try it i would use fleece.
Tony
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:58 am |
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David Matzdorf
Site Admin
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:06 pm Posts: 5321 Location: Islington, London UK
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Probably not unnecessarily cautious. I've never grown this, but I've wanted one for some time, so I've read up on them.
The consensus, or at least the average amongst conflicting reports, is that it will handle -3ºC or -4ºC quite easily, perhaps a bit lower, but not much. The main point that seems to be agreed is that it benefits greatly from having an evergreen canopy to protect it from radiant frosts. Itts normal habitat is understorey and it will grow reasonably well in deep shade, so if you can't plant it under something, cover it with fleece or take it in.
In Newbury, I'd probably take it in anyway. How well insulated is your house?
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:01 am |
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atropica
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:00 am Posts: 129 Location: Newbury, Berks, UK
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Thanks guys. Its currently outside the conservatory tucked into a south-west facing corner
The only way I can get it inside the conservatory is to turf something else out. The choices are Phoenix roebelenii, variegated Yucca elephantipes or Howea fosteriana. Unless you think any of these have a better chance outside I'll build a little shelter with a corrugated plastic roof for the Rhapis and hope for the best.
_________________ Andy
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:00 pm |
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Tony J
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:18 pm Posts: 47 Location: Yeovil, Somerset, SW England
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:50 pm |
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david feix
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:54 am Posts: 3206 Location: Berkeley, California
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Raphis excelsa is even a bit temperamental here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has never become one of those reliable outdoor growing palms that are seen everywhere. Much more common in southern California, although I have used it in gardens here where it is up against a building and underneath an overhang or shaded by evergreen canopy trees. This species is soooo very slow to make any significant growth without real summer heat, that I wouldn't risk it anywhere you regularly expect temps to drop below freezing. They can easily tolerate very low light levels and low humidity of indoors for several months, so why not bring it inside the house for the winter? Just don't ever let the soil go dry, as they also get dried out leaf tips all too easily if not well watered, and watch for spider mites and/or mealybug infestations. I personally would not risk leaving it outdoors, even with fleecing protection.
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:29 pm |
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Nigel Fear
Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:58 pm Posts: 223 Location: Southend on sea essex UK.
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Andy,I;m not advising you to do the same,but I;ve overwintered my variegated Yucca Elephantipes{jewel}outside for 2 years now,albeit with a fleece during the worse frosts,last year it recieved no frost damage whatsoever,the winter before it suffered slightly though.A neghbour of mine left a Howea outside in a more favourable position and although it took a while to show any damage,it looked pretty grim by the spring [but not totally dead}.However he dug it out because it just didn;t look good....Nigel F.
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:02 pm |
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David Matzdorf
Site Admin
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 4:06 pm Posts: 5321 Location: Islington, London UK
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If Yucca elephantipes variegata is as hardy as the type, then it's hardier than Rhapis excelsa. My all-green Y. elephantipes has been growing outdoors, unprotected except for its first Winter, since 2000 and it has never taken any damage at all. I've had -5ºC several times, perhaps a shade lower once or twice.
I have a modest-sized variegated Yucca that I think must be Y. elephantipes variegata, but it's been kept indoors for most of its life, so I have no idea whether there is a difference in frost-resistance between the two varieties.
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Wed Nov 14, 2007 9:13 pm |
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Tom Velardi
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:20 pm Posts: 4337 Location: Kyushu, Southern Japan (33.607N latitude)
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Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:48 am |
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Stan
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 5:52 pm Posts: 10687 Location: Hayward- S.F. Bay area Ca.
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Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:09 am |
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Garry
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:27 am Posts: 178 Location: England - High Peak - Derbyshire
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Abbotsbury Rhapis
Abbotsbury have a rhapis growing outside under other tress, it appears to be doing well:
_________________ Garry Platt
High Peak District
Derbyshire - UK
http://garry.smugmug.com/
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Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:44 am |
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atropica
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:00 am Posts: 129 Location: Newbury, Berks, UK
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Thanks for the picture Garry, that does look well established. If found some pictures of Rhapis growing under a canopy of foxtail palms in an Australian nursery. Wouldn't mind seeing these in the flesh
Mine has just had its first test outside as temperatures here went down to -2C last night.
Nigel & David, I think I would worry about the Yucca getting even the smallest amount of frost damage. It would certainly spoil its appearance for a few years.
_________________ Andy
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Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:58 am |
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david feix
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:54 am Posts: 3206 Location: Berkeley, California
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Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:18 pm |
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kroisos
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:46 pm Posts: 558 Location: koekelare, Belgium...
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_________________ Kristof p
living in koekelare, west flanders, Z8b
belguim
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:03 pm |
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GARYnNAT
Joined: Mon Oct 29, 2007 5:21 pm Posts: 78 Location: Cambridge UK
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Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:16 pm |
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