Proc. Ha. State Hort. Soc. 112:251-252. 1999.

LANDSCAPE PALMS AVAILABLE FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM

MURRAYj. CORMAN Table 1. Popularity of palms in commercial ads (Betrock, 1999) Garden of Delights 14560 SW14 Street Florida Number Plant Pages of Percent of Percentage of varieties Percentage Davie, FL 33325 Finder palm ads publication change listed change

Oct., 1980 1.25 8.3% 22 Additional index words. Urban Landscape, Tropical, Tree planting, International Palm Society, Plant-A-Palm web site, Nov., 1987 9 11.6% 39.7% 60 172.7% feather leaf, "Silver Back", palmate, Xeriscape. Aug., 1999 68 36% 210.0% 210 250.0%

Abstract. Palms vary greatly in size, texture, color, and cultural The available supply of large quantities of high quality palms requirements. They are extensively planted in tropical and (Tables 2 and 3) for landscaping is the result of three factors. warm temperate regions around the globe. With the advent of the World Wide Web, more and better information about vari 1. The availability of fresh seed in large quantities on a reg ety availability and profitable markets has greatly expanded the palm trade. The forces behind the expanded palm palette ular basis. Seed supply is an ever improving situation re are discussed with ideas for future uses. sulting from modern transportation and improved seed harvest technique, in native locals.

Introduction 2. The courageous business operators, having observed old and new varieties in situ, willing to risk shifting produc The landscape uses for palms are many and varied. The 57 tion from other traditional products. palm species recommended by the South Florida Water Man agement District's "Xeriscape Plant Guide II are grouped into 3. Last and most important, is "buyer demand." This will ground cover, shrub and tree plantings. In this context, palms reward the producer well for providing quality palms of are considered "drought tolerant and non-invasive." Con both old and new varieties. Of course, business owners versely, 12 species are recommended by Department of Land want to sell products they already have (for example, scape Technology, Broward Community College for wet soils Phoenix dactylifera) or can produce quickly and easily in shade situations and 9 species for wet soils in full sun. (for example, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Veitchia merrillii, (McLean, 1999). A short stroll through Fairchild Tropical Washingtonia robusta). Note: "Buyer demand" is often the Gardens will bring out the many uses possible for palms in the combined result of extensive publicity, yet ironically in landscape. With colors ranging from red and yellow to silver- complete information, and even poor business ethics. gray to nearly black, the leaves of palms add contrast and ac Therefore, the continued sale of unsuitable or disease cent to the uninterrupted hues of green in the landscape.

Table 2. Varieties meriting wider use. Adopted from Meerow, 1999. Growing Success

Scientific name Values51 Common (local) name After 40+ years of infection of Coconut palm by Lethal Yellowing throughout Southern Florida, the problem is clear. Allagoptera arenaria 5,7 Seashore Palm Areca catechu Limited diversity of plants in popular use increases the risk of 4,6 Betel Palm Areca triandra 3,5,6 Female Monkey Areca Palm devastating blights. This learning experience has resulted in Chamaedorea microspadix 2,3,5 "Palmilla" (Mexico) the diversification of palm plantings containing a wide baseof Chamaedorea radicalis 2,5,6 Radicalis Palm germplasm. With increased diversity come decreased chances Chambeyronia macrocarpa 3,4,6 Flame Thrower Palm of such broad reaching destructive blights, pest infestations Coccothrinax barbadensis 1,3,4,5,7 Silver Palm Dictyosperma album var. rubrum 3,4,6 Red Princess Palm and the environmental costs they entail. Dypsis madagascariensis 1,2,3,4,6 Tall Triangle Palm Montgomery Botanical Center in Miami, Florida is an ex Elaeis guineensis 1,7 African Oil Palm ample of planting for diversity. Parent plants have matured Heterospathe elata 2,3,5,6 Sagisi Palm from seeds collected in the native locale. Every effort is made to Livistona decipiens 2,3,4 Ribbon Fan Palm include accessions from the widest population available. Re Livistona saribus 1,2,3,4 Saribus Palm Roystonia borinquena 2,4,5,7 Royal Palm cently seeds of palms produced at the Center are harvested, Sabal causiarum 1,2,7 Hat Palm cleaned, and distributed. One hundred nine species totaling Sabal mauritiformis 1,2,3,4,7 Silverback Sabal Palm 474,767 seeds have been distributed through a Montgomery Sabal minor 1,2,5,6,7 Dwarf Sabal Palm Botanical Center and Florida Nurserymen And Growers Associ Syagrus cearensis 2,4,5 Cearensis Palm Syagrus botryophora 1,2,4 Pati Palm ation cooperative program, for the 12 months ending Septem Syagrus coronata 1,2,3,4,5 Licury Palm ber 25, 1999 (Walters, 1999). At a recent Palm Show and Sale Syagrus schizophylla 1,2,3,4,5 Arikury Palm sponsored by the Broward County Palm and Cycad Society, 695 Veitchia macdanialsii 3,4,6 Sunshine Palm varieties of palm plants were advertised for sale (Gallivan, Wodyetia bifurcata 1,2,4,6 Foxtail Palm 1999). This number reflects a 560% increase of 571 varieties Zombia antillarum 1,5,6,7 Zombe Palm

since May 1986 (Corman, 1987). Of course, large-scale com aKey to valuable qualities: 1 = Unique, 2 = Cold hardy, 3= Colorful, 4= Rapid mercial growers are cultivating fewer varieties (Table 1). growth rate, 5 = Small stature, 6 = Low maintenance, 7= Salt tolerant.

Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112: 1999. 251 Table 3. Palm wannabes. suitability and competitive price will ensure the continued ex pansion of palms into the mix of horticultural tools and media Australian Nut Palm Cycas media used to create the virtual paradise in which we live. Innovative Australian Ivy Palm Brassaia actinophylla methods and the application of new technology will allow wider Cardboard Palm Zamia furfuracea distribution, more profitable production and even new uses of

Good Luck Palm Cordyline terminalis palm plants in the future. From microwave treatment of seed, Oxalis deppei for more rapid germination; to the use of Mycorrhizal fungus,

Grass Palm Cordyline australis for greater efficiency of nutrient uptake the horizon looks

King Sago Palm Cycas revoluta bright in the world of palms. The technology of "controlled at mosphere" in production and transportation to market yields Leopard Palm or Snake Palm Amorphophallus rivieri quality plants grown profitably. Eco-friendly "Coir based" pot Echeveria coccinea Mexican Palm ting media adds to customer satisfaction that will fuel increased Palm Grass Circuligo capitulata demand for "The sentries of paradise" palms. Setaria palmifolia

Palm Polly Polyradicion lindenii Tropical image Panama Hat Palm Carludovica palmata

Ponytail Palm Beaucarnia recurvata The desire for human beings to dwell naturally in the

Queen Sago Palm Cycas circinalis tropics is evidenced by the popularity of tropical looking palm trees. Even other plants unrelated to the palm family Stilt Palm Pandanus utilis have jumped on the "Bandwagon" as paJm wannabes. Travelers Palm Ravenala madagascariensis

Umbrella Palm Cyperus alternifolius Literature Cited

Betrock, I. 1999. Plant Finder Oct. 15, 1999. Betrock Information Systems, prone varieties does little to endear the industry empow Hollywood, FL. ered to create pleasing environmental surroundings. Corman, M. J. 1987. Palms available for landscaping in Southern Florida. Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 100:156-159. Gallivan, R. D. 1999. Personal communication. Seeds of Change McLean, D. 1999. Palms and cycads: Species for limited height situations. Broward Community College, Davie, FL. As the new millenium proceeds urban density specifically in Meerow, A. W. 1999. Expanding your palm palette. University of Florida, Ft. the subtropics (zone 9 + 10) will require innovative and ethical Lauderdale, FL. varietal selection processes. Qualities such as diversity, beauty, Walters, T. 1999. Personal communication.

Proc. Fla. State Hort Soc. 112:252-253. 1999.

BLACKBERRY-LILY, A FLOWERING PERENNIAL FOR FLORIDA

J. F. Garofalo rennials are recommended for trial by home gardeners and University of Florida nurserymen. Probably the only reason Belamcanda is not seen Miami-Dade Cooperative Extension Service more in Florida is that gardeners and growers don't know them Homestead, FL 33030-2309 and don't know how well they perform in our climate.

Additional index words. Ornamentals, cut-flowers, dry arrange Belamcanda chinensis. This species has previously been ments. placed in the genera Pardanthus, Ixia and Gemmingia. The com mon name "blackberry-lily" comes from the shape of the mature Abstract. Blackberry-lily, Belamcanda chinensis Adans [Pardan- fruit; the other common name, "leopard-lily" is for the spotted thus Ker-Gawl], dwarf blackberry-lily, B. flabellata Grey, and flowers. A member of the Iris family (Iridaceae), Belamcanda (an candy-lily, x Pardancanda norrisii, constitute a group of close Asian name for this plant) is native to China, Korea, and Japan. ly-related species which have the potential of becoming popu lar, sought-after herbaceous perennials for gardens in Florida, Biology thus they are a potential new crop for production nurseries in the area. All three produce many two-inch flowers in Summer; Belamcanda is an herbaceous perennial with stout rhizomes, in South Florida they are evergreen and tend to be in bloom most of the time. They have shown no tendency to escape cul which grows to three feet or so. It is often listed in catalogs with tivation. Presently they are only rarely seen. All three offer the the bulbs, presumably because it has "bulbous" relatives, and greatest potential if grown from seed and selected for desirable resembles those bulbous relatives. The leaves are Iris-like, bas traits, including flower production, color, and size. These pe al, and attached to a short stem, in fans, up to about ten inches

252 Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc. 112: 1999.