Nannorrhops ritchiana? Never Heard of It!

[PalmTreeDude]

So I saw this palm in a seed sampler from RPS and I never heard of it, RPS says it can withstand tempatures to -8 degrees F. Is this true? Does anyone else grow Nannorrhops ritchiana? 

Edited November 4, 2016 by PalmTreeDude

[Las Palmas Norte]

Common name is the Mazari palm. I believe in it's native regions it's very arid during the cold snaps it receives. There are folks in California growing this palm.

Cheers, Barrie.

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

I have two; one green (faster and no fur around petioles) the other blue (Aribica? slower and fur around the petioles). Both great palms for me:

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

Should have picked up the trash on that last one!. This is better:

 

[Stevetoad]

I have one as well. Never done anything but water it. It grows no matter what

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

I have several hundred of each including one 8' mature ritcheana. The green version (ritcheana) is much more cold hardy than the silver arabica.

[Al in Kona]

Brett, that blue Arabica form of Nannorrhops is really nice.  Tempted to even try one here in Hawaii.

 

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

6 hours ago, Al in Kona said:

Brett, that blue Arabica form of Nannorrhops is really nice.  Tempted to even try one here in Hawaii.

 

Al, the arabica is very root sensitive and must  have well draining soil. other than they they grow very well.

[Palm Tree Jim]

14 hours ago, Brett in Mission Viejo said:

I have two; one green (faster and no fur around petioles) the other blue (Aribica? slower and fur around the petioles). Both great palms for me:

Looking great Brett!

[Josh-O]

Alan Valley has the biggest specimen I have ever seen In California. It MASSIVE!!

Maybe Danny can post a picture?

[Hammer]

16 hours ago, Brett in Mission Viejo said:

I have two; one green (faster and no fur around petioles) the other blue (Aribica? slower and fur around the petioles). Both great palms for me:

Brett's garden never disappoints!

[Henoh]

In zone 7b/8a you need 'green form' to try. I have three Nannorrhops planted out in my zone 7 (check climate data for Zagreb, Croatia) but only one seems to growe. And yes, Nannorrhops need from time to time some kind of passive winter protection.This means overhead protection against winter rain and snow, and mulching with pine straws. 

[PAPalmGrower]

On 11/4/2016, 8:14:41, Brett in Mission Viejo said:

I have two; one green (faster and no fur around petioles) the other blue (Aribica? slower and fur around the petioles). Both great palms for me:

Brett - these are some of the best pictures of Nannorrhops that I have seen!  Great job.  Beautiful specimens, too!

I have been researching Nannorrhops for quite some time now.  I have eight specimens in my collection - two Nannorrhops ritchieana 'green form' from Afghanistan/Northern Pakistan, five ritchieana 'Kashmir form' from the Kashmir region, and one ritchieana 'silver'.  I had an 'arabica' previously; however, this form has minimal cold tolerance when young and was killed at 26 F.

Looking at your two specimens - I would actually say the first is the N. 'arabica'. Arabica is much faster growing than ritchieana and does not have that "fur" around the petioles.  Also, while 'arabica' starts out a strong silver/white when young, many turn that yellowish green when older (like yours).

I believe your "blue" specimen is actually the N. ritchieana 'silver'. It looks just like mine.  Ritchieana are slower growing than arabica and they have that "fur" at the base of their petioles. The 'silver' N. ritchieana keep their silvery-blue coloring with age.

[PAPalmGrower]

My Nannorrhops ritchieana 'silver' (Silver Mazari palm).  My specimen is not Nannorrhops 'arabica'.  This one is slower growing than the 'arabica' and has the "fur" around the base of the petioles.

[Brett in Mission Viejo]

12 hours ago, PAPalmGrower said:

My Nannorrhops ritchieana 'silver' (Silver Mazari palm).  My specimen is not Nannorrhops 'arabica'.  This one is slower growing than the 'arabica' and has the "fur" around the base of the petioles.

Thanks for the information.You are right, in that the faster "arabica" was white as a seedling and progressively turned green. The silver palm in the picture was much slower.