Jubaea chilensis

Jubaea chilensis is perhaps the only pinnate palm that might have a chance in these surroundings. The other day I read that a huge specimen is doing well in the village Le Bouveret above lake Geneva in the Alps. Not quite southern Sweden, but let us see if the limit can be pushed to the north.

Its cold hardiness may be exaggerated, but I thought that I would give it a try when I found a specimen in a garden center in the Copenhagen area. For the first time, by the way, I had never seen it before.

By June 2011 I think that I have had my experiences with Jubaeas planted out. They have all died. This page will not be updated further unless I some day go mad again and try to plant one of my handful of seedlings out!

This specimen was planted in september 2009. Maybe a little too late for the palm to develop the roots before winter.

Preparing for the winter 2009/2010.

February 2010. The winter is long and cold, and I think I can spot some leaf damages (due to the amount of snow there is no close up)!

March 13, 2010, it looks very dead to me.
There is still about 30cm/10in snow in the garden.

March 25, 2010, uncovered at last. Dead? Yes, it didn't come life during June...

I think I will stop buying palms in garden centers and grow my own specimen. New seeds are germinating in the window sill. Here is one from February 2010.

A member of the European Palm Society once warned against squirrels, they obviously love Jubaea nuts. Forgetting the warning, I thought we had a fat hare eating my palms, so I had protected my first outplanted Jubaea aginst hares, but in vain, this might have been a squirrel: The seed (the nut) was gone, not the green stuff! June 24, 2010

June 29, 2010. Contrary to the common opinion, I do not find Jubaeas slower growing than e.g. Trachycarpus fortuneis. This one could be the same specimen (but is not) that was a small seedling in February (blueberries in the background). I hope the stones will keep the squirrel away.

Winter again, February 6, 2011. Another cold winter down to around -20°C. Even one of my little Jubaeas must have looked appetizing. I wonder if any will survive the winter, I think I have four specimen planted out.

March 2011: First eaten, then beaten - the little snow covered Jubaea from last picture. I do not think there is hope.

Possibly the last Jubaea that I ever will plant out! It had a spearpull after the winter. I reckon it is dead.

Actually, this is the fat little baby seedling from February 2010. It remains in the pot for the rest of my life! Perhaps it is a slow grower, but this fellow is 50cm/19.6i already.