Beccariophoenix Species, High Plateau Coconut Palm, Hardy Coconut Palm

Am half temped to try this palm in th Zone 6a(with Heavy Protection)

I have a question. What does it mean to be a windows form and a no-windows form? I'm a fairly new palm enthusiast, and I've not heard t...Read Morehis term before. Thank you for your help.

This is one of the best cold-hardy Coconut Palm lookalikes. It, and the Windows and No Windows forms of Beccariophoenix madagascariensis ...Read Moreand possibly Voanioala gerardii are nearly identical to Cocos nucifera. Only recently discovered (2007 I think), it comes from a humid valley in Madagascar were temperatures can drop below freezing in winter nights. It is very similar to the coconut palm, except being very cold-hardy and having small fruit, rather than large. I recommend this palm and the other three mentioned above to ANY coconut palm lovers who live in cold areas.

Also note that the name Beccariophoenix alfredii is accepted by Kew.

I can't say enough about this palm, it is absolutely wonderful! This will definitely be the coconut palm of the future for areas too cold...Read More to grow the real deal. As young plants, they are hardy to about 25F but, as with most palms, they will likely gain more hardiness with age. They are as cold hardy as Beccariophoenix madagascariensis, but can grow faster than Beccariophoenix sp. windows given the correct culture. They also aren't plagued by the nutritional deficiencies like B. sp. windows. They are from the High Plateau in Madagascar, where they make up the majority of plant life, so they enjoy full sun. They will grow in shade, but will slow down considerably, so full sun is recommended. They grow along the water where they are from, so it is probably beneficial to provide them with lots of water during the growing months. They like sandy soil that most Floridians have, as that's what they grow in in their environment, but they will tolerate other soil conditions, such as those in California. Central and South Florida are probably the perfect places to grow them, as our conditions closely mimic those in it's habitat, but there has been success with them in Southern and Central California and in parts of Northern California as well. They are very new to cultivation, so no trunking individuals yet, but after they have been around for a while, they might become more common due to their good looks and tolerance of growing conditions. One last note, B. madagascariensis and B. sp. windows are quite thick trunked when adults, but B. alfredii is much slimmer, which makes it even more like a coconut. If planted on it's side when it begins to trunk, it will take on a curve, and be even more coconutty, so people will have a very hard time telling the difference! I recommend this palm to anyone in a 9b or warmer area, but it couldn't hurt to try out in a 9a! Protection on the chilly days might be able to make it survive, and you'll be the envy on the block by being the only one with a "coconut" in your area!

Before it was officially named in 2007, it was sold as Beccariophoenix sp. (High Plateaux) for a few years. It actually comes from the Hi...Read Moregh Plateaux in Madagascar which can see freezes and drought. While fast growing compared to B. madagascariensis in warmer climates, I have found B. alfredii to be only slightly faster then B. madagascariensis here in SoCal. So this is not a fast growing plant! Like B. madagascariensis, Alfredii adapts to full sun from an early age. Especially if well watered in summer.

In form, B. alfredii is very similar to B. madagascariensis as an adult. The difference being its seed is more round and its inflorescences are short. As seedlings, B. alfredii leaves divide much later where as B. madagascariensis goes from bifid leaflets to pinnate very fast. Fresh seeds are quick to germinate. Sometimes talking only a few weeks.

This is one of the best cold-hardy Coconut Palm lookalikes. It, and the Windows and No Windows forms of Beccariophoenix madagascariensis ...Read Moreand possibly Voanioala gerardii are nearly identical to Cocos nucifera. Only recently discovered (2007 I think), it comes from a humid valley in Madagascar were temperatures can drop below freezing in winter nights. It is very similar to the coconut palm, except being very cold-hardy and having small fruit, rather than large. I recommend this palm and the other three mentioned above to ANY coconut palm lovers who live in cold areas.

Also note that the name Beccariophoenix alfredii is accepted by Kew.