One of my variegated Rhapis excelsa palms has done a kinda cool trick. It has put out 2 fronds that are 'almost' perfect half and half (only one is really visible here).
But the more interesting thing is that its newest offset also has done the same thing!

Oh, that is so pretty! We have lots of the regular green Rhapis excelsa growing here, I didn't even realize there was a variegated version and I love it!

Lin there are several. They are all 'pedigreed' (does;t that sound absolutely snooty?). They started breeding them in Japan over 300 years ago and each type is different and has a different name. To be honest most look quite the same to me, I have 4 different ones.

Pedigreed Palm Trees ... now I've heard everything!!!

One of my small understory Chamaedoreas has a new bright red frond! I love this time of year!!!!!

Now, that is very cool!

Is that palm like an Autumn Fern, it has different colored leaves depending on temperature? I need one of whatever that palm is.

Hamwild said:Is that palm like an Autumn Fern, it has different colored leaves depending on temperature? I need one of whatever that palm is.

No, all of the new fronds on it are red. Some palms have red new fronds, some don't. This is Chamaedorea adscendens, it does. Chambeyronia macrocarpa (the Watermelon Palm aka the Flame Thrower Palm) has new red fronds. I have a couple others that do. I grow a lot of Licuala palms, none of them have red new fronds. Its just a specific thing that some palms have.

This is a small rainforest understory palm, it is maybe 12-13 years old and is still only knee high. Very slow growing.

Cool! I had no idea there were palms that were like that!

Is Chamaedorea slow growing overall? It seems like Parlor Palms are slow growning, but I'm not familiar with other species.

Most of the ones I have are. The exception to that rule is Chamaedorea stolonifera. Its actually pretty invasive. Another palm that gets red fronds are most if not all of the genus Calyptrocalyx. The red color fades as the new frond ages. I have a few of those. With the exception of my Flame Thrower palms, a Spindle palm, a few Dypsis and a couple of big Caryota palms, all of my palms are ones that do not get over 15 feet. They are true understory palms. I chose them because I needed them to stay not tall in the greenhouse. I have already had to whack some Dypsis that hit the roof. The good thing about them is they regrow because they are clustering LOL. I have one rare palm that tops out at about 15 feet....after maybe FIFTY YEARS. It is from Fiji, its called Balaka microcarpa. It has a very very small specific range in Fiji, and grows in wet rainforest that never experiences any dry period. So I have to make sure it is well watered daily.

Where can I buy variegated palms?

I don;t know if they are really for sale much anymore. At least not the Rhapis. There was a dedicated variegated Rhapis nursery in Texas which closed its doors.

I bought my variegated Christmas palm from Top Tropicals in Ft Myers. But I am pretty sure they are sold out.

True variegated palms are pretty rare. The Christmas palm comes true from seed 90+ % of the time, which is unusual...usually the variegation is not passed through seed, or the seed is sterile

Castello305 said:Where can I buy variegated palms?

If you are in 305 you're in luck. This weekend S Florida top palm nursery is having its spring sale. Searle Bros off Sheridan in W Broward.
They always have some variegated available..and make your wishes known and you'll get help

Wow I would love to get down there! Can;t this weekend, my girlz are here for Spring Break then

Gina...I told Jeff you couldn't come down this weekend so he said he will have the sale the following weekend as well...just so you can make it.

HA!

Hi Castello 305,

I got your tree mail asking about where to purchase variegated palms but I don't grow any and I have no idea who sells them. You might inquire at a local nursery or garden center in your area to see if they have any variegated palms in stock, or perhaps they could order one for you.