Tall Tree Ferns at Paradise Point Resort

I wish I could grow these.

Probably Australian Tree Ferns..but not for sure. Those trunks look hefty and soucal grows some tree ferns that we dont see up here sold much.

I think the two on the right are Australian tree ferns. The largest fern on the right is a black tree fern.

That's right. I know you meant largest on the left? Its got the Cyathea medullaris parasol like canopy.
I have two!..one has about 4' of trunk..the other was a tiny thing...now has a nice 3-4' spread. In 2 years.

Yes, I did. LOL! I was very tired!

Yes, C. medullaris is somewhat common here. They need a lot of water and grow super fast. The San Diego Zoo has some really old ones that are 40 - 45 feet (some maybe even taller).

Klahanie..you wont know unless you try. But Cyathea medullaris has survived in the UK..done fine really around Sussex. Even the Australian tree fern has made it through English winters...defoliates,then comes back in spring.

Andy- I had to put bagged topsoil around my largest..the more trunk,the much more water they need. The topsoil is working so far at holding the moisture,not letting it evaporate so fast.
C.medullaris also takes full sun better then the "palm" like tree ferns. Only Dicksonia is hardier and takes full sun in a cooler climate very well.

I can't imagine Australian tree ferns or C. medullaris having a long life in the UK. They are hardy; however, they can succumb in real cold weather. Only Dicksonia antarctica is somewhat hardy in the UK. And I've seen pics on GoY they loose most of their leaves in winter and look not very good.

But nobody expects to get results equal to mild climates.
If they get something that looks nice for a few years..why not?
And if you keep in large pots then roll them into the garage..could be many years of exotic foliage.

I dont worry my Plumeria will never be tree's. They grow,they flower...fine.

It's true just trying and being adventurous is fun.

Plumerias in the SF Bay Area can grow to small tree size. I've seen some. The largest one in the ground was at a house in the Oakland Hills. It was around 10' tall (maybe a little taller). Unfortunately, during the big fire Oakland-Berkeley Hills in 1992, the house was burned down with all the exotics. It had really tall 20' Ficus lyrata! What a shame. The owner at the time had a ~50' Caryota urens, which was thought to be the largest one north of Santa Barbara, at that time. (he was a Palm Society Member). God! How I wish I had a digital camera back then!

This month I've been in the low 80's (hayx right at 80f) compared to Los Angele's mere 76F..ha.
I know if you have the right location- overhang to keep rains off..or full sun,no other plants around to keep the soil too wet in winter...you get soucal like results.Plus a heap of -know what you are doing- that I know you have.
Its what I have tried to do with my Mango and Papaya especially.
The Papaya flowers didnt set- we hit a cool spell. But the plant itself,has gone from spring funky to looking Papaya like with deep green leaves once more.

I would have loved to have seen those plants in Oakland. Inspirational..and helped the learning curve.

I noticed it's been hotter up there than here. It's pretty unusual especially for the inland part of San Diego where I live. It's usually a lot hotter. We had a mini-heatwave (which wasn't really much of a heatwave) the hottest day I had was around 92 degrees. Overall the inland areas were roasting with "Excessive heat warnings".

I'm glad in a way that the second half of May was below normal because it's been way too hot the last 4 or 5 winters. This drought has been so relentless...it's killing so many of my plants! We just can't water them enough...even by giving them the water from the kitchen sink, shower and the water from the washing machine goes out a hose to the plants in the back yard is not enough . I'm getting ready to sell off many plants...as I'm tired of seeing them die! :>((

One comment on papaya they love water and a lot of fertilizer when it's hot. They will grow fast and flower again.

My papayas I noticed a couple a days ago were not getting any water to the roots. The plants were looking stunted and my Allamanda 'Cherries Jubilee' looked better in winter (the roots were bone-dry), now it looks horrible! I had to dig little holes around the plants for the water to get to the roots which are sitting in soil as hard as concrete. It's been extremely frustrating! :>((

I met another ex Haywardian on the Garden Web Orchid Forum. He was another who had all kinds of exotic before he moved to Kaui in 2004.
His yard..has many plants I have growing- including my Celedine and his Potted P.obtusa is a little larger than the one I started.3 years ago?
Time flies Andy.
I wouldn't really want to start over...but If I had the cash I could and do shortcuts!

What's so nice about living here in San Diego (or Hawaii) one can get very large cuttings (tree-size) of plumerias from private gardens (for free). And very large sized exotic trees, i.e., Royal Palm, Hong Kong Orchid Trees and so much more for instant gratification. The reason why I'm making this point is because all these plants are available when the rains finally come back.