Phoenix canariensis x rupicola palm tree

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The Phoenix canariensis x rupicola palm tree cross that I planted last month is growing strong. It is a cross between a Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island Date Palm) and a Phoenix rupicola (Indian Date Palm). The cross was developed by a local grower and fellow member of The Arizona Palm and Cycad Association, Robert Claesgens. This cross is so new that larger specimens than this one are not yet available. It will grow faster than an ordinary Phoenix rupicola, which is notoriously slow, but not as fast as a regular Phoenix canariensis. I have it placed in my garden with plenty of room to allow it to grow.

As you can see, I am trying to give it a lot of companion plants. In the foreground is a clump of ornamental garlic. This is a sunny part of the yard, and I am noticing the tips are browning. I'm not sure at this point if it's too much sun, or just from the transplant that is causing this. Behind it is another attempt to get a Canna Tropicanna started here. The first one died. It may be too sunny and dry for Cannas here. There are a lot of bulbs planted at the base, which will start to grow in the fall, and bloom the following spring. Behind it is a Dioon edule cycad, which has been in the garden for over ten years. It coned a couple of years ago and has just been sitting there, refusing to send up new leaves since then. Mature cycads can do this! The plant is strong and healthy and I just need to be patient.

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