Download The Huntington Palm Collection Background

The Huntington Palm Collection Background
The beginning of the Collection
The Huntington palm collection is part of the former Henry E. Huntington estate in San
Marino, California. It was initiated in 1905, when William Hertrich Mr. Huntington‟s
superintendent, realized that Mr. Huntington was interested in the various types of palms because
of their tropical appearance and their dignified proportions. Hertrich suggested the establishment
of a palm collection suitable to California‟s weather, with hot summers and cold winter. The
Huntington Palm Garden was then initiated on four acres of sloping ground.
Under the direction of William Hertrich, the palm collection steadily increased. Desirable
palms weighing from ten to twenty tons each were moved from throughout Los Angeles County,
many of them moved great distances to the ranch, others from city parks. The finest palm
specimens found in the garden at that time were CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM (Phoenix
canariensis) and DATE PALM (P. dactylifera).
Mr. Huntington‟s love for palms was such that a stately specimen of Phoenix canariensis
was brought to San Marino from the San Francisco home of Huntington‟s uncle, Collis. It was
one of the first specimens of this species planted in the state. The tree can still be seen today in
the northwest section of the Desert Garden.
The ranch helpers transported large specimens with the most primitive equipment, no
trucks, no tractors, only wagons and regular jacks. The transportation of large specimens from
far distances sometimes was disastrous. On one occasion, a medium-sized palm being carried on
the strongest wagon available crashed in the middle of a street-intersection on Huntington Drive,
one of the busiest streets at that time, blocking the intersection and making the police and the
general public very unhappy.
At one point, in moving a specimen of Phoenix canariensis they managed to box it and
pull it to the surface, but during the process one of the chains snapped back, knocking Mr.
Hertrich unconscious. Later they proceeded to load the palm on a cart, but on their way to the
Huntington, all four wheels suddenly sank up to the axle. The men started digging in the city
streets in order to pull out the truck.
That was not the end of the trip; the bad luck in transporting this beautiful Phoenix
canariensis continued. The next day, the crew pulled the cart up the soil ramp and on to the road,
but they still had to cross the railroad tracks. Not wanting to cut the beautiful leaves, they pushed
up a pair of telephone wires, contacting high-voltage electric wires. That is when fireworks
really began scaring everyone, including the eight horses which were pulling the cart! The center
leaves were severely burned, but the palm survived.
The Setbacks of the Collection and the Surviving Species
By 1913 the palm collection already had a significant number of palms, but the cold
temperatures of 20°F that year destroyed half of the collection. These specimens were young or
recently planted out, a fact that made them more vulnerable to freezing.
In the winter of 1922 the temperatures decreased to again freezing, killing the major part
of the collection. But in the freeze of 1937 the damage was almost unnoticeable because the
large specimens could withstand the cold temperatures. A few of the large specimens lost in
1937 were ALEXANDRA PALM (Archontophoenix alexandrae) and BANGALOW PALM (A.
cunninghamiana). These were acquired again in 1966 from private sources.
On the other hand, FORMOSA PALM (Arenga engleri), one of the most tropical species,
is the only species of the genus planted on the grounds to survive those cold winters. Other
species of Arenga were too tender to include in an out door planting program. This species has
proved to be a hardy, slow-growing palm, presenting a bushy appearance among taller palms in
the Palm Garden. If planted in good soil and given ample moisture, it will tolerate full sun. When
planted in the shade, the leaves tend to remain a darker green throughout their life and grow
more uniformly to their full beauty. The inflorescence is very fragrant and the smell can actually
be detected 15-20 m away. The infrutescence is quite spectacular, forming large clusters of many
bright, yellow-red, rounded fruits.
In addition of bringing palms to the estate from nearby localities, Hertrich searched for
palms in southern California, Europe and Japan, and by the late 1930‟s he had accumulated
about 450 specimens, representing 148 taxa.
THE KENTIA PALM (Howea forsteriana), has been the most universally grown
decorative house plant. It predominates in the trade because of its habit of fast growth, in contrast
to the CURLY PALM (H. belmoreana), a slow-growing tree with a compact habit of growth.
The dark green leaves are gracefully curved, and the leaf-scars persist indefinitely on the smooth
trunk. Kentias and chamaedoreas have always being grown mainly under the canopy of the
Jungle Garden, where they thrive.
Chamaedorea, this is a genus of small shade-loving palms with single or multiple trunks,
depending on the species. Some may be successfully cultivated in containers for house or patio.
Most of the chamaedoreas thrive best in deep shade, although one or two species will tolerate
considerable sun in an eastern exposure.
One of JELLY PALM‟s (Butia capitata) particular characteristics is the variable
arrangement of its leaflets; another is the character of the fruit. Fruit clusters sometimes exceed
75 pounds in weight, sufficient to bend the heavy stalks downward, parallel to the trunk.
EUROPEAN FAN PALM (Chamaerops humilis) is a clustering, acaulescent or shrubby
palm native to the Mediterranean region. Chamaerops is perfectly hardy in southern California.
The specimens in the Huntington Gardens were all planted from 1907-1910 and they wellillustrate the variability of the species. Altogether, the chamaerops are one of the most
satisfactory palms for general landscaping under a wide range of conditions.
FOUNTAIN PALMS (Livistona) were already freely planted in southern California by
1905. AUSTRALIAN CABBAGE PALM (Livistona australis), is a very popular species. Added
to its beauty is its tolerance of temperatures as low as 20°F. CHINESE FAN PALM (Livistona
chinensis), at the beginning of the century, was first used for pot-culture indoors. PALM
VALLEY PALM (Livistona mariae) was introduced to southern California with difficulty, as it
was more susceptible to cold and fungus disease than other species.
QUEEN PALM (Syagrus romanzoffianum) was Mr. Huntington‟s favorite palm. It
produces a handsome crown of numerous graceful plumose leaves. Due to its beauty and cold
tolerance it is one of the most abundant palms in the grounds.
NEEDLE PALM (Raphidophyllum hystrix) is a uncommon species restricted to the
southeastern United States. As a consequence of the low-light conditions in their habitat, plants
in the wild grow very slowly. In 1931 it was already considered quite rare, approaching
extinction as a wild plant. Our two palms, both male, were possible acquired as well-grown
specimens, based on an archived photo.
CHILEAN WINE PALM (Jubaea chilensis) is the only native palm of mainland Chile.
The books say Jubaea is a monoecious palm that needs about 50 year to produce its first seeds.
At the Huntington it flowers and produces fruits year-round. It grows in dry scrubby woodland
and does not require much care; however, it responds to good doses of water and fertilizer.
Most of the species of Sabal, even those from tropical habitats such as Yucatan or
Colombia, do surprisingly well under California‟s climate. From 14 species of sabals planted out
from 1934 to 1941, only BAYLEAF PALM (S. mauritiiformis) was seriously hurt by frost injury
in 1937. However, by 1962 all that remained of the sabal collection were DOMINICAN PALM
(S. dominguensis), DWARF PALMETTO (S. minor) and MEXIAN PALMETTO (S.mexicana),
all still on the grounds.
After all these experiences Hertrich decided he could maintain a diverse collection.
However, by the late 1950‟s the palm collection had another setback due to the cold winters,
reducing the number of species to the most cold-tolerant specimens, such as Butia, Syagrus,
chamaerops, Jubaea and a few rare ones for southern California such as BLUE NEEDLE PALM
(Trithrinax campestris), BRAZILIAN NEEDLE PALM (T. acanthocoma) and Rhopalostylis. All
these specimens have been in the garden for more than 90 years.
A New Dawn for the Palm Collection
In the late 1960s the Palm Garden was given new life through Myron Kimnach, director
of the gardens. He received a visit from Otto Martens, who was working at Deigaard Nurseries in
Azusa, CA. His company imported seeds from dealers in many regions of the world, including
India.
Otto talked to Myron, pointing out that the palm garden was at an even-age stage. There
were only old and mature specimens, no young plants. In addition, insufficient watering and
nutrients had yellowed the leaves of the few existing species, especially in Phoenix. CLIFF
DATE PALM (Phoenix rupicola) in 1951 was considered an attractive, desirable, uncommon
species with its bright green leaves. Although all species of Phoenix are the most susceptible to
the lack of minerals, P. rupicola is the most sensitive palm in the garden and the one that takes
the longest time to recover after applications of fertilizer.
Furthermore, some of the palms were not in good condition. For instance, a large
specimen of CHILEAN DATE PALM was leaning at an angle of 45°. The only solution was to
remove it or to replant it. They decided on the second option and boxed and moved the Jubaea,
planting it six feet deeper than it was originally.
Thus, in the sixties Myron Kimnach and Fred Brandt, the garden superintendent, started
changing the image of the palm collection. They exchanged large specimens, mainly of
EUROPEA FAN PALM, and replaced them with other palms from the Deigaard nursery, such as
Butia bonnetii, B. paraguayensis, some braheas and such species of Trachycarpus as T.
martianus and DWARF CHUSAN PALM (T. wagnerianus).
Thachycarpus are all hardy in southern California and also resist diseases and insect
pests. Seven specimens of T. martianus and many more T. fortunei, as well as T. wagnerianus,
are found in our collection although all were obtained from nurseries, they originated from seed
collected in India.
Donations from private sources included JAGGERY PALM (Caryota urens), collected in
1964 for the first time near Darjeeling and Sikkim, regions in the Himalayas. Those palms are
still in the garden in partial shade, enjoying their last years and still with long infrutescens heavy
with fruit. CHINESE FISHTAIL PALM (C. ochlandra) on the other hand was grown from seed
collected near Canton, China in 1963; the palm is completely dead but still holding with its last
infrutescence.
Other introductions were those of Neodypsis from Madagascar obtained from Loran
Whitelock in 1964, and Nannorrhops by seed exchange from Afghanistan..
In the late 1960s to early 1970s Myron Kimnach, Fred Boutin, the Huntington botanist,
and Fred Brandt made several field expeditions to Mexico, collecting seeds and seedlings of
mainly, Brahea, and collecting for the first time wild seeds of WASHINGTON FAN PALM
(Washingtonia robusta).
Brahea is mainly a Mexican genus. BLUE HESPER PALM (Brahea armata) is an
extremely handsome palm, its outstanding feature being its extra-long spadix which sometimes
reaches to fifteen or eighteen feet in length. There are many old specimens in our collection, with
many younger ones from field expeditions. Brahea bella, in 1971 seeds of this species were
collected in the desert of Coahuila, Mexico where the climatic conditions are similar to those of
California, with hot summers and cool, wet winters. After 20 years, the slow-growing Brahea
berlandieri develops a single trunk to 50 cm high. It develops its first inflorescence after 20
years in the ground. The inflorescence is densely covered with long curled hairs resembling wool
and the flowers take more than a year to develop. SAN JOSE HESPER PALM (Brahea
brandegeei) grows faster than B. armata and has tall, thin trunks. It is awkward when planted
singly but attractive when plants of different size grow together. SIERRA MADRE PALM
(Brahea decumbens) is one of the highlights of our collection. Acquired in 1975 as a young
plant, it blooms every year but does not produce seed. This year I hand pollinated and it
produced a 1-cm-long, green, tomentose, but nonviable fruit. ROCK PALM (Brahea dulcis)
extends to Guatemala and Honduras and is the most abundant species of the genus. It is always
found on limestone soils often forming associations on disturbed areas. Its fruit is edible.
DWARF ROCK PALM (Brahea moorei) grows in habitat under the shade of oaks in its native
Mexico. Our only example was grown from seeds of unknown origin. This 30-year-old dwarf
has two stems 20 cm high. Although known in cultivation in southern California since 1896, the
beautiful OAXACA PALM (Brahea nitida) was acquired by the Huntington only in 1972 on one
of their field expeditions. Brahea pimo is a small palm, has been in the ground for almost 20
years. Reported to come from a mesophytic forest, at the Huntington in full sun it has grown
hardly at all, neither has it flowered or set fruit. Our plants of Brahea salvadorensis, collected in
1976 as a small 6 inch plant in Honduras, develop large spectacular leaves in full shade.
In the early 1970s the increase of more tropical species continued. Such palms as the
acrocomias collected by David Barry, pioneer of many tropical introductions to Southern
California, were always planted on the lower slope of the Palm Garden, where the temperature is
5° higher than in the upper part. In the late 1980s, acrocomieas started being planted in open
spaces where temperatures are 5° lower than where they were planted originally. The same
situation existed for Parajubaea; there have been two specimens in the Jungle Garden since
1972, in full shade doing rather poorly in full shade, but those from the 1980s are growing fast in
full sun.
In the mid 1970s the acquisition of palm seeds and plants was done mainly through
members of the Palm Society. The large specimens of Ceroxylon seen in the Jungle Garden were
from seeds collected by members of the society on tour, as well as by Dr. Moore, Jr.; those of
Pritchardia were collected in Hawaii. In 1922 the first specimen of Pritchardia was planted in
the garden, surviving only two winters and dying during one of the three cold spells. Now we
have several species growing in a more protected spot in the Jungle Garden.
In the 1970s there was more searching in local nurseries for more exotic palms. In this
way we obtained such palms as the EVERGLADES PALM (Acoelorraphe wrightii), first
acquired in 1928 through the Department of Agriculture. It survived the low temperatures of
1937 but died in 1973. Our other plants of this species are 25 years old and were obtained as 2foot-tall seedlings; they now have up to 10 trunks per plant. Although distributed in the
temperate zone of the Caribbean area, this palm has withstood 23°F for brief periods with 2-3
cold nights in a row. They are resistant to periodic fires in their native habitat.
In the 1970s there was another important acquisition, PONDOLAND PALM (Jubaeopsis
caffra), a clustered palm from South Africa. A rarity in collections and in the wild, Jubaeopsis
can actually tolerate the low temperatures of California. We have two plants up to 10 ft tall on
the lower slope of the Jungle Garden where the lowest temperature is 6° higher than in the rest of
the palm garden. These two plants were sent from Kirstenbosch, South Africa in 1976. In 1939
three two-foot seedlings were planted, but they perished in the freeze of 1949.
In the 1970s there was a need to increase the collection, and hybrids became fashionable.
For example, there are several hybrids of Phoenix and one of Butia x Arecastrum. The latter
palm was received in 1978 from Dr. Wilcox at the University of Florida in Gainesville. This
plant is the result of a cross between a butia with an exceptional fruit flavor and the largest and
most vigorous Arecastrum on campus. Indeed, this palm has the best characters of both genera:
the thick trunk without rugosities and the open crownshaft as well as the pinnate leaves of Butia
without the spiny petiole, the flexible, green, glossy leaves, the self-cleaning leaves of
Arecastrum as well as the size and cold-resistance from both.
Through the eighties and up to the present we have relied solely on the Palm Society seed
service. Sometimes there are other important donations of seed collected in native habitats such
as those by Myron Kimnach: CRETAN DATE PALM (Phoenix theophrasti) introduced to the
Huntington in 1980 from seed collected on Crete, and Livistona carinensis from Somalia, seed
collected in 1986. L. carinensis inhabits one of the hottest areas on earth, Somalia and south
Arabia, and is adapting perfectly well to southern California, suffering only light frost damage.
Due to uncontrolled cutting the species is threatened with extinction.
During the 1980s there was a strong introduction of many palm species from
Madagascar. A popular palm was the MAJESTY PALM (Ravenea rivularis) which grows along
rivers in the dry areas of south-central Madagascar. One specimen planted out in 1985 is derived
from seed collected in Madagascar by M. Darian. It is a fast-growing palm but is very sensitive
to the lack of minerals, which yellows the leaves; after the first application of fertilizer, recovery
takes about two months. In 1993 we had temperatures down to 23°F, but none of the cold winters
have affected it.
Tropical Palms
At the Huntington we have not experimented much with tropical palms. Among the few
we have tried is Coccothrinax, a very cold tender palm; every winter the cold retards the growth
of the new leaves. During 25 years it has not been able to form an inflorescence, probably
because it needs more sun and heat than is available in the Jungle Garden.
Present and Future
Nowadays the Palm Garden has created its own microclimate, the large, old specimens
protecting the small and more tender ones.
Our current palm collection, located mainly in the Palm Garden and Jungle Garden,
contains approximately 90 genera and more than 200 taxa. In comparison with some other
important collections, the microclimate at the Palm Garden protects some tropical palms that can
be cultivated without the need of a greenhouse, which the species from dry and hot habitats
thrive under the California weather.
At present our main goal is to demonstrate the diversity of palms adaptable to the
southern California climate.
Today the development of the Palm collection continues. Many new species, now in the
nursery, await planting. The long-term plans also include a conservatory for the cultivation of the
most tender palms.
List of Palms
JELLY OR FOUNTAIN PALM (Butia capitata)
1. Native to Argentina and Brazil.
2. The leaves are not self cleaned and stay on the trunk for many years.
3. Orange fruit are edible and are made into jelly.
CANARY ISLAND PALM (Phoenix canariensis)
1. Native to the Canary Islands.
2. The most widely planted ornamental trees in the subtropical region of the world.
3. Once established it grows rapidly and takes up lots of room.
4. Not recommended for small gardens
5. Its orange fruits are not edible.
6. The diameter of the trunk is often uneven reflecting the amount of water and fertilizer the
tree received during specific periods of its development.
7. Two very large specimens of Phoenix canariensis at the top of the desert garden were
brought here from San Francisco by Henry Huntington in 1908 from his uncle‟s
residence, Collis P. Huntington, which was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire.
CHILEAN WINE PALM (Jubaea chilensis)
1. This genus has only one species and it is one of the largest palm in the palm family.
2. This tree honor king Juba of ancient North African Kingdom of Numidia, who committed
suicide in 46 B.C. when his troops were conquered by forces loyal to Julius Caesar.
3. It has a massive trunk reaching 3 feet wide.
4. The tree‟s trunk has a sap called “palm honey” is rich in sugar. The Chileans at one time
collected the sap and unfortunately most of the trees in that area have been cut down.
5. The fruits are made into candy and the seeds of this palm which looks like a miniature
coconuts are edibles.
6. Monocious
DATE PALM (Phoenix dactylifera)
1. This multiple trunked clump tree is Native to the Middle East.
2. The genus name refers to the great Phoenicians who brought the first dates to Greece.
3. This palm bears the true edible dates which are eating raw, made into jam, or fermented
to make assortment of alcoholic beverages.
4. This palm was the first exotic palm introduce to CA by Spanish missionaries in the late
eighteenth century.
5. The leaves are used for religious ceremonies on Palm Sunday.
6. Diocious
EUROPEAN FAN PALM (Chamaerops humilis)
1. The only palm native to Europe (from Portugal to Italy)
2. It has multiple stems but can rarely be found growing as single trunked specimens.
3. Can withstand temperature to 15F.
4. Two selected cultivars “Goldstripe‟ and „Greenmount‟ are new interdictions.
5. The oldest species were planted here between 1907-1910.
FORMOSA PALM (Arenga engleri)
1. Native to Taiwan and has multiple stems.
2. Don‟t be fooled by its jasmine-like smell, for it has Poisonous fruits that have high
concentration of irritating calcium oxalate crystals.
3. The two large clumps were planted here around 1940.
4. Withstand our cold winters.
MAZARI PALM (Nannorrhops Ritchiana)
1. Native to Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
2. One of the hardiest palms in the world.
3. Clumping-fan leaf palm with blue-green leaves and is very slow growing.
CHINESE WINDMILL PALM. (Trachycarpus fortunei)
1. One of the most cold-hardy of all palms.
2. The oldest plants of this species were planted here in 1908.
3. Native to China where it grow in cold mountainous regions.
4. The epithet honors Robert Fortune, a horticulturalist, explorer and collector from
Scotland who established the tea plantation industries in India and Sri Lanka.”
NEEDLE PALM (Rhaphidophyllum hystrix)
1. Native to the USA (Southeast)
2. These two large old plants in the north east were planted here in 1932.
3. Slow growing, with fiercely spined leaf stems and has needle like black spines up to 10
inches long.
4. Extremely hardy.
CALIFORNIA PALM (Washingtonia filifera)
1. These large palms were grown from seed collected in Mexico in 1968.
2. Native to the USA (south eastern California and Western Arizona.
3. Unlike the Washingtonia robusta that you see on city streets, these palms have wider
trunks. Also has a darker green leaf than W. robusta.
GIANT FISHTAIL PALM (Caryota gigas)
1. The largest of all fishtail palms.
2. Native to Thailand.
3. All fishtail palm die when they flower.
BLUE HESPER PALM (Brahea armata)
1. Native to Mexico
2. Bluish leaf color.
3. Distinctive long inflorescences grow way below the crown.