Ravenala Species, Fan Plantain, Traveler Banana, Travellers Tree, Travellers Palm
Ravenala madagascariensis
The Siam Hotel, Thailand. Photo courtesy of Karl Gercens. Copyright Karl Gercens. Conservatory Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. http://www.karlgercens.com
Those look like Travelers palms,not GBOP. I wonder why they put those there? They will grow taller then that roof..much taller.
Gee, I can't tell. I just looked at tons of pics of both plants and they do look similar to each other. I could not find photos of either of them as young plants and grown inside. This reminded me of a maybe 10 years ago when I was in Escondido at a hotel. They had Travelor Palms in front. I was in love! My friend and I dug up babies, a couple inches tall. I grew 2 for several years till they got lost in the plant shuffle here. Anyway, I was in love with them! A couple weeks later I was on my way to the post office and I passed a Travelers Palm in a front yard here. OMG It was as tall as the house. I was so thrilled for a couple of years, visiting it often. Then one day I realized it was really a Strelitzia nicolai. LOL I was crushed for days!
Travelers might be possible here Kell. They probably wont hold as many leaves as they do in soucal. When you see a tall 2 story home or better,apartment complex that has a wall that gets hot southwest sun all day? THAT would be a great place to try.
Lots of water...probably why GBOP will always be the more popular.
But, I think that photo really is a Travelers...that trunk's diameter is greater then a GBOP also.
You are so smart Stan! Somehow I lost track of this but saw it again today. So I contacted the Siam Hotel in Thailand and they said ''Hi K. Kelley, those are the Ravenala Madagascariensis. Commonly known as Traveller’s Palm or Traveller’s Tree. Thai name is กล้วยพัด (Direct translation- Fan Banana). Hope that helps 😊 Keep safe.''
You keep safe too, Stan!
Thanks Kell. You see my King Protea post? Its first bloom since I planted it 6 years ago. A wait.
I also have a Pseudobombax ellipticum with buds.It would be first flowering since I bought the little guy over 15 years ago more or less. I planted it in ground last year. Would never bloom in a pot.
Lucky you, Stan! I love that protea. What color is your Pseudobombax ellipticum?
Its still in bud Kell. Its probably the white. I don't think the pink is sold. You have to pick seeds of the pink in Hawaii to have one here.
Did you know the Sadleria tree fern from Hawaii famous for its brilliant red new fronds...the ones sold in California never turn red. Now they tell me! I have one..and sure enough its green.
I can't figure how the ones people want most are not propagated?
Even a green Sadleria tree fern looks pretty incredible! Is it not hot enough here or is the 1 in Hawaii a different species?
They don't say why. Just, "Clones grown in California do not have the red new growth". So far,not even a hint of red. I read that a palm grower- Darold Petty- in San Francisco mentions his old trunking Sadleria also has never grown a red frond.
So,even with age here,just green.
I also many years ago bought (mail ordered) a "black" tree fern,Cyathea medullaris...that doesn't have a single black stipe to it. The fact it's also only got 5' of trunk in 12-15 years makes me wonder if it's really that tree fern. It's pretty generic looking. Most of the true black tree fern grow a foot a year in the bay area.
I guess that's why the seller cut off every frond when he sent the fern. Took the money and ran.
Before the internet,you actually saw the plant in person. Now,every crook in town is a seller!
That is too bad. I did read in the comments in PFs that there is a green one as well as the black one.
https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/58018/
LOL I just went back and it was you who wrote that!
Right, If it grew as fast as the black,I might not complain Kell..a towering big tree fern is a beauty. But,5' is not towering!...its height challenged-ha.
