buying palm seeds

I was just wondering what people think about buying palm seeds off the internet. I'm thinking about purchasing seeds from www.rarepalmseeds.com, www.palmcollector.com, and www.seedman.com. Does anyone know much about them or their track records. Also, I read I need to purchase a phytosanitary certificate when recieving seeds from outside the US, I live in southern California, and I need to get a USDA import permit http://www.rarepalmseeds.com/certificates.shtml#1. If anyone has any imformation on the above or knows of any reputable palm seed sellers replies would be appreciated.

Try EBay for some Palm seeds...I've found quite a selection, and had great luck growing them. Look for the seller "seedrack" I have bought palm seeds from this seller...there are other sellers as well that sell palm seeds, as well as other seeds. The feedback they receive from buyers tells it all~ Have fun...but please don't hold me responsible, when you find yourself getting carried away buying seeds for all kinds of plants, tropicals, cycads etc...and I wonder why I have NO room in my greenhouse! I have purchased seeds from the Seedman, but not any of the seeds were palm, the seeds were viable...and I have nothing but good things to say about Seedman~~ Debra~

Rarepalmseeds is a pretty reputable source.. however, there really is no way to guarantee if palms seeds will germinate. Sometimes they are sterile, and sometimes they are already past their prime. I much prefer to let someone else do the germinating and buy the seedlings...

There is a great nursery here, Floribunda Palms, and they sell great seedings for very good prices...and ship to the mainland...certified to ship to CA. You might try a google search. Owners name is Jeff Marcos and we buy from him...

HTH,

Carol

Edited to say I agree 100% with PalmBob - seeds are so iffy.

I was going to say... who in their right mind starts anything besides annuals or herbs from seeds? I guess you guys are WAY more patient than I am.

Incidentally, I have four Sagos (not true palms) that I started from seed because the parent plants were in my yard. It took nearly ONE FULL YEAR to get the seeds to germinate and another year later and I still only have 2-4 fronds on each plant and none are larger than 4" around.

I guess if you've got a lot of time on your hands... this might work out for you. Me, I tear apart funeral arrangements and plant the different plants in the yard. Most are Areca Palms plus palm sedge and a couple other tropicals sold as "house" plants. (Not at my house, mister!)

Have to agree totally with the Floribunda suggestion... Jeff Marcus is a friend of mine and he has an excellent business. Great palms for great prices... most, unfortunately, don't do well in southern California, but I try them anyway. Wish I lived in Hawaii....

RedSunDance,

Palms and palm seeds are on the restricted list for Texas. This is the danger of introducing a distructive insect, I believe. I fell in love with a varigated Rhapis excelsa, but had seen a 'can not send to TX' on some websites. I went to the Texas Department of Agriculture website to look at the list of restricted plants and all varieties of palms can't be imported to Texas.

BettyDee

Thank you for all the help.

Betty, where did you read this information? I buy and sell palms to most states. The only states that have strict guidelines are Arizona, California, and Florida. The "insect" is a harmful nematode, which lives in the soil and can wreak havock on a wide scale of plants. There is also a disease called "SOD" sudden oak death, that prohibts California from recieving some varieties of palms. The nursery's in those three states have to have a certification and permit to sell some palms. Certified nursery's have to have a soil analysis to make sure that only "beneficial nematodes" are present in the soil before they can be shipped out of state. I'm not sure why the varigated Rapis Excelsa is on that list! I saw several of the non-varigated varieties here in Houston at several local nursery's including Lowes!!

Plumeriagod,

I'm enclosing the Texas Department of Agriculture link regarding palms. I mentioned insect because I couldn't remember the reason for the quarantine. I'm familiar with SOD. I was still living in San Jose, CA when SOD was discovered in San Mateo County. I've lived in California most of my life so I'm very familiar with California quarantines, but didn't find out about quarantine restrictions in Texas until I found out we were moving and wanted to bring my plants with me. I could get certificates for all but roses, citrus and camellias as they are quarantined by Texas. I learned about the palm quarantine because a few nurseries on-line stated they could not ship palms to Texas. As for Lowes, they probably have state sources.

http://www.agr.state.tx.us/producer_info/regulatory/reg_title_4.htm

The following links you to other quarantines.

http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.ViewTAC?tac_view=4&ti=4&pt=1&ch=19

This last one lists agricultural statutes and rules.

http://www.agr.state.tx.us/license/regulatory/reg_laws.htm

You may want to browse the Texas Agriculture Code. I couldn't find the specific penalty for violations on quarantined items, but penalties on other viiolations can range between $250.00 - $10,000.00 per violation plus court costs.

BettyDee

Dave, Please check our Garden Watchdog here at DG , before doing business with any new nursery/seedprovider.

Seedrack at eBay is also dba Whatcom on the internet.
http://aoeu.davesgarden.com/gwd/c/1837/

I agree with palmbob rarepalms is a good place.

I to am currently trying palm/cycad seeds just for the experience.

The same day I bought the seeds I also bought plants as a back up ..... lol

Good luck