Chamaerops humilis var. Etna,

Volcanic Mediterranean Fan Palm

These palms have a reputation to be quite cold hardy. In fact, they grow near Assenovgrad, Bulgaria (zone 7b) since 2008 with no protection at all. These are interesting shrubby palms for our area. Even after a really bad freeze, they will always regrow from the ground and recover in a couple of months.

As a desert palm, 'Etna' needs plenty of sun light. When watered and fertilized regularly, they will show an excellent growth.

More information is available on our forum:

http://forum.palmi.bg/viewtopic.php?f=34

A modern view of Olive cultivation in Bulgaria

A practical guide to propagating and growing olives under Bulgarian conditions

220 pages. Bulgarian language

Author: Kiril Donov, engineer-agronomist, master in tropical and subtropical agriculture

The climate is changing at an unprecedented speed, and the frosty winters of the last century seem like an increasingly distant memory. The Eastern Mediterranean, the Balkan Peninsula and Bulgaria are warming faster than the rest of Europe, and today's climate in southern Bulgaria is even warmer than the climate in northern Greece 20 years ago. In our country there are already many areas where the climate is ideal for growing olives. And if until recently only individual trees of the most cold-resistant varieties were found here and there, today almost every olive variety can grow in most places south of Balkan mountain without any winter damage.
The author Kiril Donov is an agronomist engineer with a master's degree in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture since 1997. In the book, he shares valuable information and over 260 author's photos, based on 25 years of experience and experiments with olives in Bulgaria. Such a detailed monograph on the subject is published for the first time in our country. All aspects of olive production are covered in detail:
- physiology and soil-climatic requirements of olive plants;
- various types of reproduction and production of planting material;
- varieties of olives tested under the conditions of our country;
- planning and creation of olive plantations in Bulgaria;
- pruning, fertilizing, watering, fighting diseases and pests;
- harvesting and processing of olive fruits.
The book is intended for farmers, agronomists, students and teachers. It goes into great detail, but is written in accessible language to be useful to anyone who decides to engage in olive production under Bulgarian conditions.

Chamaerops humilis, European fan palm in pot 18 cm

from Botanical garden - Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The European Fan Palm is the only palm, that is of European origin. It grows in dry and rocky areas, where it experiences long summers with high temperatures and much sun. If there is a palm that will easily recover in pot after being forgotten and not watered in time, this is the Chamaerops. It will take dry air, dust and even somewhat lower light.

This palm could stay in the same pot for many years.

For optimal growth it should be moved outside in summer and watered abundantly.

In winter it needs cool temperatures, below +10°C. It will also grow in open ground in some areas of Bulgaria.

More information is available in Bularian on our forum:

http://forum.palmi.bg/viewforum.php?f=34

Viburnum opulus Roseum, Laurustinus

Japanese Maple Garnet
Acer Palmatum Dissectum Garnrt

Acer palmatum 'Inaba Shidare', Norway maple 

Acer palmatum 'Inaba Shidare', Norway maple 

Acer palmatum 'Tamukeyama', Norway maple 

Acer palmatum 'BloodGood', Norway maple 

Acer palmatum 'BloodGood', Norway maple 

Acer palmatum 'Tamukeyama', Norway maple 

Acer palmatum 'Viridis', Norway maple 

Japanese Maple Garnet
Acer Palmatum Dissectum Garnrt

Acer palmatum 'Shaina', Norway maple 

Nagami Kumquat  Volkameriana
Fortunella margarita Volkameriana

Important notice! Most citrus plants on the market are produced for planting in orchards in the Mediterranean countries. They have a large overall height, have high graft and are difficult to shape and support at home. Rootstocks on which they are grafted are very fast growing, which is fine for the open ground in the subtropics, but is not desirable when growing in pot in the temperate climate.

All our small citrus plants are produced specifically for the Bulgarian market and are ideally suited for home cultivation. The rootstocks cause compact growth, grafts are low and this allows making an excellent shape of the crown, to be suitable for growing in pots. The used rootstocks are trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon') and Volkamer lemon, Citrus volkameriana. Trifoliate orange is frost-hardy to -25°C, and significantly increases the cold resistance of plants grafted on it.

More than any other Citrus, Kumquat is of high ornamental value. The fruits are tasty and are consumed with the peel. They can hang on the tree for several months ripening, so most people usually prefer to keep them as ornamental. As with all other Citrus plants, Kumquat is susceptible to scales and spider mites and needs to be sprayed twice a year.

In winter it will need a cool place with temperatures 0-10 degrees Celsius. If the temperature is higher, the leaves usually fall off. In summer it needs to be outside and abundantly watered.

Much more information about Kumquat and all other citrus species is available on our forum:

http://forum.palmi.bg/viewforum.php?f=4

Important notice! Most citrus plants on the market are produced for planting in orchards in the Mediterranean countries. They have a large overall height, have high graft and are difficult to shape and support at home. Rootstocks on which they are grafted are very fast growing, which is fine for the open ground in the subtropics, but is not desirable when growing in pot in the temperate climate.

All our small citrus plants are produced specifically for the Bulgarian market and are ideally suited for home cultivation. The rootstocks cause compact growth, grafts are low and this allows making an excellent shape of the crown, to be suitable for growing in pots. The used rootstocks are trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon') and Volkamer lemon, Citrus volkameriana. Trifoliate orange is frost-hardy to -25°C, and significantly increases the cold resistance of plants grafted on it.

Citrus sinensis Arancio, Orange from Botanical Garden - Plovdiv, Bulgaria

If the temperature is higher, the leaves usually fall off. In summer it needs to be outside and abundantly watered.

Much more information about all citrus species is available on our forum:

http://forum.palmi.bg/viewforum.php?f=4

Nandina domestica 'Gulf Stream' , Heavenly bamboo, Sacred bamboo

from Botanical garden - Plovdiv, Bulgaria

This variety of Nandina has compact growth and sparkling red foliage.

Nandina is evergreen and cold-resistant shrub with beautiful red berries and interesting color of leaves. Its bloom in summer is nondescript, but subsequently formed fruits, give gentle beauty of the plants until late autumn.

In our botanical garden, Nandina plants overwintered without a problem in several freezing winters since 2001 at temperatures below -20 degrees Celsius.

Cupressus sempervirens 'Totem', Mediterranean Cypress, Pencil Pine

A superb form of Italian cypress with fine erect foliage, fresh green colour and compact crown. This is a distinctive very narrow conical conifer.

All plants are grafted.

Ficus carica Panache, Fig Panache from Botanical Garden - Plovdiv, Bulgaria

   This variety is also known as Striped Tiger fig. Highly valued for its extremely sweet and juicy fruits, resembling a strawberry taste. Distinguished from all other varieties of figs, because of the attractive color of the fruits, which are colored with yellow and green stripes on the outside and dark red on the inside. The fruits ripen late in summer ( end of August-beginning of September).This variety is self-fertile (you pollinate yourself), which means that it does not need other trees to bear fruit.

   The fruits have a strong skin and good resistance to transport and storage.

Important! In the younger trees, it is possible to observe the breakdown of genes and, in addition to the yellow-green coloring of the fruit, there may be only yellow fruits!

Frost damage begins at temperatures below -14 to -16 degrees, and trees freeze to the ground at temperatures below -18 degrees.

Cold damage begins at temperatures below -14 to -16 degrees, and the trees freeze to the ground at temperatures below -18 degrees.

Magnolia soulangeana Purpurea