Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board

Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board
[ Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board ]

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HGTV article

Posted by Howard KVille NC <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=Howard+KVille+NC' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/15/2020, 9:46 pm

Not sure I agree with some of the information.

https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/flowers-and-plants/trees-and-shrubs/13-cold-hardy-palm-trees-pictures?fbclid=IwAR3rUWOYm8XO4eA83orL65xmAWd-3HYaeR8TWJ7q69_UyZmuUX8HzOjXW3A

Cheers,
Howard

McCurtain Minor

Posted by Jim Wilmington DE 7a <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=Jim+Wilmington+DE+7a' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/16/2020, 2:29 pm, in reply to "HGTV article"

>> ‘McCurtain’ grows in Wichita, where it’s known to have survived temperatures of -24°F. It’s a good choice for winter gardeners in places like Ohio and Delaware who want to inject some tropical ambience into their landscapes. This variety ultimately grows to 6 feet and has a faster growth rate than other dwarf palmettos. Hardy in Zones 6b-10b. <<

I've heard about the -24F survival, but color me skeptical on that. Color me even more skeptical on the 6 feet tall thing. They don't even grow that tall IN MCCURTAIN COUNTY. They also DO NOT have "a faster growth rate than other dwarf palmettos." 'Hatteras', while maybe a little less cold hardy, is much more vigorous when it comes to growth rate (and eventual size). I say this having a specimen of each ecotype in my yard, both 13 years old.

I also disagree with the 6b rating. If I was a nurseryman, I would sell them to customers in 7b and warmer, 7a with ideal, protected siting. My experience is Sabal Minor gets absolutely lit up 1 out of every 3 winters here in 7a northern Delaware. But they do survive.

Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a
Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F
Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F
Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F
Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal

Butia

>> It’s the only cold hardy feather palm and tolerates temps as low as 5°F, which means it can grow as far north as coastal New Jersey <<

Very misleading. Even in Cape May County, you do not SEE Butia palms. The one or two that have been documented there on this message board are not long-term survivors. Butia really doesn't become doable until somewhere south of Ocean City, Maryland -- and more like Cape Charles, VA, where there are long-term survivors.

Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a
Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F
Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F
Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F
Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal

Med Fan

>> Hardy in Zones 7b-11, although with proper winter drainage it may survive in colder zones. <<

7b, with *IDEAL*, protected siting. Out in the middle of a front yard, no way. It's really an 8a plant.

Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a
Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F
Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F
Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F
Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal

Needle

>> Hardy in Zones 5b-11. <<

Not 5b. The warmer parts of 6b, maybe.

Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a
Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F
Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F
Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F
Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal

Sabal Palmetto

>> Hardy in Zones 8a-11, although it’s been reported to grow in Zone 7b. <<

It's an 8a tree. But, I've grown one in DE for 13 years with a lot of mulch and a trashcan over it in winter. It has defoliated several times, but always comes back. It is stunted and hasn't come close to forming a trunk. It is, in a practical sense, a costa-palmate version of a Sabal Minor. I have to say, though, it has surprised me with its hardiness. Some winters, even with the aforementioned protection, it was subjected to many hours of sub 5F temperatures.

Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a
Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F
Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F
Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F
Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal

Dypsis decipiens.

Posted by Stan Hayward CA <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=Stan+Hayward+CA' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/16/2020, 3:31 pm, in reply to "HGTV article"

It's just as cold hardy if not more than Bismarckia.

What about Sabal Birmingham ?

Posted by WSimpson NC <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=WSimpson+NC' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/16/2020, 6:14 pm, in reply to "HGTV article"

I think they were a little optimistic on many of their comments on hardiness .
My Needle palm , in the ground only 7 years , is 6 feet tall and I've seen one here in town ten feet tall . They were saying they only get to 3 feet tall ?
What about Sabal Birmingham ? That was a big miss ! My Sabal Birminghams are out in the middle of the yard and doing great .
Will

Biggest Needle I've seen here in town It's got to be 10 feet tall :

Winston-Salem
Ten year lows: 15F 19F 20F 5F 4F 15F 7F 8F 14F 19F(2020)
10 Year Average Winter Lowest Low 12.6F ; 30 Year 12.16F
Profession:Trachy Defiberer and Palm Spear Puller (free estimates)

Re: What about Sabal Birmingham ?

Posted by Rob Cookeville Tn <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=Rob+Cookeville+Tn' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/16/2020, 9:59 pm, in reply to "What about Sabal Birmingham ?"

Beautiful palm Will. Thanks for posting that monster. I agree with you, Jim and Howard on those hardiness assessments. I dont think Trachycarpus Fortunei is really long term in a zone 7a but I was able to grow S.palmetto and x birmingham species for over 16 years to a decent trunking stage but you have to protect in z7 to keep them going. Thanks.

part of the community for 23 years

z7a Tennessee

Re: McCurtain Minor

They don't even grow that tall IN MCCURTAIN COUNTY.

Jim enjoyed reading all your reviews and you were spot on.

part of the community for 23 years

z7a Tennessee

Re: What about Sabal Birmingham ?

My biggest Birmy is getting really showy now . Probably 10 feet to the highest frond tip .
The trunk is nice and fat and It should produce a lot of seed this year too .
Thanks Rob .

Winston-Salem
Ten year lows: 15F 19F 20F 5F 4F 15F 7F 8F 14F 19F(2020)
10 Year Average Winter Lowest Low 12.6F ; 30 Year 12.16F
Profession:Trachy Defiberer and Palm Spear Puller (free estimates)

Re: Sabal Palmetto

Posted by TominPrestonMD <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=TominPrestonMD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 3/17/2020, 5:35 pm, in reply to "Sabal Palmetto"

Yea definitely a some 8 palm. How much cold they can take can be pretty impressive. I had a small one for a few years before it finally kicked the bucket (I didn't cover it at all).

Tom in Preston :-D
Maryland's Eastern Shore
zone 7a/b

Re: McCurtain Minor

Thanks for the nice words, Rob!

Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a
Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F
Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F
Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F
Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal

Re: Sabal Palmetto

I'd like the one I have to flower and produce seed before it dies. I'd like to then try and germinate a few of those. It's definitely been very, very tough. Its mother tree, from what I was told, is/was in Port Orange, Florida. So, it's no special ecotype or strain. If only the mama tree could know where one of her babies has been for the last 13 years!

Jim, Wilmington, DE, 7a
Last 30 Years Avg. Winter Low: 7.50F
Last 20 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.35F
Last 10 Years Avg. Winter Low: 8.40F
Favorite Palms: Species: Phoenix Canariensis / Genus: Sabal

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