Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board

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

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My Birmy

Posted by Ken-Charlotte <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=Ken-Charlotte' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 9/17/2021, 5:19 pm

This guy was obtained as a small mail-order palm about 15 years ago. The height and girth of the trunk is beginning to get impressive.

Re: My Birmy

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 9/17/2021, 7:09 pm, in reply to "My Birmy"

Planted mine where I work in 2007.
14 years later, no trunk yet, but a good amount of fronds - and each of very good size.
Because it's in a very high visibility place on a busy city street, I can't put a shelter on it or do anything beyond mulch and binding up the fronds so snow loads don't bend or break them. So it gets very minimal protection. It's seen temperatures on the wrong side of 5F perhaps 9 to 12 times. And gone through tough durational cold events. It's been a real champ. But I think the hard winters have taken their toll in slowing the palm's growth vertically.

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: My Birmy

Posted by Ken-Charlotte <iframe src='https://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/info/user=Ken-Charlotte' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on 10/6/2021, 11:37 am, in reply to "Re: My Birmy"

Sorry I didn’t see this reply last month, Jim.

This Birmy has seen 7 F. twice and did not flinch. One aspect of its microclimate is that it is South-adjacent to an asphalt street. On cold winter days, especially sunny ones, there is some bounce-heating toward the Birmy. Plenty of bounce-heating in the other 3 seasons, too.

Re: My Birmy

"Bounce-heating." A new term on me!

Mine gets a good bit of that too. It's planted about 6 feet in front of an ESE-facing thick granite wall. That wall not only provides radiational warmth, but also big-time protection from westerly and northwesterly winter winds. Plus, the overall location is in the city of Wilmington proper. Meaning, you've got a lot of concrete & asphalt around. More of that type of surface than grass or trees.

I'm just happy that after 14 years, the SOB is still green and growing this far up the coast. With no "huts" or artificial insulation each winter.

About 15 feet away from it are two OTHER 14 year survivor marginals: a Bay Laurel - not seen at all around these parts - and a Live Oak.

Of the 3, the oak is the biggest success story. Literally a 2-story monster now. Never had stem dieback even after very tough "polar vortex" winters. Most winters, the leaves don't even suffer any setbacks.

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: My Birmy

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 12/11/2021, 4:01 pm, in reply to "My Birmy"

I love Birmys .
Nice .
Will

Right behind you :

Last winter :
.

Winston-Salem
Ten year lows: 20F 5F 4F 15F 7F 8F 14F 19F 16F 16F(2022)
10 Year Average Winter Lowest Low 12.4F ; 30 Year 12.3F
Profession:Trachy Defiberer and Palm Spear Puller (free estimates)

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[ Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board ]