Bananas.org - View Single Post - Tropical looking plants for zone 7 or lower

Lilith · 05-13-2008, 05:59 AM

There's a big difference between a palm tree "surviving" and a palm actually THRIVING and growing to look like something.
The palms you are talking about, the R. hystrix and the Tachys, are pretty slow growing and it would take them years and years to get any size on at all anyway, and at so much less than optimal temperature (that much below zero for prolonged periods is WAY not optimal) they will be even more slow.

We have Needle Palms (R. hystrix) in our yard that are about 26 years old and they are only about 5-6 feet tall. This species doesn't really "trunk". That's how slow they are. They are completely hardy here and well suited to our climate. They would probably also do okay in New Jersey in a protected location, as they are hardy to about zero degrees, but below zero for prolonged periods every winter? Probably not.

They are also extremely expensive palms to get one of any size, because of their slow growth. A 10-15 gallon size can cost over $200.

You should check out the palm pages at Jungle Music in California. Lots of great info on those pages as well as some cold hardy palm pages that might give you come guidance.

05-13-2008, 05:59 AM	#15 (permalink)
Lilith Senior Member Lilith's Photo Gallery Location: sunny Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Gina Anne Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 341 BananaBucks : 120,304 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 20 Times Was Thanked 136 Times in 52 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Tropical looking plants for zone 7 or lower There's a big difference between a palm tree "surviving" and a palm actually THRIVING and growing to look like something. The palms you are talking about, the R. hystrix and the Tachys, are pretty slow growing and it would take them years and years to get any size on at all anyway, and at so much less than optimal temperature (that much below zero for prolonged periods is WAY not optimal) they will be even more slow. We have Needle Palms (R. hystrix) in our yard that are about 26 years old and they are only about 5-6 feet tall. This species doesn't really "trunk". That's how slow they are. They are completely hardy here and well suited to our climate. They would probably also do okay in New Jersey in a protected location, as they are hardy to about zero degrees, but below zero for prolonged periods every winter? Probably not. They are also extremely expensive palms to get one of any size, because of their slow growth. A 10-15 gallon size can cost over $200. You should check out the palm pages at Jungle Music in California. Lots of great info on those pages as well as some cold hardy palm pages that might give you come guidance. __________________ 11/2008 Outer Banks Marathon 26.2, Kitty Hawk NC--3:50 2/2009 5 Points of Life Marathon, 26.2, Gainesville FL--4:00 4/2009 Boston Marathon, 26.2-- 4:38 10/2009 Marine Corps Marathon, DC, 26.2--457 1/2010 Houston Marathon, 26.2--3:55:09 2/2010 5 Points of Life Marathon, Gainesville--415 Halloween Day 2010 Marine Corps Marathon, DC-- 2/2011--Austin TX Marathon--