For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

This weekend I was in Wichita, KS and met up with a guy selling Sabal minor "McCurtain".
They are just starting to produce fan leaves and have some good size to them, and the price was very nice!
The parent plant has survived a low of -24 F
:06: :06: :06:
Next spring they are going in the ground.




Also does anyone here know much about some of the Trachycarpus group.
I have a few questions about four of the species.

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

i have Trachy-fortunei and wagnerianus, there is a Trachy-princeps with
more blue/silver leaves but i don't have that one at the moment.
Don't know much about other Trachys.




Ron

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Ben,
Nice lookin' McCurtains!!! I have just sprouted quite a few of them along with several other types of palms. As far as the Trachys go, fire away with your questions and if I can't answer them, I will find the answer for you... Here is a link to another wonderful board that might be able to provide you with more great info: http://members3.boardhost.com/HardyPalm/

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

I am mainly looking at T.nanus, T.takil, T.wagnerianus, and T.fortunei 'hayes stiffie'.
We have -10F to -15F winters, and around 105F summers. I have read that the trachys don't like hot summers and I know my winters are really pushing it for fortunei and from what I have heard wagnerianus, but I was hoping not as much on the other two. I am really looking for a trunking palm, and have thought about Sabal 'Birmingham'. I do have "Palms won't grow here, and other myths", but was hoping someone might have more information.

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Hey Ben,
I truly think you would be really pushing the limits with winters like you describe... You may get by a couple of milder winters with some heavy duty protection (ie, heat tape, christmas lights, layers of frost cloth, etc.), but I for one don't think it is worth it... The 'birmingham' is believed to be allot hardier by some, but verdict is still out. Main problem with it is the growth rate is extremely ssssoooo!!!!!
I really don't think you would have a problem with your summer heat as long as you irrigate it to some extent... I have 4 Trachys in the ground and several small ones that will go out when they get more size to them... Good luck with your endeavors!!!!

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Thanks Randy,

I found a website that had me thinking it could be done. They probally have a nice sheltered site, where I have a wind tunnel on the east side of my house. Have you seen this site before? Palms in Colorado

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Here an example of winter-protection. The most important thing to do is
to keep the growth-point as dry as possible. It is the combination frost/rain
that kills the palm. You can push the funnel over the new speer and keep it
on his place by binding the leaves a bit together and using some tape.
Further I have gravel/stones at the foot of the palms wich will release some heath in the night.





Ron

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Ben,
I had not seen that particular site before and will study it in more detail, later... Like Ron said, main thing is to keep the growth spear as dry as possible. All I can say is to try one and depending on your level of commitment to protection, you should have some level of success... One other thing that has helped me in the past is to pray for MILD winters...
BTW, here are a couple of fortunei's that I planted in spring of '05 and have never had any type of protection in my 7b...



Here they are in one of our few snow events:


Good luck, Buddy...

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Yeah some people here use an umbrella to protect the growth-spear, it
is just what you want. I have not protected mine so far but in a bad winter
(wich we had not in years) its a good thing to do.



Ron

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Beautiful plants guys!

I would really hate to have 3-4 mild winters and think I am doing good and then lose the palms during a really cold spell. Maybe I kept the trunked palms in pots to move in-and-out.

What other palms are you keeping?
I just bought a 8' (with pot) Adonidia for $50

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

SWEET Palm, Ben...

I would love to have an Adonidia as a patio palm. Where in the world did you did that one??? I had to settle for trying to grow one from seed. Still extremely small. I also am trying to start a spindle palm as a patio plant. I have several palms that are potted and come in during the winter...
Pygmy Date
2 Chinese Fans
Ponytail Palm
CIDP (small 4')
and yes one that I am trying to find a new home for: an 18' queen palm
Wanna come and get it??? If you do, it yours, just pick up another Adonidia and bring it to me and I will gladly pay you for it!!!

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

That is a very tempting offer, because I got this guy for $50 at a local nursery :2223: :2223: :2223: If gas wasn't $$$ I would take a little time off. They are discounting some of their palms because of winter. They also had a spindle 3'-4' $40, triangle 3'-4' $70, foxtail that was a little ragged for 6' $100, and a few others.

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

Here is my chamaerops humilis 'vulcano'. The only native European palm.
It is a very compact growing palm and can stand some degrees frost. So you
don't have to bring it inside at the first frosts.

this is still a small one..




Ron

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

There's a fly on your Ice Cream.
:2736:

Re: For cold hardy palm lovers.
 

:2687:

Not anymore



Ron