RobG7aChattTN

Keep in mind that what most people call Trachycarpus takil is actually now called Trachycarpus fortunei 'Naini Tal'. The true takil is still in the experimental stage because they only recently realized that what they were selling as takil was the wrong palm. There really is a true T. takil, but there are almost no true takil in cultivation older than about 3 years old. So if you see a takil that has split fan leaves it is almost surely 'Naini Tal'. The real seed only became available in 2008 and it was almost all bad. In 2009 better seed became available but the germination rate was still around 3%. I haven't heard of anyone getting a good germination rate with any true takil seeds yet. Probably fresh seeds just aren't available. They might just have a low rate of germination naturally.

JuniPerez

Yes, I did hear about the Takil issue... some were even selling Waggie palms as takil. I got mine at hardytropicals. I took closeup pictures of all the features; trunk, petioles, leaves, everything I would think of and sent it to someone who could help identify, but never got a reply. If what you say is the case, then mine would likely be naini tal since I bought it as a 5gal palm about 3-4 years ago. It still hase very good winter hardiness compared to my other palms.

RayS

This place has a wide selection of cold hardy palms including the alleged
Trachycarpus takil.

Trachycarpus takil | Tejas Tropicals

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Ray

RobG7aChattTN

The good news is 'Naini Tal' might be the most cold hardy of them all. It certainly isn't true takil. There seem to be so few real takil only one or two people in the U.S. seem to have them and even then not very large. Largest available for sale would have maybe four strap leaves.

JuniPerez

Yes, I've found that it is the one with the least damage through winter... and it grows fast compared to my normal T. fortunei palms. I searched for Naini Tal and my palm DOES match the "droopy leaf tips" described on the Naini Tal... so, even if it is, I am still happy with it and would recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful, hardy palm tree.

natej740

There is a windmill palm 15 minutes from my house(zone 6) that i noticed 11 YEARS ago in southern Ohio. It has a huge trunk now its probably 7 feet of trunk or more. I finally grew the nerve to talk to the owner a few weeks ago and they have small ones for sale and other plants in a greenhouse. Ive always heard if you want a hardy one find a good northern source and not one from florida where the winters arent to bad. Id say seed grown trees from that tree should be really hardy. Next time i go down there ill try to get a pic of it!

buckeye5755

Do they have like a site or somewhere they sell their Palms? I had two this past winter, but didn't protect them well at all. Had some family issues at the beginning of winter and didn't get them protected correctly, and I may have lost them both, as both had spear pull.

I recently bought some seeds to grow, but wouldn't mind finding a source up here in Ohio to get a Palm or two.

laserlight

Awesome! I've been to Cincinnati, it's not very far. That's a really good idea to get one thats already growing up here. Is that owner in Cincinnati or somewhere else? =)

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Вырвем оранжевому хорьку его гнилые зубы.

JuniPerez

Ohio is the location where Dr Francko was testing cold hardy palm trees, bananas, and other plants and trees for us zone pushers. Good book on the subject and is coming out with an updated one soon.

sashaeffer

Waiting for my first Windmill Palm to arrive(zone 5/6) and have seen where members use Christmas lights to help over winter them, but what I didn't catch was if they just laid them around the ground around the base of the trunk? or did they wrap them around the tree and cover them up with insulation?

What is the most important part to keep "warm" during the winter months?

Scott/Omaha

RobG7aChattTN

The thing to protect is the crown, right where the spear comes out. The roots will be protected with just a foot thick layer of mulch. What you might have missed is that the "Christmas Lights" you use are the big C-9 lights. In your climate you might also need to warm the trunk. Lots of folks use the same heaters that they sell to keep pipes from freezing. You don't want to wrap too tightly with anything because trapping too much heat (and moisture) is a bad idea as well. Ideally people build a structure around the whole palm and use a thermostat to keep the temp just above freezing. I've never had to protect that much, but when I've used the C-9 lights I just wrapped them around the crown and only turned them on during cold spells (with no additional wrapping of any sort). Try the Cold Hardy Palm and subtropical board for better help with this question (you will have to sign up first, but it will come in handy later as I'm sure you will have more questions).

sashaeffer

Thanks Rob,

I did sign up to be full member this weekend, but didn't see where or how to start new thread for my question. In other forums I belong to there is a tab that says "new thread" but don't see one here.

JuniPerez

sashaeffer

Juni...so you have yours potted I would assume. How tall are they? I've thought about just potting mine when it arrives and do something like you, and keep it in garage in the winter the first few years to let it get "used" to the cold. My garage is insulated and unless I leave the garage door open for a long period of time will only drop into the mid 30's. That is what I might do the first couple of years I'm thinking now.

The tree I ordered from TyTy is supposed to be like 5-7 feet tall.

Thank you!

JuniPerez

sashaeffer

My garage has windows in the 3 doors and just by chance I just had installed 12 can lights put in the ceiling, with what is called "daylight" CFL flood lights that has the spectrum of daylight. I could just leave them on during the day I suppose, off at night just like outside.

JuniPerez

Ueberwinden

If you want cold hardy palms check out my friend Brian William site google Brian's Botanicals. Brian is located in Louisville KY and he will ship them to you or if you would like to drive it you can pick them yourself. I'm in Florence, Ky so I'm about an hour north of him, he has a very nice operation, I plan on making a trip down to see him soon.

Michael

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TommyMacLuckie

This is a good rule of thumb site for cold hardiness with palms: Palm Tree Care and Common Palm Tree Names

RobG7aChattTN

It is just down at the bottom of the page, but might not be there until you are a member and are signed in.