Palm Hardiness
 

Here you go, something to go by in case people are wondering what to do for their palms in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, N and S Carolina, Mississippi, Florida and wherever else. Temperatures are death, not damage. I guess there isn't one for bananas. Maybe we can all pool our observations and research together and come up with something similar to this.

Palm Tree Care and Common Palm Tree Names

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

That's alot better link than the one from desert-tropical.com that provides almost the same information.. Thanks :^)

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

Want good info on cold hardy palms: Southeastern Palm Society
Another good forum for info on palms and subtropicals is The Hardy Palm and Subtropical Forum @ Hardy Palm and Subtropical Board

Would love to share any info I have with anyone interested in cold hardy palms!!! I started out with cold hardy palms and had to get the banana "bug" for my instant gratification until my palms mature more. I currently grow the following palms...
I am sure I am fixing to forget a few, but here goes:
Sabal minor
Sabal minor 'Lousiana'
Sabal minor 'Emerald Giant'
Sabal minor 'Hatteras'
Sabal minor 'McCurtain County'
Sabal 'Birmingham'
Sabal etonia
Sabal x Texanesis (Brazoria palm)
Butia Capitata
Serenoa repens
Chameorops humulis
Bizmarkia noblis
Canary Island Date Palm
Queen palm
Spindle palm
Triangle palm
Trachycarpus Fortunei
Trachycarpus Wagneranius
Chinese Fan Palm
Washingtonia filibusta
I think I got them all!!!
Talk to me people, I love palms and love to share info!!! Love to get personal experiences from others on what they have and how they perform for them!!!

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

I think I'll stick the pindo's :^) and maybe a CIDP ? I like the senegal but not hardy enough.. I might go w/ a silver queen? we'll see...
Anyone know how hardy a phoenix Silver robusta is?

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

I know the numbers are not all correct but that is a good guide. I've never seen another site that has anything similar. I know Bismarckia nobilis silver can take down to 20, possibly less.

Of course, even if some of those numbers are not right, one has to question the planting of tender plants in a place that can get below 20.

Like SE Louisiana (lowest temp I know of in Mandeville is 7 back in 1989 - it was 11 in New Orleans). Very little survived that freeze.

I'm still not sure if where I am is 8B or 9.

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

I know the silver queens are more hardy, but what they can take beats me..

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

Tommy, the best I can tell by not knowing exactly where Old Mandeville is, I would be willing to bet you are rated an 8b. Very small area right on the coast is 9a, and if you are right on Lake Ponchartrain, you are indeed an 8b. I would love to live in an 8b climate!!!

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

Migael, thought you might like to read this. It is a quote, in post form, from a friend of mine in GA. "

Those of you who attended the summer '95 SPS meeting in Orlando probably remember seeing Dave Witt's impressive Queen palm. Dave collected the seed from his palm from one of a number of true survivors of the really cold winter of 1989, when temps at Disney World dropped to 17F. in late December.
Over the years there has been a lot of seed and plants distributed as "Silver Queen." I've never been able to get much information regarding that cultivar, other than that the stems and petioles on young plants tends to have a whitish cast and that the mature palms are reportedly leaf hardy to 15F.
Dave didn't want his palm called a Silver Queen, but did say that it probably was the same thing. The seeds are smaller than typical Syagrus, but otherwise the physical differences are pretty minor. Several of us were able to purchase seedlings from Dave and I planted one this past spring in my yard. It's now about six feet tall overall and I really expect it to jump in the next growing season. Another I planted here in 2004 (from seed imported directly from Uruguay) from a 5-gallon container is now approaching 20 feet in height overall. They grow fast.
The article below is from the April 1991 issue of Principes. This article caught my eye many years ago and inspired me to try to get some seed from Uruguay, which I eventually did, and I am glad to be able to compare the Uruguay form with Dave's Queen palm from Disney. At any rate, this article may shed some light on genetic differences within a species.

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

Thanks for the article Randy that was very informative. :^) So far so good with the Pindo's. I think the 13F coming we'll see if there is any leaf damage.

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

Depending on their size you MAY escape this one. Hoping the best for you!!!

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

So far none of the Queens I have planted all over town have shown any sign of any damage. At a house on the lakefront that has newly planted (sometime after Thanksgiving!) Queens they are fried. Obviously the person doesn't care that planting after September is too late. And even September is borderline late.

Old Mandeville is the old town of Mandeville that is flanked by the lake (Lake Pontchartrain), Causeway (190), Florida St (also 190) and Fontainebleau State Park (which I'm drawing a blank on of its original name). Mandeville is directly north of New Orleans across Lake Pontchartrain, just east of the Causeway bridge. On clear days one can see the tallest buildings of New Orleans and on a clear night one can see the fireworks over the river in the French Quarter across the lake.

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

I think a good root sytem helps a plant alot... I think anything after august up here is cutting it close.. based on this years temps..

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

You can't be zone 9 if there's been a low of 7*F. That would put you at zone 7b.

Re: Palm Hardiness
 

Well it hasn't gotten that cold since then... it froze all the way down to orlando this year.. what zone are they?