Sabal palmetto and 'riverside'

[NorCalWill]

I'm going back and forth in my mind as to which one of these to buy and plant in my garden.

Santa Rosa has seen temps in the upper teens, although this is unusual and lasts about 3 days at most.

I've been researching both of these palms and some sources say palmetto can take temps down to 25, and others say 20.

Riverside is supposed to be able to handle temps into the mid teens.

Are these temps when the tree will die or when it will show damage?

Also, I'm not finding pictures of a mature Sabal riverside. Anyone have one?

Also, neither of the palm nurseries in my area carry palmetto, possibly for the cold hardiness issue...

Edited June 10, 2008 by Will

[Kailua_Krish]

I'm pretty sure S. palmetto can take much lower than 20 degrees. It is native all the way up to South Carolina on the east coast. I think I heard somewhere that S. "riverside" is more cold tender than regular S. palmetto. I also have heard that most california nurseries dont stock S. palmetto as it takes so long to grow in california and that the riverside form is faster for the west coast. Just my 2 cents for what its worth.

[PalmGuyWC]

Will,

Sabal palmetto is much more cold hardy than S. Riverside, however S. Riverside will do fine in your area. S. Riverside will grow 2 or 3 times as fast as S. palmetto and it's a nicer looking palm. My Riverside took 14F in 1989/90 with minor foliage damage but no trunk damage. Come visit me sometime in Walnut Creek and I'll show you the largest S. Riverside in N. Calif.

Dick

[NorCalWill]

Thanks, I appreciate your advice.

I really like Sabal palmetto eversince I saw them in Florida, but never see them growing here. I've never seen "riverside", and know very little about it,

so it's hard to decide without knowing what it will look like. So when you say palmetto is very slow, do you mean like an inch per year?

[merrill]

Hi, Will:

May I suggest you consider S. uresana, which comes in both green and blue, and is very coldhardy? Sabal bermudana can survive your temperatures, and is VERY fast. Good Luck in whatever you choose!

Best Wishes, merrill

[merrill]

Deleted

Edited June 10, 2008 by merrill

[NorCalWill]

Thanks for the tip.

I'm open to Sabal bermudiana, it looks like a very beautiful palm, although I've never seen one growning here, so I wonder if there is a good reason for this.

I am looking for a good looking palm as well as cold hardy.

Not sure if S. uresana is hardy enough, everywhere I read says it's good to the upper 20's.

[PalmGuyWC]

I will say again......you can't go wrong with Sabal Riverside in N. Calif. It's good looking, fast(er) growing, and cold hardy for N. Calif. Just about any of the Sabals will grow inland, where summers are hot in N. Calif., with the exception of S. mauritiformis which is rather tropical.

Dick

[sonoranfans]

Hi, Will:

May I suggest you consider S. uresana, which comes in both green and blue, and is very coldhardy? Sabal bermudana can survive your temperatures, and is VERY fast. Good Luck in whatever you choose!

Best Wishes, merrill

I will second merills sabal bermudana recommendation.

I have s. bermudana which some sources say is good to 10F, and its a very nice palm, bluish green, and fast for a sabal. Mine is about 11' tall overall, planted 3 1/2 years ago as a 3' tall 24" box tree. Its been fruiting now for two years. My bermudana threw a new spear less than two months after (2) 20 degree nights in the freeze of '07. Its clearly my most coldhardy palm in the ground. Also the sabal uresana blue is fantastic, a color unlike any palm I have seen. I have a small seedling and it is a slow grower.

Edited June 10, 2008 by sonoranfans

[sonoranfans]

Thanks for the tip.

I'm open to Sabal bermudiana, it looks like a very beautiful palm, although I've never seen one growning here, so I wonder if there is a good reason for this.

I am looking for a good looking palm as well as cold hardy.

Not sure if S. uresana is hardy enough, everywhere I read says it's good to the upper 20's.

Most sources put uresana at high teens to 20F cold hardiness. My small seedling in a pot has seen 27F unprotected, no sign of damage.

[NorCalWill]

Thanks again Dick for your recommendation.

Do you happen to have a picture of your Sabal riverside?

[Guest Keith in Zone 9]

Will,

Just a note about Sabal palmetto. Here in Jacksonville, FL, the all time record low is 7F. Sabal palmetto is native, common, and prolific. In Augusta, GA, they endured temperatures around 0F in the 1980's, though I suspect they were defoliated and wouldn't tolerate such cold every winter. Even in Columbia SC Sabal palmetto is perfectly hardy despite normal winter lows in the teens and a brief, but ridiculous, all time record lows around 0 to -2F. What will zap them is cold summers. They need it hot in summer and lots of water, especially during establishment. Many Sabal species are similar. Because of the rain pattern, I wonder if the Sonoran, Sabal uresana is better adapted to your climate. If irrigation is possible, and your summers are hot, most of the Sabals will tolerate an occasional night to 15F without much grief. Go for it, plant them all (except the uber tropical S. yapa and S. mauritiformis) and give us a report later.

[merrill]

Fellow Palm Devotees:

My impression is that S. uresana is good for 10F or better; mine has been. Best Wishes, merrill

[Kris]

Dear Will

i have a 2 year old sabal riverside grown from seeds bought from http://www.rareseedsource.com/palms.php

but now since the stock is over they have not put that coloum & its pricing.it was here were i saw stills of this fast growing fat trunking sabal...and as for the rate of germination for these varities was nearly 98%.and iam very satisfied with those seeds...

And i have a still of a 2 year old specimen that is growing in our roof top garden.since other are in small pots..

Love,

Kris