The most cold-sensitive palm on Earth

[sarasota alex]

6 hours ago, PalmatierMeg said:

Manicaria saccifera cannot survive temps below 50F, which makes it zone 12 (50-60F min low). I've read that to be safe, you shouldn't risk exposing it to anything below 60F. Just this past weekend we had a low of 59.2F.  Phoenicophorium borsigianum is strictly a zone 11+ palm and cannot tolerate temps below 45F. As it grows up to 50' tall in habitat it gets too large to move or protect, assuming it survives that long. I've pondered trying it but the arctic tundra that is Cape Coral in winter will be lethal. The black spines don't help matters.

Meg, I haven't been as protective of my Phoenicophorium. I have two seedlings in pots and only take them inside below 40F. They haven't shown any low-40s damage. 

[PalmatierMeg]

41 minutes ago, sarasota alex said:

Meg, I haven't been as protective of my Phoenicophorium. I have two seedlings in pots and only take them inside below 40F. They haven't shown any low-40s damage. 

Good to hear. Thanks.

[hbernstein]

Montgomery had small Mannicaria in the ground in an irrigated upland location some years ago. Dead.

Pinecrest Gardens has planted three Phoenicophorium in very protected moist and humid locations. They're thick, vigorous plants that are growing like champs. We'll see what happens this Winter.

Verschaffeltia does grow for us, in similar locations. I'm keeping fingers crossed regarding long-term survivability of both these species. The planting sites have warm water, high tree canopy, and are very close to Biscayne Bay.

[sarasota alex]

5 hours ago, hbernstein said:

Montgomery had small Mannicaria in the ground in an irrigated upland location some years ago. Dead.

Pinecrest Gardens has planted three Phoenicophorium in very protected moist and humid locations. They're thick, vigorous plants that are growing like champs. We'll see what happens this Winter.

Verschaffeltia does grow for us, in similar locations. I'm keeping fingers crossed regarding long-term survivability of both these species. The planting sites have warm water, high tree canopy, and are very close to Biscayne Bay.

I had no idea Montgomery had a Manicaria. I checked their living collection database and they currently have 4 specimen listed - 1 collected in 2007 in Trinidad & Tobago, and 3 collected in 2009 in Belize. Looks like they are alive.

[sarasota alex]

6 hours ago, sarasota alex said:

E. oleracea is also more "cool" sensitive. Sensitive to non-tropical daytime lows. The E. oleracea I had in my previous yard never saw a freeze in almost 3 years that I had it, but one year we had a stretch of 5-6 days with daytime highs not exceeding 65F and it produced severely stunted leaves from all three stems. The coconut I had there also did not look happy btw. In those 3 years however, Euterpe went 1 gal to beginning to show trunk at the bottom of the largest stem.

I meant to say "non-tropical daytime highs" not "lows"