Your Opinion - Cold Hardy Palms In Not So Cold Places

[PalmTreeDude]

Is growing cold hardy palms in warm places a waste of space? I think it would really depend on what a person thinks of if a person lives in a warm place but likes a cold hardy palm. When I say a not so cold place I mean zone 9b + since it is pretty warm there! 

Edited September 24, 2016 by PalmTreeDude

[Jdiaz31089]

I'm not in the warmest of the zones in California but I would consider myself to be in a relatively warm zone (sunset zone 9, USDA z9b). For me, the hardy palms are the tried-and-true species that will live here through the coldest weather nature throws at it. That would be the syagrus, washingtonia, sabals, phoenix, butia, arenga, jubaea, parajubaea, brahea, raphis, chamaerops, trachycarpus, and more recently some dypsis species like decipiens, and also beccariophenix alfredii. These palms are what I would consider bullet-proof here - and I use these as the foundation for my plantings as I know these will be permanent palms - more or less. 

The marginal palms (which unfortunately happen to be my weakness) are filler plants. Most of these will grow for several years before they're either badly damaged or killed in a hard freeze event. I grew a majesty for about 8 years before it's trunk was badly disfigured in a freeze. My chambeyronias, caryota, dypsis (onilahensis, prestononiana, carlsmithii, ambositraea), archontophoenix, rhopalostylis, wodyetia - these are all fun to grow, but I know I risk losing them all in one really bad freeze. 

I don't think growing "hardy" palms is a waste of space. For me, it's a matter of preference. Butia, washingtonia, brahea, chamaerops and trachycarpus don't look tropical at all to me - aside from a few like brahea dulcis or decumbens. Growing the hardier species, though, ensures that I still have some sort of permanent structure left in my garden after a hard freeze. If I grew only marginal palms, I'd have an empty garden every 10 years or so lol. 

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

well, sabals may be hardy to vriginia, but they look great in south florida, towering over 60-70ft

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

There is no place that the climate allows, that palms don't belong.  :-)

[Tracy]

On 9/23/2016, 8:28:51, PalmTreeDude said:

Is growing cold hardy palms in warm places a waste of space?

Sounds like what you are asking is whether its okay to grow something if you like it, even if it can be grown in much colder climates.  It's a relative question for any climate zone.  I believe you answer your own question below... specifically if you "like it" is it okay.  The answer is yes, if you like it.

On 9/23/2016, 8:28:51, PalmTreeDude said:

if a person lives in a warm place but likes a cold hardy palm.

Plant preference is all subjective, and the only arbiter of what you shouldn't grow is the things that weather won't allow you to grow.  Even that is subjective if you can get by with it for a few years.  As Mr. Diaz points out above, he is willing to grow things for the enjoyment, knowing that once every few years there are plants he will lose, because he has pressed the boundary.  So plant those easy grows for your climate which you like and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

[PalmTreeDude]

2 minutes ago, Tracy said:

Sounds like what you are asking is whether its okay to grow something if you like it, even if it can be grown in much colder climates.  It's a relative question for any climate zone.  I believe you answer your own question below... specifically if you "like it" is it okay.  The answer is yes, if you like it.

Plant preference is all subjective, and the only arbiter of what you shouldn't grow is the things that weather won't allow you to grow.  Even that is subjective if you can get by with it for a few years.  As Mr. Diaz points out above, he is willing to grow things for the enjoyment, knowing that once every few years there are plants he will lose, because he has pressed the boundary.  So plant those easy grows for your climate which you like and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

You make some good points! 

[PalmTreeDude]

6 hours ago, Mr.SamuraiSword said:

well, sabals may be hardy to vriginia, but they look great in south florida, towering over 60-70ft

They sure do! Native to Southeastern NC all the way to South Florida, I think of it as the U.S. east coast most recognized palm. Dang, you see them planted in parts of Deleware too! 

[Xerarch]

If it is beautiful, you like it, and it does well in your climate I say go for it, even if it is common or so hardy it could do well in a colder place.

[Mantis sp.]

i do have Butias sp. in Puerto Rico and they thrive very well. Also i had  parajubaeas sp. but unfortunately, they died  by a beetle larvae infestation. Phoenix canariensis is another popular palm in the island.

[DCA_Palm_Fan]

3 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

They sure do! Native to Southeastern NC all the way to South Florida, I think of it as the U.S. east coast most recognized palm. Dang, you see them planted in parts of Deleware too! 

Don't forget they're all over VA beach area too. Some have been there many years ans are beautiful.  

[foxtail]

1 hour ago, Mantis sp. said:

i do have Butias sp. in Puerto Rico and they thrive very well. Also i had  parajubaeas sp. but unfortunately, they died  by a beetle larvae infestation. Phoenix canariensis is another popular palm in the island.

Hmmmm, bad luck for me with the CIDP, I planted a Phoenix Rupicola, so far is doing well.

[foxtail]

1 hour ago, Mantis sp. said:

Also i had  parajubaeas sp. but unfortunately, they died  by a beetle larvae infestation. 

Wait.... Do you know the name of those beetle larvae?

Pictures?

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

i wish some palms were suited to Connecticut however, the few folks who have palms (mostly windmill) must protect them heavily.  more hardy bananas however are being sold at nurseries.

[Kim]

Sometimes it comes down to available space.  Most of us do not have unlimited planting availability, and have to choose this or that.  Living most of my life in California, it's a thrill to be able to plant the most finicky tropical palms in my Hawaii garden, and I personally choose to exclude the more common (in California) Mediterranean-type palms.  However, I have a friend in Hawaii who gleefully plants Phoenix, Chamaerops, Syagrus, and on the flip side, palms that struggle in the warm climate, such as Hedyscepe.

Another friend has planted certain Dypsis, enjoyed them while they were small to medium in height, then decides, "Nah, I don't like that one," and chops them to be replaced by something else.  Very decisive!

It's your garden, plant what you please!

[BS Man about Palms]

24 minutes ago, Kim said:

 

Another friend has planted certain Dypsis, enjoyed them while they were small to medium in height, then decides, "Nah, I don't like that one," and chops them to be replaced by something else.  Very decisive!

 

  I hope they are not terribly rare and ready to seed! That would be a shame to have a rare one ready to produce and ... "nope, I no lika you, away you goooo!".. 

 

But I will admit that not all Dypsis are pretty... only about 95% are..  

[DoomsDave]

Plant what you like, for sure.

Just because a palm's a bit "overqualified" doesn't mean it's not wonderful anyway.

Jubes are nowhere close to tested for hardiness in Southern California, but they are beloved (and paid for accordingly).

I can't say no to well-grown Trachycarpus. All of them. I'll find the room, somehow some way.

 

[cm05]

Most of my favorite palm species are relatively cold hardy, no way would I ever consider them to be a waste of space. Plant what you like.

[Mantis sp.]

15 hours ago, foxtail said:

Wait.... Do you know the name of those beetle larvae?

Pictures?

They're very common beetle larvae in the island.

 

[foxtail]

16 minutes ago, Mantis sp. said:

They're very common beetle larvae in the island.

 

Hmmmm,thanks for the pics.

So those things killed some of your palm.

Voy a tener que estar al pendiente.

[DoomsDave]

45 minutes ago, Mantis sp. said:

They're very common beetle larvae in the island.

 

Don't jump to conclusions till you know more. Some beetle larvae eat the humus in the potting soil; others eat a few roots and worst of all eat the growing tip.

Where, exactly, did you find the one(s) pictured?

 

[PalmTreeDude]

17 hours ago, DCA_Palm_Fan said:

Don't forget they're all over VA beach area too. Some have been there many years ans are beautiful.  

Oh yeah, I have seen some good 40ft tall ones, producing seed and everything about a mile inland from the actual beach itself. I sure would like some of the seed! I saw some larger seedlings under a few of the palms. 

[Mantis sp.]

1 hour ago, DoomsDave said:

Don't jump to conclusions till you know more. Some beetle larvae eat the humus in the potting soil; others eat a few roots and worst of all eat the growing tip.

Where, exactly, did you find the one(s) pictured?

 

phyllophaga portoricensis, is endemic and they eat everything's: younger palms roots, Lilly roots, banana roots, cane roots, seedlings roots, etc etc...

Those pics are mine...I have hundred phyllophaga larvae  in my yard...is a bad thing right now ..terrible

Edited November 16, 2016 by Mantis sp.

[Tropicgardener]

I generally don't bother growing colder climate palms here....... Firstly, many of them struggle with our summer heat and humidity....... Secondly, people come here to experience 'The Tropics'. They can see all the Phoenix, Washingtonia, Howea etc. they like down in Sydney and Melbourne.