Most Heat-Tolerant Palms

[ahosey01]

There is an entire sub-forum dedicated to cold-tolerant palms, which obviously tons of people are interested in.

However, living in Arizona, something that comes to mind is on the opposite side of the coin.  What are the most heat-tolerant species out there? When I say “heat-tolerant”, I’m really asking what species out there can take two months of 110-120 in full blazing Sonoran desert sun with no clouds or humidity and not only survive - but thrive under those conditions?  Think Parker or Lake Havasu hot.

The obvious ones I can think of are Phoenix dactylifera, Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia filifera, Washingtonia robusta and Brahea armata. My canariensis has begun opening fronds at a rate of like one every 8 days in this heat.  The others I can think of that are likely very heat tolerant but that I have no first-hand knowledge of are Medemia argun and Nannorrhops ritchiana.

I also have a Bismarckia nobilis, but through the ridiculous heat of this summer - some of the fronds yellowed a little at the center and began to get a little dry.  As a result, I don’t consider this quite as heat tolerant as the other species, although it looks great and I’d certainly not complain about the condition it’s in.

What are some others that thrive under high temps and sun to the extreme?

Edited September 10, 2020 by ahosey01

[Neil C]

Chamaerops, Serenoa, Hyphaene.

Regards Neil

[Tom in Tucson]

My Livistona mariae and Sabal uresana have thrived this summer in full sun. My Medemia argun seem to tolerate the heat, but don't look as good as in years past. My Livistona alfredii seems almost as tolerant as the first 2 mentioned, but my Livistona victoriae seem more sensitive to the intense sun. The 3 Brahea clara look unfazed by the record heat.

Hi 92˚, Lo 66˚

[Palmcycasnut]

Copernicia, Coccothrinax, Hemithrinax, all Sabals except for maybe minor, Allagoptera Arenaria and Brevicalyx. 

[greysrigging]

2 hours ago, Tom in Tucson said:

My Livistona mariae and Sabal uresana have thrived this summer in full sun. My Medemia argun seem to tolerate the heat, but don't look as good as in years past. My Livistona alfredii seems almost as tolerant as the first 2 mentioned, but my Livistona victoriae seem more sensitive to the intense sun. The 3 Brahea clara look unfazed by the record heat.

Hi 92˚, Lo 66˚

All three of the Livistonas you mentioned are native to extremely hot areas of Northern and North West regions of Australia and would see plenty of 110f temps in natural habitat. The ''victoriae' grows up on the rocky escarpments near the Victoria River in the VRD District of the Northern Territory, a brutal climate prior to the onset of the Monsoons. Perhaps the roots tap into seepage through the rocks.... in any case generally rainless for a good 7 months of the year
The 'alfredii' occurs naturally along permanent water holes and springs of the Fortescue River at Milstream Park in the Western Australian Pilbara region.... also an extremely hot place during the summer months, several months exceeding 110f almost daily. Again, I think their feet are in permanent groundwater. Ánd 'mariae' / 'rigida' , the ones at Palm Valley, Mataranka ( Northern Territory ) and Lawn Hill ( north west Queensland ) seem to thrive in and along seasonal and permanent water creek beds.
I think they survive the heat a bit better with very generous watering in cultivation.

[GottmitAlex]

Pretty sure Beccariophoenix alfredii are good to go there. (Lake Havasu)

 

[lzorrito]

3 hours ago, GottmitAlex said:

Pretty sure Beccariophoenix alfredii are good to go there. (Lake Havasu)

 

My Beccariophoenix alfredii seelings are still atached to the seed but already remarkably heat and sun tolerant. 3 months old and already on almost full sun.

I think that Livistona decora/decipiens and also L. australis maybe be good candidates there.

[sonoranfans]

On 5/5/2018 at 7:41 AM, aztropic said:

Copernicia macroglossa will be a good fit for your desert garden.Tolerates upper 20's to 120F without any problems!

 

aztropic

Mesa,Arizona

 

9 hours ago, ahosey01 said:

There is an entire sub-forum dedicated to cold-tolerant palms, which obviously tons of people are interested in.

However, living in Arizona, something that comes to mind is on the opposite side of the coin.  What are the most heat-tolerant species out there? When I say “heat-tolerant”, I’m really asking what species out there can take two months of 110-120 in full blazing Sonoran desert sun with no clouds or humidity and not only survive - but thrive under those conditions?  Think Parker or Lake Havasu hot.

The obvious ones I can think of are Phoenix dactylifera, Phoenix canariensis, Washingtonia filifera, Washingtonia robusta and Brahea armata. My canariensis has begun opening fronds at a rate of like one every 8 days in this heat.  The others I can think of that are likely very heat tolerant but that I have no first-hand knowledge of are Medemia argun and Nannorrhops ritchiana.

I also have a Bismarckia nobilis, but through the ridiculous heat of this summer - some of the fronds yellowed a little at the center and began to get a little dry.  As a result, I don’t consider this quite as heat tolerant as the other species, although it looks great and I’d certainly not complain about the condition it’s in.

What are some others that thrive under high temps and sun to the extreme?

How long has your bizzy been in the ground?  It will take 4-5 years to really establish.  ANd any desert palm that you expect to grow needs an irrigation schedule/plan that can be adapted to the hottest month, not left the same year round.  Evaluating a palm inthe ground for a couple years is just fooling yourself.  The best heat resistant palms(better than bizzies) in arizona are hyphaene sp, medemia argun, phoenix dactylifera an brahea armata.  LIvistonas are also pretty good, about like bismarckia in my experience(10 yrs growing in Gilbert).  

 

[sonoranfans]

If a bizzie is too tender for your garden, all the copernicias are less sun resistant so forget about them.  If you want to see all the livistonas get in contact with Rod anderson, in N Phoenix, he has 7(?) species but also has bismarkia and Hyphaene.  Rods livistonas took the sun well and were better looking than ones in habitat, but he bunches palms close together.  SOme people manage to grow less sun tolerant palms but they bunch them and shade them from late day sun.  IF you have not grown palms in arizona for long, you should talk to some of th elocals visit their yards if possible.  I visited Rod's garden and the best tip I got was deep watering, at least 5 hrs at a time so the water goes deep and develops deep roots.  In 6 years after I adpoted 5-6 hr deep drip irrigation watering(3 drippers a tree, 2 gallons per hr/dripper and 5 hrs watering shedule.  My 4 bizzies never blanched at the sun and they saw 123F and 31 days of 110F plus in 2009.  

[96720]

My royals had no problem with the heat but they don’t like cold. My beccariophoenix did fine but was not in full blazing sun I will have to try one in more sun. You can see the Butia’s by the Royal didn’t fair as well

[Antti]

I'd add Chamaerhops humilis into this company.

Edited September 10, 2020 by Antti

[TheMadScientist]

I'm approx. 40 miles north of Los Angeles.  My first germination species was Chamaerhops humilis in January 2010.  The actual temperatures mentioned in Phoenix basin could be 3 or 4 degrees hotter than what I see on those days.  Mine have been in 5 gallon black containers for about 6 years, getting watered each day in this heat....BUT, where I just lost 3 at the same time was the 112 to 116 deg. F days where these were placed next to the block walls.  I used an infrared gun on these walls and the radiated temperature was 135 to 138 deg. F.  I believe I cooked the roots.

[sonoranfans]

oh yeah, the obvious washies(robusta and filifera(really tolerant) are good in arizona sun.  Filifera are the best in full desert sun not including the hyphaene and medemia sp which are full on desert palms as well.  We will see about afredii, not tested enough IMO, and royals are not even on the first tier of desert tolerance, they reduce their crowns and drop leaves in big desert heat.  Among phoenix species P. dactlifera is head and shoulders above the rest of phonix sp. with CIDP, sylvestris, and theophrasti also tough palms in the heat.

[hbernstein]

Sabal palmetto is quite heat-tolerant, as long as it gets some water.

I've seen the species planted at Al-Ain, U.A.E., where Summer daytime temperatures are typically 110-115. The one I saw looked like it was growing in Florida, no problems.

[TomJ]

Hyophorbe very much love heat... and water.  Especially Verschaffeltii.

Not so much the cold though...

It hit 114 here for a couple days in a row and I could literally watch mine grow.

Edited September 10, 2020 by TomJ

[Garcia3]

I would add the following palms to this list: Brahea Clara, Brahea decumbens, and Trithrinax Campestris.  Below is my grouping that grows in full all day sun/reflected heat.  I also have a Nannorrhops that has sailed thru these same conditions.

      

Edited September 10, 2020 by Garcia3

[Ben in Norcal]

Mules...

[96720]

That picture of my royal was taken August 22 in Phoenix during this lousy summer it put out 2 new fronds it is an absolute beautiful palm I have many more but that is the biggest one 

[James B]

Roystonea Regia can handle any level of heat you can throw at it as long as your winters do not spend long amounts of time below freezing. They handle low 20s in Florida just fine but that’s for maybe a night or two and it heats back up fast. I am zone 10a and mine have seen 110 degrees and as long as you give them water they thrive in the heat. Just expect them to go dormant in winter. The larger of the 2 I have was pushing spear growth at over 2 inches a day. I literally could mark the spear and check it a couple hours later and it had already grown 1/4”. Washingtonia obviously is bullet proof in heat and I’ve found Butia to be as well if someone looking for heat tolerant palms that can handle the lowest temps Arizona will throw at them.

[96720]

I just took these photos the clump of 3 I just planted this spring because I like to get them established before winter I didn’t know he’ll was coming but they never missed a beat no dropped fronds or anything, the other picture is just to show they are beautiful palms look at the growth rings on that palm I would say it is very happy 115 or not.

[96720]

Also a picture of my Bismarck another great palm for heat and sun not so much for cold 

[greysrigging]

7 hours ago, Garcia3 said:

I would add the following palms to this list: Brahea Clara, Brahea decumbens, and Trithrinax Campestris.  Below is my grouping that grows in full all day sun/reflected heat.  I also have a Nannorrhops that has sailed thru these same conditions.

      

Is that crushed blue metal stone  covering the ground ? If so, it will absolutely exaggerate the heat on nearby plants. In the Territory tropics and heat zones, there is a mass movement away from such ground coverings ( I concede it looks very nice landscaped in and such, but in my view does nothing to help the plants in extreme heat climes ) A natural mulch ( and not wood chips either ) will break down into the soil and be a bit cooler around the plants. Bit more work involved of course.....

[GottmitAlex]

I still stand behind my opinion: Beccariophoenix alfredii are sun lovers.

View pictures of them in habitat and the Califirnia growers. Yours truly included.

 

[Silas_Sancona]

20 minutes ago, greysrigging said:

Is that crushed blue metal stone  covering the ground ? If so, it will absolutely exaggerate the heat on nearby plants. In the Territory tropics and heat zones, there is a mass movement away from such ground coverings ( I concede it looks very nice landscaped in and such, but in my view does nothing to help the plants in extreme heat climes ) A natural mulch ( and not wood chips either ) will break down into the soil and be a bit cooler around the plants. Bit more work involved of course.....

Aside from how good it looks, stone mulch can be very beneficial.  helps retain moisture in the soil, when laid down at a correct depth ..and will slowly contribute nutrients.  Traps a lot of finer organic debris ( shed leaves, esp from many of our smaller leaved desert trees, dust )  that will get recycled down into the soil as it breaks down as well..  As far as the heat retention/ reflection discussion, as plants gain size, any potential detrimental effects lessen.. Stone mulch can help keep plants warmer than they might be during cooler spells during the winter also. 



 

[GottmitAlex]

5 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Aside from how good it looks, stone mulch can be very beneficial.  helps retain moisture in the soil, when laid down at a correct depth ..and will slowly contribute nutrients.  Traps a lot of finer organic debris ( shed leaves, esp from many of our smaller leaved desert trees, dust )  that will get recycled down into the soil as it breaks down as well..  As far as the heat retention/ reflection discussion, as plants gain size, any potential detrimental effects lessen.. Stone mulch can help keep plants warmer than they might be during cooler spells during the winter also. 



 

I swear by lava sand. Interestingly enough, it's from AZ.

Don't laugh,  but the company is named ACME. 

I truly believe the AZ lava sand has helped my coconuts grow in my region.

[Silas_Sancona]

35 minutes ago, GottmitAlex said:

I swear by lava sand. Interestingly enough, it's from AZ.

Don't laugh,  but the company is named ACME. 

I truly believe the AZ lava sand has helped my coconuts grow in my region.

They're down by Tucson. Also sell a Limestone-based product they call " Zen Sand" i want to try eventually..

[GottmitAlex]

https://www.acmesand.com/sand/black-lava-sand/

[greysrigging]

3 hours ago, GottmitAlex said:

Don't laugh,  but the company is named ACME. 

Haha, I'm still laughing....Wylie E Coyota probably on the Board of Directors...
 

 

3 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Aside from how good it looks, stone mulch can be very beneficial.  helps retain moisture in the soil, when laid down at a correct depth ..and will slowly contribute nutrients.  Traps a lot of finer organic debris ( shed leaves, esp from many of our smaller leaved desert trees, dust )  that will get recycled down into the soil as it breaks down as well..  As far as the heat retention/ reflection discussion, as plants gain size, any potential detrimental effects lessen.. Stone mulch can help keep plants warmer than they might be during cooler spells during the winter also. 

Mmmmm , we don't see it that way,  mind you, you fellas are way hotter than us so I would certainly defer to local knowledge. And we have the extreme heavy rain that breaks down natural mulch quick smart. 

[sonoranfans]

5 hours ago, GottmitAlex said:

I swear by lava sand. Interestingly enough, it's from AZ.

Don't laugh,  but the company is named ACME. 

I truly believe the AZ lava sand has helped my coconuts grow in my region.

 

I agree with Silas the granite rock is far better at retaining moisture and absorbing sun heat than mulch or even lava sand.  The heating of soil by the sun ends up in evaporation from the soil with all that surface area, but the heating of rock does not(has no water capacity) and its 3/4" size limits surface area that allows water to escape from the soil.  Rock has a high heat capacity so soil underneath 3-4" rock remains cool in the mid day sun, limiting evaporation from the soil by keeping soil temps down.  Fine sand or rock will not do that, too many evaporation channels and doesnt have the heat capacity.  The arizona desert is not a friendly place to grow plants, 

[96720]

Just because a palm will take the heat doesn’t mean they will take the cold. My hyphaene froze but then came back as a double maybe when it gets older it will be more cold hardy.

[Tyrone]

I reckon Medemia argun would be right up the top and Livistona alfredii wouldn’t be far behind. My small L alfrediis also took a negative 2.5C hit and didn’t even care.

[DoomsDave]

Nannorrhops, Washies, Phoenix rupicola, Bizzies, most Livistona, especially outback Oz ones,