Dypsis pembana

[KDubU]

Chances of surviving in 9a? I am on Amelia Island so water surrounds us and we have tall pines and live oaks for a canopy but we have already this year had two nights around 30-31f. While there has not been a hard frost I have seen some frosting on roofs of houses on those mornings. Like the look of this palm and read about it may make it in 9a but not sure if anyone else has experience. Tks!

[Palm Tree Jim]

Do you have any canopy to help protect the palm?

If so, I would give it a try. Zone pushing is always fun.

[PalmatierMeg]

My oldest D. pembana survived 28.5F with only minor spotting. I'd bought it a year earlier as a 3g. Surprisingly tough palm and worth a try.

[RedRabbit]

Sorry, in my experience it’s really a 10a palm. I had 27f (iirc) in 2018 and my pembana was something like 60% burned. 9a is out of the question.

[akamu]

I say go for it if doesn't make it at least you tried. Just give it your best location with some canopy. 

[Merlyn]

I have a ~14' Pembana that got hit with 28F and frost on 12/26 AM, then 11 hours of 31-33F with light frost the next night.  The top fronds burned from the frost, but the rest of the palm looks fine.  It did a lot better than the common Dypsis Lutescens clumps about 10 feet up the pathway.  Previous nights in early December of 34F and 36F with frost didn't do anything to it.  The same 12/26 frost 100% defoliated several Bottles and Spindles and torched some Flamethrowers that were exposed to the frost. 

A quick read of Kinzyjr's cold hardiness spreadsheet shows variable damage in the upper 20s, and death at 24-26F in CA.  If you don't generally get frost (due to canopy) and temps at your place don't drop below the upper 20s then it's worth a shot.  It's one of my favorite palms and grows faster at my house than anything except a Caryota Mitis.  Here's my cluster today with 2 giant new spears about to open:

 

[Bazza]

3 hours ago, KDubU said:

Chances of surviving in 9a? I am on Amelia Island so water surrounds us and we have tall pines and live oaks for a canopy but we have already this year had two nights around 30-31f. While there has not been a hard frost I have seen some frosting on roofs of houses on those mornings. Like the look of this palm and read about it may make it in 9a but not sure if anyone else has experience. Tks!

In case it's of interest @KDubU, here's an older thread that goes into detail of this very subject:

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/3049-dypsis-pembana/

I remember a post from someone in Ft. Myers showing a bunch the city had planted in a park there - they were mature and beautiful! I love the species myself and am fortunate to have a nice starter in a 15g pot......will install after March 15.....

 

[Merlyn]

15 minutes ago, Bazza said:

 I love the species myself and am fortunate to have a nice starter in a 15g pot......will install after March 15.....

I just added my temperature profile and damage details in the freeze thread, thanks for the link!

The one in the above photo was a bit smaller than your 15g pot, planted in April 2019.  It was about 3 feet tall in the ground.  9-11 feet of growth in 1.5 years is pretty fast! 

[KDubU]

Tks everyone. I am really going to have to think this one over as I would love to have one but need to think best placement for a chance at survival. 
 

@Bazza that is a good thread, Tks.

[RedRabbit]

2 hours ago, KDubU said:

Tks everyone. I am really going to have to think this one over as I would love to have one but need to think best placement for a chance at survival. 
 

@Bazza that is a good thread, Tks.

If you want a nice clumping palm you might try P. Macarthurii or Areca triandra. They’re 9b palms and pretty doubtful in 9a, but I think you’ve got a better shot with them than D pembana. My P Macarthurii and D pembana were planted right next to each other and in 2018 the Macarthurii was basically undamaged. 

Edited January 24, 2021 by RedRabbit

[necturus]

I had a 1 gallon D. pembana in the ground for our worst freeze in thirty years. We got down to 19-20 and were below freezing for over 24 hours. It was on the south side of my house and had roof over head to protect from frost. It defoliated but came back. This was several years ago, and it has since grown enough that I am thinking about moving it.

I agree that it doesn't stand a chance in 9A long term, but in a perfect microclimate and/or with protection, who knows? Especially in Florida where you can get sizeable specimens for relatively cheap, why not?