Surprising hardiness of "tropical" palms

[Xenon]

Never ever protected beyond existing water oak canopy...granted the bud of these palms are at ground level but was pleasantly surprised nonetheless. Long duration 25F and freezing rain(!) 

Licuala fordiana...spear pulled but second spear is coming right up!

Lanonia dasyantha...the burning is not from cold but pre-existing transplant shock. It was planted in December!! Next to no cold damage at all??? The Philodendron crassinervium next to it melted. 

 

Foxtail seed that sprouted last August 

Edited April 9, 2022 by Xenon

[Meangreen94z]

They will probably come back until the growth point is above ground. 

[Xenon]

18 minutes ago, Meangreen94z said:

They will probably come back until the growth point is above ground. 

True but what really surprises me is the lack of leaf damage. All of the tropical dicots nearby froze to ground level. 

[Fusca]

Based on feedback from Gary I think the Lanonia is hardier than it's been given credit for.  I've got a small seedling - maybe it's slower too!

[Xenon]

Is it safe to say Licuala fordiana outperformed Chuniophoenix nana? Cold hardy Licuala not an oxymoron after all?? 

[Merlyn]

I'm impressed by the Licuala Fordiana!  I had several small Licuala Peltata v. Sumawongii that were basically undamaged by 4-6 hours of 24-26F.  They yellowed a bit and the bigger ones killed off the oldest leaves quickly after the cold front, but all are growing great.  A few years ago I wrote off the entire Licuala group, but have since bought Aurantiaca, Peltata v. Peltata, Peltata v. Sumawongii, Spinosa and Ramsayi.  I'll have to add Fordiana to my list of palms to buy!