Zone 9a small trunking sized palm suggestions

[smithgn]

Hi all, 

I hope this summer has been treating everyone well. As I've mentioned in another thread, I have the palm bug and since I now will be able to travel freely with work; I'll be back in the United States more often so that will allow me to check up on my palms I've left behind with my parents So anyway, to get to the point...

 

I have a small project in mind. There's a small "nook' in the middle of my parents house that's maybe 4 feet deep. Its a brick house so it would make an ideal microclimate. It's mostly full sun facing but depending on what I put there, I can play with how much sun it gets by planting something else in front of it to give it shade. 

Besides Chamaedorea's or Rhapis', I'm looking for something in the size of a Laccospadix Australasica, if anything, a bit smaller so it can fit in this "nook". once it reaches maturity. Any ideas? Obviously I'd love to plant tropical but to keep things realistic this is in an 8A zone so anything in zone 9 would be as high I'd be able to go. 

Worse can scenario, I think I'll go with the Laccospadix A. 

Thanks again everyone!

[ruskinPalms]

I honestly can’t think of much for 8A in that situation except maybe Trachycarpus. If you can protect real well may P. roebellini as a total zone push, but I have a hard time recommending them, because they largely suck to trim with the wicked spines and all which I just did with my two today 

[VA Jeff]

From my experience, I doubt Laccospadix will survive for you in 9A.  9B short term maybe.

 

Chamaerops varieties are a possibility.  Bulletproof at least.  Copernicia alba is a little bigger, but not huge.  Arenga ryukyuensis might survive.  Who knows, if you can find one.  Perhaps a cycad might be a better choice for a tiny space.

[Will]

You could try chamadorea microspadix or Chamaerops humilis. Phoenix roebellini is definitely not gonna be hardy enough for 8a 

[SeanK]

I vote for roebellini. You can find nice trunking ones fairly cheap, so instant gratification.

[smithgn]

VA  Jeff sold me on the Arenga ryukyuensis. I think that'll be perfect for my situation.. The microspadix is an excellent idea as well as it fits the bill but I already have 2 (or three now that they've begun to sucker) in a cool and damp area in the backyard I dont know how they survived so unscathed but they're doing very well. 

haha and guys y'all are right about the robellini. Such a nice palm and they sell them in abundance in the big box stores back home but they're so fricken tender for 8A, even in a protected area like I have. 

 

I took some screenshots of a video my mom took of this little nook. It's actually about 4 foot wide and maybe 3 feet deep but still worth experimenting. That tall juniper in the front will be axed sometime next spring when I come to visit. 

 

 

[SeanK]

I didn't realize that the palm was to be planted in z8a, as that conflicts with the posting title.

It's better to state where the planting will be in the initial post (Charleston SC area or NE of Charlotte or east of Tampa).

[smithgn]

I see now how the title could be confusing- sorry about that. Although it doesn’t conflict with what I intended in the title because basically I’m looking for a zone 9a palm that’s small in size and non-clumping… so that I can zone push in a good microclimate of 8A. Should have added the last part to be more specific haha 

I write in the message it’s for 8A. Anyway, the house is in Irmo, SC about 100 miles south of Charlotte. I have plenty of 8b and borderline zone 9 stuff (two 8 foot robustas) so looking to try some more 9A stuff. 
 

 

Edited August 11, 2022 by smithgn

[ruskinPalms]

I’m still saying Pygmy Date for a well protected zone push. Their foliage is not much better than adonidia or any other zone 10 palm in frost/freeze scenarios but they are much more bud hardy and will recover from freezes with good care. The aforementioned adonidia will sulk and die after the same freeze a Pygmy date sees. Seems like a really easy area to protect but I know ultimate lows aren’t all of the equation. You may have to provide supplemental heat somehow through the winter months where you’re at for almost anything you want to zone push. That’s my personal cutoff in this hobby; I won’t try to add heat to the ambient environment to make something make it here. It has to be ok with what heat it gets year round. 

[smithgn]

That’s very interesting and thanks for your response ruskinPalms. I had no idea it was bud hardy. As much as I’d like the palm to survive I don’t think I’d have near the satisfaction if the leaves burn every year- and I’m with you; I think for me gone are the days of adding supplemental heat. It’s nice to “cheat” using natural or constructed micro climates like with other plants/canopy or structures like the brick wall of a house, but once you have to systematically add heat every year; it just doesn’t give me as much satisfaction. 
 

Ive recently come across the syagrus glaucescens and Geronimo schottiana as nice candidates. The Geonomia is nearly perfect as far as size goes. 
 

 

 ^ “Geronimo” Schottiana haha