Questions about Queen Palms in Myrtle Beach (8b)

[Pee Dee Palms]

So last summer I planted a couple of Queen Palms, one on the south facing side of my house, and one on the east facing side of my house (east facing one is more protected but it doesn't heat up as quickly). I obviously heavily protected them both this past cold snap and tried to mainly protect their spears. Overall the one on the south side definitely faired better. I am very shocked at how well it did. The one on the east side did pretty well too, but has much more discoloration. Anyone know why my Queen on the south side did so much better? They both had equal amounts of protection. Could it be that the Queen on the south side is hardier than the one on the east, or is it just because it is on the south side?

Edited February 22, 2023 by General Sylvester D. Palm

[Wakreeh]

It is likely because the one on the south side was facing south more than it is because of genetics. You would be surprised just how much a south-facing well is better than East or North. 

[DAVEinMB]

@General Sylvester D. Palm i lost a queen against an east facing wall this winter whereas one on a south facing wall survived. I gave the east facing one more protection but ultimately it didn't matter. My south facing wall receives much more sun which I think made the difference. 

[RJ]

West facing does well at out latitude as well. 

[Pee Dee Palms]

Well I totally messed up... the side I kept calling the east facing side is actually the west... Must've completely forgot my directions when I wrote that. Don't know if that would have much of a difference or not.

[MarcusH]

Posted this quite a few times in this forum but Queen palms are hardier than you think.  I planted my second larger Queen a week ago.  My little one I planted in May last year survived lows of 16,21,24,28F it completely defoliated on December 22nd, 2022 (artic blast) Now two months later it's still in the recovering process with visible freeze damage.  Yesterday I've encountered the second spear making its way out . With temperatures in the 70s and 80s I started fertilizing my palms yesterday . What did I use for protection ? First of all this particular palm was planted on the Northwest side of our house in other words there was zero protection from our cold front.  All I used was a small trash can and and one thin bedsheet that I wrapped around the palm.  Next time I would protect it with burlap , heat tape and spray the fronds with Leaf Guardian . I wasn't prepared that much last winter to be honest.  Long story short my palm survived well but I think it had a lot to do with that I take care of all my palms . Before every cold snap heavy mulching and deep watering the palm pushes up the cold hardiness.  A healthy palm will withstand a severe winter much better than a palm that just doesn't get much attention at all.  One frond already grew almost 8 inches. 

[MarcusH]

19 minutes ago, General Sylvester D. Palm said:

Well I totally messed up... the side I kept calling the east facing side is actually the west... Must've completely forgot my directions when I wrote that. Don't know if that would have much of a difference or not.

Usually our cold fronts come in from the NW direction so yes it matters 🙂 but all good I think we knew what you were saying. 

[SeanK]

As I recall, there is an Argentine cultivar that is a 1/2 zone more cold hardy than the common variety. Some guys grew them near Savannah.