What are the most exotic, solid 9b palms?

[BayAndroid]

I'm checking my list and checking it twice.... Am I missing some really awesome looking palms in my collection? Palms that can handle 25f+ without damage. 

Supporting photos would be great! 

[idontknowhatnametuse]

My favorite one palm 9B is Acrocomia aculeata.

[BayAndroid]

Wow those spines are insane! 

[awkonradi]

8 hours ago, BayAndroid said:

I'm checking my list and checking it twice.... Am I missing some really awesome looking palms in my collection? Palms that can handle 25f+ without damage. 

Supporting photos would be great! 

Hi Will, do you have Jim in Los Altos' species list?  I think you have commented that your property is a cold sink, and therefore likely a little colder than Jim's property, but I would think Jim's list, and his comments about vigor, would be the "encyclopedia" for peninsula palm growers.

[sonoranfans]

10 hours ago, BayAndroid said:

I'm checking my list and checking it twice.... Am I missing some really awesome looking palms in my collection? Palms that can handle 25f+ without damage. 

Supporting photos would be great! 

a 9B palm is a palm that will withstand 25F and survive, the "without damage thing" is another matter as survival is more important.  Choices may be 10x fewer for 25F without damage as this would exclude lots of palms that would survive 25F with damage and recover.  25F without damage is probably include washingtonias, some livistonas, phoenix species(not rupicolas and roebelinii), some, but not all sabals and copernicia alba(but not the cuban copernicias) and not bismarckia which will often burn significantly at 25F depending in duration.  Duration of cold matters here and that is why the short cold of the mediterranean 9B climates are less damaging than say a longer cold in an advective cold event in florida 9B.

[flplantguy]

There are a few that can grow there I would be jealous of. Rhopalostylis is stunning but likes cool weather so won't grow here yet looks amazing there. Also ceroxylons and a bunch of highland species that may handle occasional light freezes but would need protection if you hit 25 regularly.  This site is great for ideas and you can check particular details for a species on palmpedia too.

[BayAndroid]

2 hours ago, awkonradi said:

Hi Will, do you have Jim in Los Altos' species list?  I think you have commented that your property is a cold sink, and therefore likely a little colder than Jim's property, but I would think Jim's list, and his comments about vigor, would be the "encyclopedia" for peninsula palm growers.

I don't have a complete species list, but yeah, my property seems to get 10 degrees colder than the same property with a little elevation to it. I think when my temperatures are bottoming out each year around 26 - 27, Jim is probably seeing 36 - 37. 

The duration on the worst nights could be 6 to 8 hours under freezing. Those really long cold nights are happening only once or twice a winter and maybe not every winter. 

[daxin]

My 9B wish list:

New hybrids from Patric

Brahea pimo

Chrysalidocarpus pumilus

Dwarf Butia species 

[RedRabbit]

Howea forsteriana could be a good option, but CA members would know better than me.

[Zeeth]

I feel like Jubaea x Syagrus would be a great palm to try for 9b if you have the space. 

[tim_brissy_13]

Chrysalidocarpus decipiens and onilahensis are probably good choices if you want something that looks exotic. 
 

it’s not rare, but Chamaedorea microspadix looks nice and tropical when the clumps get large. Some others to consider: Caryota maxima ‘Himalayan’, Beccariophoenix alfredii, some of the uncommon Syagrus, Brahea, Butia, Arenga micrantha, Trithrinax (especially campetris). I’m sure there’s more great choices. 

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

I would definitely give a Beccariophoenix Alfredii a try cause why not haha love that palm. To tender for my parts =/ 

T J 

[sonoranfans]

33 minutes ago, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

I would definitely give a Beccariophoenix Alfredii a try cause why not haha love that palm. To tender for my parts =/ 

T J 

I think alfredii might also be fine out west in a cool 9B.  Those cold events are shorter so there are quite a few palms that make it there compared to a cool florida 9B.  Check Jims information if possible.  In a radiative cold event with low wind, you can also put out a propane heater once a year(used best near some stone/masonry.  I used a propane heater in arizona when it hit 21-22F and it helped avoid any apparent damage damage to nearby P. Roebellinii.  Others further away were fried outright, no green left.  If you can plan a little microclimate in your yard it could help with choices that can work.

[RedRabbit]

1 hour ago, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

I would definitely give a Beccariophoenix Alfredii a try cause why not haha love that palm. To tender for my parts =/ 

T J 

Mine hasn’t been a fast grower, otherwise it’s been a great palm. 

[BayAndroid]

9 hours ago, OC2Texaspalmlvr said:

I would definitely give a Beccariophoenix Alfredii a try cause why not haha love that palm. To tender for my parts =/ 

T J 

I have one in the ground. This will be it's first winter. I will let everyone know how it goes. 

[BayAndroid]

9 hours ago, Zeeth said:

I feel like Jubaea x Syagrus would be a great palm to try for 9b if you have the space. 

Definitely have my eye on one of these. 

[BayAndroid]

9 hours ago, tim_brissy_13 said:

Chrysalidocarpus decipiens and onilahensis are probably good choices if you want something that looks exotic. 
 

it’s not rare, but Chamaedorea microspadix looks nice and tropical when the clumps get large. Some others to consider: Caryota maxima ‘Himalayan’, Beccariophoenix alfredii, some of the uncommon Syagrus, Brahea, Butia, Arenga micrantha, Trithrinax (especially campetris). I’m sure there’s more great choices. 

Got my hands on a Decipiens - finally, this Summer. Will report on how it does this winter. 

[Jim in Los Altos]

Will, Are you growing any Parajubaea? P. torallyi or sunkha should do well for you if you have the space they need. A Bismarckia might be fun. There are so many in the Livistona and Brahea genus that would work. 

[BayAndroid]

13 minutes ago, Jim in Los Altos said:

Will, Are you growing any Parajubaea? P. torallyi or sunkha should do well for you if you have the space they need. A Bismarckia might be fun. There are so many in the Livistona and Brahea genus that would work. 

I'm not sure about the space, but I have looked at those. We'll see! 

[Tom in Tucson]

34 minutes ago, BayAndroid said:

Definitely have my eye on one of these. 

If you can find any. Pat Shafer sold these for years, and although they were his most expensive, they were his favorite hybrid, and the one most cocoid hybrid growers want to try. Unfortunately his seed producers for this hybrid are nonproductive for some reason. I'm happy I bought two when I had the chance. I would contact him for his prospects for future production.

Hi 78°, Lo 48°

[pogobob]

Jubaea x syagrus absolute beast 

[Palmfarmer]

How about some Kentias, Bismarck, Majestys and kentiopsis oliviformis. 

[SeanK]

4 hours ago, Palmfarmer said:

How about some Kentias, Bismarck, Majestys and kentiopsis oliviformis. 

Majesty is good to about 27°-28° (-2°C) before it gets damaged.

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

9 hours ago, pogobob said:

Jubaea x syagrus absolute beast 

Holy grail hybrid , cause of its cold hardiness. 

T J 

[SFLP48584]

TJ, how cold hardy is Jubaea x Syagrus?

-John

[BayAndroid]

18 hours ago, pogobob said:

Jubaea x syagrus absolute beast 

HOLY COW! 

[BayAndroid]

14 hours ago, Palmfarmer said:

How about some Kentias, Bismarck, Majestys and kentiopsis oliviformis. 

I love all of these, except for me in particular, I don't think they will do well. They can make it in the Bay Area, but in my particular spot, they will struggle. 

[BayAndroid]

3 hours ago, SFLP48584 said:

TJ, how cold hardy is Jubaea x Syagrus?

-John

Appears to be 20f

[BayAndroid]

For context on my climate, standard Queen Palms are solid here, I am just looking for something a little more unusual. There have been some great suggestions, so thank you!

[Tom in Tucson]

23 hours ago, pogobob said:

Jubaea x syagrus absolute beast 

Is this one yours, or Gary Levine's?

Hi 80°, Lo 48°

[JohnAndSancho]

Me, searching for solid 8A palms 

 

Sabals lol 

[Merlyn]

Arenga Engleri is a great clustering palm, mine took no damage at 24.4F with frost.  They can be a monstrous cluster, or can be trimmed up to be just one or two trunks.  It might not be as "exotic" as you are looking for, but it could be a good option!

[Kenc]

On 10/29/2023 at 11:17 PM, BayAndroid said:

I'm checking my list and checking it twice.... Am I missing some really awesome looking palms in my collection? Palms that can handle 25f+ without damage. 

Supporting photos would be great! 

For me, the Kentia palm is without a doubt a great choice. I’ve seen mature Kentia palms thriving in the Bay Area.

[Palmfarmer]

On 10/31/2023 at 6:59 AM, SeanK said:

Majesty is good to about 27°-28° (-2°C) before it gets damaged.

More like -4 here. Keep in mind my climate is strange. Is it true Royals really are less hardy than Majestys? 

[BayAndroid]

3 hours ago, Kenc said:

For me, the Kentia palm is without a doubt a great choice. I’ve seen mature Kentia palms thriving in the Bay Area.

The problem is, these palms are near the bay, so they are well protected from the frost that I get. This morning my low was 38 while it was 46 at my office, just a couple of miles away (close to the bay). 

[Fusca]

On 10/31/2023 at 6:24 PM, BayAndroid said:

For context on my climate, standard Queen Palms are solid here, I am just looking for something a little more unusual. There have been some great suggestions, so thank you!

How about the Coco Queen hybrid (Syagrus schizophylla x Syagrus romanzoffiana)?  It's supposed to be a 9b palm and not difficult to find.  @Ben in Norcal has some doing well not too far from you - maybe he can post a photo or two?

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by Fusca

[Ben in Norcal]

6 minutes ago, Fusca said:

How about the Coco Queen hybrid (Syagrus schizophylla x Syagrus romanzoffiana)?  It's supposed to be a 9b palm and not difficult to find.  @Ben in Norcal has some doing well not too far from you - maybe he can post a photo or two?

 

[BayAndroid]

9 minutes ago, Fusca said:

How about the Coco Queen hybrid (Syagrus schizophylla x Syagrus romanzoffiana)?  It's supposed to be a 9b palm and not difficult to find.  @Ben in Norcal has some doing well not too far from you - maybe he can post a photo or two?

 

Yeah, I was looking at those! Very pricy for a large specimen, so I was just slightly worried about whether or not they were as hardy as a typical queen. I've heard they are, so it's on my short list. Just need to pull the trigger. Also need to find the right location for one. 

[peachy]

Many of the Livistona can handle a lot of cold. Personally speaking mine experienced  -5 C a few times and survived unscathed.

Peachy

 

[Patrick]

What are your needs currently? Do you need upper stuff? Lower stuff? Middle stuff? Where are you at with your garden? And how's your wind? Like, im same zone as you but Kentias are out because of my wind. Of course... I have one Im trying.... Beccario died for me, wasn't warm enough in its location. But if you wanted lower stuff you should look for Linospadix monostachya and some others. That's hecka short though so,maybe you're not there yet...