Northeast cold hardy palms

[Brandon James]

I’m curious who else in the northeast has had success growing palms. What kinds and where are you from?

I’ve been posting periodically since I planted my Trachy in 2019. It’s certainly been slower growing up here in coastal Maine, but with some winter protection during winter storms and cold snaps they’ve all continued to grow. I have both sabal minor and needle palms successes and failures. But overall next to the foundation has been a huge plus. The sabals are the least protected of all the palms and they are doing well three years in with new additions each year. I also added a yucca rostrata in 2021. It’s taken a beating last winter because it was so wet but it seems to be pulling thru.
 

[Harry’s Palms]

That looks very nice . I think the cold in your area is going to make it challenging to grow any palms outdoors , year round. Harry

[SeanK]

That Trachycarpus looks better than some I've seen in Georgia 

[kbob11]

Mine Trachy F. Has been in the ground from a 15gal for 5 years, currently 10’ and flowering.  I also have a large needle next to it and a sabal minor.  This tree gets covered and heated in winter, the others just covered.  In front of the tree you might notice a small Agave Americana pup that I took off of a larger potted plant.  Curious to see how big it gets in the ground this summer.

[ChicagoPalma]

 

3 hours ago, Brandon James said:

I’m curious who else in the northeast has had success growing palms. What kinds and where are you from?

I’ve been posting periodically since I planted my Trachy in 2019. It’s certainly been slower growing up here in coastal Maine, but with some winter protection during winter storms and cold snaps they’ve all continued to grow. I have both sabal minor and needle palms successes and failures. But overall next to the foundation has been a huge plus. The sabals are the least protected of all the palms and they are doing well three years in with new additions each year. I also added a yucca rostrata in 2021. It’s taken a beating last winter because it was so wet but it seems to be pulling thru.
 

not from the northeast but in chicago i am growing right now two windmill palms in ground and possibly a queen or mexican fan palm this summer. Your palms look pretty good in general, windmill palm seems a little short but I can see a flower spathe coming up. Enjoy the nice scent those flowers have.

[Leelanau Palms]

50 minutes ago, kbob11 said:

Mine Trachy F. Has been in the ground from a 15gal for 5 years, currently 10’ and flowering.  I also have a large needle next to it and a sabal minor.  This tree gets covered and heated in winter, the others just covered.  In front of the tree you might notice a small Agave Americana pup that I took off of a larger potted plant.  Curious to see how big it gets in the ground this summer.

Could you please share a current picture of your needle palm?

[kbob11]

@Leelanau Palms

[Leelanau Palms]

How old is the needle?

[kbob11]

@Leelanau Palms Not really sure.  I bought it as a large 15gal at the same time (5years ago) as the Windmill.  It likes the spot but took a year or so to really get established.  I also had to fight off scale etc.  I would say it has probably doubled in size overall.  

[Leelanau Palms]

Thanks for those details. I'm taking a shot with 3 needles in my yard this year. Any care tips you could share with me?

[kbob11]

@Leelanau PalmsMine REALLY likes water, especially in hot weather.  I have an irrigation head near it and it’s a fan.   I put a box around it and fill it with leaves just to eliminate drafts when it’s Uber cold.  It saw -13f with -35f windchill and was not phased (windmill lost 50% of fronds with a heating element).  I know needles can take crazy absolute lows but I am not sure about completely frozen ground like we get in New England.  I usually try to box it around thanksgiving - December.  

[Brandon James]

2 hours ago, kbob11 said:

@Leelanau PalmsMine REALLY likes water, especially in hot weather.  I have an irrigation head near it and it’s a fan.   I put a box around it and fill it with leaves just to eliminate drafts when it’s Uber cold.  It saw -13f with -35f windchill and was not phased (windmill lost 50% of fronds with a heating element).  I know needles can take crazy absolute lows but I am not sure about completely frozen ground like we get in New England.  I usually try to box it around thanksgiving - December.  

We had those same temperatures here in February 2023 and I lost a bunch of frond tips but the main part didn’t turn brown so no other issues. I had a greenhouse fan on and the temperature inside the greenhouse I build around it was 0 with the heater. 

here's a few pictures of the makeshift greenhouse I do here. I leave the south side open with good weather that has highs above freezing. wind and storms I fasten the plywood over the opening to maintain the structure as its mostly lexan glass sides.

[Brandon James]

9 hours ago, Harry’s Palms said:

That looks very nice . I think the cold in your area is going to make it challenging to grow any palms outdoors , year round. Harry

It is certainly a challenge, but the Trachy has made it in ground since march 2019. The sabals have lost all fronds the first winter of 2021 but have done better since I cover them during snow or rain when a cold snap is supposed to follow afterwards.

[LakeEriePalms]

Not NE but along the Lake Erie area in Ontario. Palms are in pots but will be going in ground once we get the next house with more land. The Musa Basjoo though Ive put it in the ground this year. Started with 2 of them 2 years ago and I have 7 now. They just keep giving pups so this season decided to try in the ground.