NBTX - Cold Hardy Palm Update - May 2024

[CTX Palm King]

All,

Here is a couple of quick shots of all my palms and how they are doing as of May 2024.

Sabal Minors

Sabal Mexicana

Trachy’s & Mediterranean’s

Washingtonia’s

Pindo / Butia

CIDP

Needle Palms

 

 

[Harry’s Palms]

Nice looking palms. Harry

[CTX Palm King]

@Harry’s Palms Yeah I am actually impressed with how far they have come considering the annual 13 - 16F snap that has hit every winter.

[NBTX11]

3 hours ago, CTX Palm King said:

@Harry’s Palms Yeah I am actually impressed with how far they have come considering the annual 13 - 16F snap that has hit every winter.

Every winter?  Before 2021 there were virtually no winters below 16F for the previous 30 years. I was here for 20 of them and we NEVER saw 16, let alone 13.   There were huge queen palms and towering Robusta in NB all over the place. 
 

The bad winters have been confined to the past 3-4 years

[CTX Palm King]

@NBTX11 I’ve only lived here the last 4 winters growing palms. Hence my experience.  For me that’s been every winter.

[NBTX11]

14 minutes ago, CTX Palm King said:

@NBTX11 I’ve only lived here the last 4 winters growing palms. Hence my experience.  For me that’s been every winter.

Ok makes sense. The last 4 winters have been bad. Colder than average. I’ve seen winters with an overall low of 25-30F fairly common. Queen palms weren’t burned. That ended a few years ago. I’d like to see another 30 year stretch of warm weather. 
 

Thete were NB neighborhoods that Robusta towered over all the houses. 

[Meangreen94z]

5 hours ago, NBTX11 said:

Ok makes sense. The last 4 winters have been bad. Colder than average. I’ve seen winters with an overall low of 25-30F fairly common. Queen palms weren’t burned. That ended a few years ago. I’d like to see another 30 year stretch of warm weather. 
 

Thete were NB neighborhoods that Robusta towered over all the houses. 

New Braunfels hit 2,3, and 10°F in the 80’s . It would be nice to have a 20-30 year run of warm temperatures, but its very possible that was an anomaly. 

[NBTX11]

5 hours ago, Meangreen94z said:

New Braunfels hit 2,3, and 10°F in the 80’s . It would be nice to have a 20-30 year run of warm temperatures, but its very possible that was an anomaly. 

Yes. That’s what I was referring to. The last serious cold prior to 2021. 
 

Still, Filifera and Sabal survived those 80s freezes. Some of which are near 100 year old palms. 
 

In the 35 years or so between major freezes, Robusta grew to 50+ feet and in some cases 60+ feet, while queen palms grew to mature heights. 

[Meangreen94z]

14 minutes ago, NBTX11 said:

Yes. That’s what I was referring to. The last serious cold prior to 2021. 
 

Still, Filifera and Sabal survived those 80s freezes. Some of which are near 100 year old palms. 
 

In the 35 years or so between major freezes, Robusta grew to 50+ feet and in some cases 60+ feet, while queen palms grew to mature heights. 

Yes,  but nothing is guaranteed with nature.  1982,1983,1985, and 1989 all had lows in the 2-11°F range. For all we know we could have a two decade run of 80’s level temperatures . I’m hopeful like you for a long mild run, but planning protection methods for the worst.

[NBTX11]

1 minute ago, Meangreen94z said:

Yes,  but nothing is guaranteed with nature.  1982,1983,1985, and 1989 all had lows in the 2-11°F range. For all we know we could have a two decade run of 80’s level temperatures . I’m hopeful like you for a long mild run, but planning protection methods for the worst.

It’s unlikely we’ll have a two decade run of 10 degree weather when the 30 year average is near 19-20F. That would be 10 degrees below average for two decades straight. I do agree about planning for the worst. I have all hardy palms in my yard. 

[Meangreen94z]

1 minute ago, NBTX11 said:

It’s unlikely we’ll have a two decade run of 10 degree weather when the 30 year average is near 19-20F. That would be 10 degrees below average for two decades straight. I do agree about planning for the worst. I have all hardy palms in my yard. 

Not every year but every few years like the 80’s is not any more implausible than the mild run we had for 20-30 years. 6 of the 20 coldest nights on record happened in a 8 year span.

https://www.extremeweatherwatch.com/cities/new-braunfels/lowest-temperatures