South Bethany Beach DE Sabal Minors

[GregVirginia7]

Wanted to show ya’ll the progress of my unprotected Sabal Minors in Delaware. I think they’ve been in-ground for 8-years or so. Both are the same size (statue in the 2nd pic is 18” for scale) Bases are about 12” in diameter and, of course, no visible trunk with Sabal Minor. There are “volunteers” popping up all over the place. Seems to me, this is a palm that could assimilate here with no problem. I have 3 seed sprouted offspring in my backyard in Virginia from these two. I’ll send pics of them at some point.

 

[SeanK]

Very nice, Greg. Any public plantings near you?

[GregVirginia7]

On 10/10/2024 at 7:46 PM, SeanK said:

Very nice, Greg. Any public plantings near you?

Not that I know of. There is a restaurant nearby called Cottage Cafe that has a few cold hardy varieties on their property but the number of volunteers in our yard may indicate it could be planted. Although I do recall seeing some publicly planted in the median on Coastal Hwy. 1 just up the way but they are all gone. Guess salt tolerance may be an issue? But I have to say, the backyard here is an ideal south facing plot and that probably helps a lot with survivability.

[Las Palmas Norte]

Might be time for a little guerilla gardening around town. 🤔 

[Alex High]

On 10/10/2024 at 1:45 PM, GregVirginia7 said:

Wanted to show ya’ll the progress of my unprotected Sabal Minors in Delaware. I think they’ve been in-ground for 8-years or so. Both are the same size (statue in the 2nd pic is 18” for scale) Bases are about 12” in diameter and, of course, no visible trunk with Sabal Minor. There are “volunteers” popping up all over the place. Seems to me, this is a palm that could assimilate here with no problem. I have 3 seed sprouted offspring in my backyard in Virginia from these two. I’ll send pics of them at some point.

 

On 10/10/2024 at 4:46 PM, SeanK said:

Very nice, Greg. Any public plantings near you?

Absolutely beautiful Sabal minor, thanks for sharing! I actually just moved to California for college but loved seeing a fellow D.C. area poster as well, love your palms there too. There are quite a few palms in the Bethany-Rehoboth area, including many recently planted. In time, maybe a few decades, I think it might become the new Virginia beach, that is the northernmost place on the East Coast where palms are "common." Of course it's colder there than VA Beach so bad freezes can take out Trachys as they have in the past, but there are some survivors around the area too, it's milder than D.C. for sure, being by the coast. Check these ones out, ShoeTELEVISION on YouTube goes there often and makes great videos cataloging local palms in the area (as well as other hardy palms in the Northeast), and he keeps finding more! I'm sure there are plenty more scattered around neighborhoods. Keep us posted on those beauties!

[SeanK]

I'm amazed by the agaves. They're quick to rot in cool damp weather. I suspect the cycads are potted, given the deep green and multiple flushes. One of the Butias looks a bit like Jubaea.

[RFun]

On 10/10/2024 at 4:45 PM, GregVirginia7 said:

Wanted to show ya’ll the progress of my unprotected Sabal Minors in Delaware. I think they’ve been in-ground for 8-years or so. Both are the same size (statue in the 2nd pic is 18” for scale) Bases are about 12” in diameter and, of course, no visible trunk with Sabal Minor. There are “volunteers” popping up all over the place. Seems to me, this is a palm that could assimilate here with no problem. I have 3 seed sprouted offspring in my backyard in Virginia from these two. I’ll send pics of them at some point.

 

Those are impressive photos for anywhere with Sabal minors.

[Las Palmas Norte]

1 hour ago, SeanK said:

I'm amazed by the agaves. They're quick to rot in cool damp weather. ...

All need decent drainage & it really depends on the species.  Here are a couple of mine on the Pacific coast, Canada. We're known for our wet damp winters.

 

[GregVirginia7]

Speaking of agaves…they make excellent companion plants for palms…both in pots and in-ground. The agave Ovatifolia is extremely cold hardy…even outdoes the Trachy in resilience, at least in my backyard.

 

[EJPalm05]

A bit late to this but here is my Sabal Minor in The Newark, NJ area planted in Spring 2022 that has never been protected.

[PaPalmTrees]

On 10/10/2024 at 4:45 PM, GregVirginia7 said:

Wanted to show ya’ll the progress of my unprotected Sabal Minors in Delaware. I think they’ve been in-ground for 8-years or so. Both are the same size (statue in the 2nd pic is 18” for scale) Bases are about 12” in diameter and, of course, no visible trunk with Sabal Minor. There are “volunteers” popping up all over the place. Seems to me, this is a palm that could assimilate here with no problem. I have 3 seed sprouted offspring in my backyard in Virginia from these two. I’ll send pics of them at some point.

 

Did you plant these at a local area or or a plot of land you own?

[SeanK]

On 10/20/2024 at 1:43 PM, EJPalm05 said:

A bit late to this but here is my Sabal Minor in The Newark, NJ area planted in Spring 2022 that has never been protected.

This should push a bunch of characteristic leaves next summer.

[Dwarf Fan]

On 10/12/2024 at 2:06 PM, GregVirginia7 said:

Not that I know of. There is a restaurant nearby called Cottage Cafe that has a few cold hardy varieties on their property but the number of volunteers in our yard may indicate it could be planted. Although I do recall seeing some publicly planted in the median on Coastal Hwy. 1 just up the way but they are all gone. Guess salt tolerance may be an issue? But I have to say, the backyard here is an ideal south facing plot and that probably helps a lot with survivability.

^^^ Nope, I have a collection of various Sabal minor spp. from across the southern US and and northern Mexico. My location is a mile and a half from the Gulf of Mexico and a half mile from the Laguna Madre with salty ocean air blowing across my garden constantly and pure beach sand throughout my property. There is ZERO soil anywhere on my property except where I dig my planting holes and remove the seashell-filled beach sand and then refill them with store bought bagged organic soil. 

So far the Sabals all seem to be very salt tolerant. Chamaedorea microspadix seems to be the only species I am concerned about, but I am only getting spotting on the lower leaves when they grow through the soil layer I planted them in and the roots hit the sand beneath. Hopefully the isn’t a constant issue with microspadix.

[WRH]

Regarding the sabal minors in the median of Route 1 in South Bethany that were referenced in an earlier post, I believe there are many still there. (at least they were there at the end of the summer, the last time I was down that way). They were planted there a few years back underneath crape myrtles at various points south of town, and even though some died many appear to be establishing themselves well. I doubt they received any particular care from the state or local government. Also, though I haven't checked recently, I know there used to be a lot of sabal minors behind the South Bethany police station, with many volunteers along a small creek that likely naturally helped distribute the seeds. I'll take a look when I head down after Christmas. Many of the more established neighborhoods in the area (Fenwick and Ocean City too) have some really great palms!

[WRH]

Here are a few shots of some palms I encountered out-and-about in Bethany Beach and South Bethany today. There are many others, but I wanted to show some that perhaps are less known about than those that occasionally wind up here or on YouTube. 
 

Here are some of the aforementioned sabal minors in the Route 1 median. All doing well with recruits everywhere.

Here is a particularly massive Sabal clump. I’m not sure which variety it might be, but it is impressive.

 

Also, a very nice little stand of naturalized minors behind the south Bethany police station.

Two windmills right around the corner from there.

Also, though I know these individuals are well-known on here, I think it looks like one of the Boathouse Butias has a kid! Check the bottom of the first photo!

Bethany could really become quite palmy if these individuals inspire others to give palms a try!

[Zone7Bpalmguy]

2 hours ago, WRH said:

Here are a few shots of some palms I encountered out-and-about in Bethany Beach and South Bethany today. There are many others, but I wanted to show some that perhaps are less known about than those that occasionally wind up here or on YouTube. 
 

Here are some of the aforementioned sabal minors in the Route 1 median. All doing well with recruits everywhere.

Here is a particularly massive Sabal clump. I’m not sure which variety it might be, but it is impressive.

 

Also, a very nice little stand of naturalized minors behind the south Bethany police station.

Two windmills right around the corner from there.

Also, though I know these individuals are well-known on here, I think it looks like one of the Boathouse Butias has a kid! Check the bottom of the first photo!

Bethany could really become quite palmy if these individuals inspire others to give palms a try!

Those look great! I love the crape myrtles underplanted with sabal minor. I did something similar at a previous residence. It's amazing those butias are surviving and look to be thriving. How long have they been there?

[Muslim Gardener]

Wow, this is amazing! It looks so green and healthy. Parts of the native range of Sabal minor in coastal North Carolina and in Southeast Virginia have gotten well below 10°F for brief periods and they did well. I'm sure the oceanic climate of Bethany Beach is good for them, especially in the golden band 1 to 3 miles inland. 

[Muslim Gardener]

On 12/31/2024 at 3:35 PM, WRH said:

Here are a few shots of some palms I encountered out-and-about in Bethany Beach and South Bethany today. There are many others, but I wanted to show some that perhaps are less known about than those that occasionally wind up here or on YouTube. 
 

Here are some of the aforementioned sabal minors in the Route 1 median. All doing well with recruits everywhere.

Here is a particularly massive Sabal clump. I’m not sure which variety it might be, but it is impressive.

 

Also, a very nice little stand of naturalized minors behind the south Bethany police station.

Two windmills right around the corner from there.

Also, though I know these individuals are well-known on here, I think it looks like one of the Boathouse Butias has a kid! Check the bottom of the first photo!

Bethany could really become quite palmy if these individuals inspire others to give palms a try!

Pindo palms in Delaware but people are telling me I can't grow them in z8 coastal Virginia. Same zone and even further North! I definitely think I can now. Thanks, I needed to see this. Those things look lush and healthy.