Sorry I didn't see this earlier. There are numerous hardy palms surviving outdoors, many without protection, in and around Washington, DC. Needle palms (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) and dwarf palmettos (Sabal minor) are quite hardy here once established and there are plenty of older, well-established specimens (including a huge needle palm at the National Arboretum that's about 30 years old). Long-term windmill palms (Trachycarpus fortunei) are harder to come by, but they're out there, primarily in private gardens. Needle palms--this is the big one at the National Arboretum, photographed in April a few years ago. It's hard to tell the scale from this photo, but the tips of the fronds are 9 or 10 feet above the ground: This particularly nice one was growing on a city street near me, and was about 7-8 feet tall--unfortunately it had to be removed last year due to the city digging up water pipes that ran under it: Very nicely grown Sabal minor in a private garden in Alexandria, VA: A grouping of Sabal minor in a bed at the Air & Space Museum in downtown Washington, DC: In the same bed at the Smithsonian, a windmill palm: BTW the above windmill palm, and the ones following, are all growing without protection of any kind; however, all are growing in very sheltered locations, or otherwise favorable microclimates. In a private garden in Alexandria (note also the needle palm): Same palm from a different angle: Nice specimen in a private garden in Silver Spring, MD: This shot of the same palm gives a better sense of scale: Several more in a private garden in Arlington, VA (note also the needle palms and Sabal minor):

Hi Joe, here in South Island NZ, I've been growing a number of aloes for some years, but am only beginning to come to terms with the different rainfall requirements, which seem to be the limiting factor in marginal climates such as our own, rather than the cold itself. Most aloes will survive frost, but basal rot is almost always lethal, much like agaves. Offhand, a few wet tolerant species to try are plicatilis (frost to -4 deg C), brevifolia and brev x nobilis (-4 to 5), aristata of course, X spinosissima(-4), and striatula, which has tolerated an incredible -9 without damage, and reputedly recovers from -12. Like you, I'm also trialling some species such as striata, vryheidensis, krapohliana, suprafoliata, grandidentata, broomii, humilis, and others, but they haven't been in the ground long enough at our new house to indicate much about their hardiness. Let me know if you'd like a list I have of hardy aloes, with temps in Fahrenheit and some notes about moisture requirements. hope this helps, Douglas

Mango kush... I was reading some things on the internet about breadfruit, and with protection, they can grow to a pretty nice size in southern florida (as long as something like this past winter doesnt happen again for a long time). Some looked like they were almost fruiting size, but Ive never heard of one actually fruiting. If I lived in Southern Florida, breadfruits would definitely be on my list of tender plants to try. Good luck, hope it works out well! I found a really hot sunny spot to put mine that is also very humid, so it should grow really well (at least until it goes inside for the winter). I figure I have from may until about early (maybe mid) october for my breadfruit to go outside because temps rarely go in the 40s at night in that time period. Then while indoors Im going to mist it often and keep it by my sunniest window away from the heat Thanks for your comments and help, I cant wait until it comes in the mail!

I have guavas and starfruits that both survived the last brutal winter we had. Lost leaves and some got pruned back a bit, but they all made it. I am currently posting a few on c list if you are looking for carambola. However, I am not sure if they should go in the ground now or you should just buy potted ones you can bring indoors and wait until spring. I think keeping them in the pot would be a better bet. Here is a link that might be useful: Starfruit / Carambola