Sabal Minor or Sabal Mexicana may work. As for your palm, I'm afraid it is dead (they often die on the inside before showing any signs). Sorry!

Sabal palmetto is probably marginally hardy at best in your area but this has been a relatively mild winter (so far!) so don't be so certain that it is dead. I would certainly give it some time to recover, at least until early summer, before making the decision to remove it. It may very well be dead, but it just might surprise you.

Windmill palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) is probably the only trunking palm that will be reliably hardy in your area, and may still need protection through your coldest winters.

There's an enormous amount of ignorance about how to handle these trees after they've been dug. I'm astonished at the number of nurseries that think it's ok to purchase a truckload of them, and then allow them to languish on site, with no protection, until they sell.

They are also transported carelessly, treated like a load of pine logs. Time of year is very important, too; these plants do best when dug and transplanted when they are actively growing.

Palmettos also can't be planted deeply, as some people swear. Improper planting is a real killer of these plants.

So do you think I should try another from a different seller? I really like the trees and it would be awesome if I could get one to grow here. Do you think that April 1st would be to early to plant one ?? It just kills me to go to the local restaurants in my area and see them growing perfectly and I could not get my tree to grow at all.

garland, don't be too sure that it is dead yet. I agree with johnnieb that you should give it time, at least until early summer. It sounds like the crown may still be alive. The trick when transplanting Sabals is to trim most of leaves at the time of transplant so that initial growth is directed into root development.If planted early in the warm season, you then end up with at least 5-6 healthy leaves by Fall. Do make sure that you have a reputable dealer who should also knows the likelihood of Sabal Palmetto survival in your area of Georgia. Micro climates in Zone 7b do make a big difference. Good luck. If you like feather palms, a Jelly Palm (Butia capitata)may be more reliable in your area. dl

I just took a ladder and took a look at the top of my palm to closely look at the "tan" 8 inch spear at the top. I separated some of the strands and noticed that there were a couple of green strands in the center. All of the strands on the perimeter were definitely tan and dry. Could it still be alive ?? If so; are there any precautions that I need to take to get it through the next 2 months of winter The weather changes here in mid march. Thanks for all of the advice !!!!

sounds to me like the crown is still alive. You may want to cover it on nights where temp drops below 20 deg., but other than that, wait until Spring. I had 2 Washingtonia palms which I thought were dead one year, only to see the large beautiful leaves start to emerge in late March from what was just a tiny green spot in the crown..... good luck!

Garland ... wait before you wack it down .... when I first started planting cold hardy palms I did'nt know anything ... I planted a 4 foot sabal palmetto, on the north side of my house, in the shade, no protection and it totally died off in the winter but by the next July it started to push new fronds out ... I tried to transplant in a micro climate but the shock killed it off in the fall .... I didn't even know how to plant a palm, I planted a good half foot of the trunk below ground ... I did everything you could possibly do wrong for a palm that is not even rated for zone 7 and the poor thing still tried to make a come back ..... even my male Bull Terrier helped kill it off as his morning toilet ... it still tried to survive .... good luck.