Sabal minor Northeast Texas ecotype. All I did this winter was put a chicken wire cage around it and filled with straw. Last winter I didn't even do that. Proves to be hardier here in Michigan than Rhapidophyllum Hystrix.

I think T.latisectus and T.martianus have not proved as cold hardy as fort and wag,nanus to damn slow,manipur and princeps to rare to try,naini tal is a good one, mine have grown fast.T.nova is fast,can't tell ya how hardy though.I think that Trithrinax campestris(blue needle palm)is a good one to try,Oops,I don't live in zone 7,am I disqualified?

Jim: Those palms will nver be long term in the ground survivors in your area with out protection almost every year. Here in Zone 7a we are looking to get palms to make it through a typical winter unprotected once established. Disqualified is a strong term, but the palms you list are not realistic for long term survival even in Zone 7a.

Virginian:reread the original post and you will understand my answer,I hope.Disqualified is in referrence to me NOT living in zone 7a/b- which is who the question was directed at(zone 7a/b people)
I was not talking about zone 5,none of those palms would make it here any year without complete protection.
NJoasis,I think sabal and R.hystrix are you best bets,glad to hear your trachys are doing well!

Thanks jim! I'm going to be experimenting with some Sabals soon (Louisiana and palmetto). My containerized/protected hysterix seems very slow. I have a nice-sized B. capitata (containerized) but I'd hate to loose it. Who's growing Butia capitata unprotected and what are you zones and minimums? Thanks in advance.

i planted a 4 foot washingtonia in march of 2007 and took this picture this mourning,only protection i use is burlap and was really successful for 2008 winter.If sombody can show me how to post a picture i would like to share

Njoasis,S.louisiana is probably my favorite sabal,I also have S.brazoria with strap leaves that has seen single digits untouched and I wouldn't be surprised if its growth is on par with S.louisiana which put out 2 new leaves from Aug-Oct after just being planted in August!

Jim:

I did read it and I think the palms you mention, with the exception of T. Naintal I think those are palms that are not long term survivors unless well protected in Zone 7a/b let alone Zone 5a/b. If you are willing to protect palms, heck the sky is the limit, but in most cases most folks won't want to do that every year or so. Thanks, yes, the Trachys look fine, although they have looked better in years past. Hopefully, we will have no spear pull to deal with whe Spring comes.

Here's a Butia in it's third winter. Very little damage on this South-facing wallwhen I took the pic, but spring will tell.
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