I would experiment first with a decent sized Butia capitata (Pindo Palm), or perhaps a Mule. Among the feather palms Pindo is quite hardy--especially if protected from excessive winter precip.. Mules would be second hardiest among the three (as they are Butia x Syagrus/Queen hybrids). Queens would be the most tender of the three. I genuinely like them all but so far, but I am growing all mine in large tubs that get protected from Dec-March. Queens are nice enough but they are so tall, even in containers so I don't knw how you would protect the crown.

Njoasis, I may get the mule pal on ebay for 30 bucks. But in the case of a queen palm, if I used mulch burlap around the trunk with x-mas lights under it, would it be enough? I would also throw a garbage bag over the fronds if necesary. Is there anyway that maybe from the cold, it will stop growing at maybe 10 feet? The mule palm gets to 20 so out here it might stop at 10-15 feet. So thats easy to protect. I would protect it the same way as the queen palm except I wouldn't cover the fronds.

Maybe someone else can answer your questions. I really don't specialize in protecting palms outside--prefer growing those that will not need any protection. So that limits me to...

A few Sabal... Louisiana and Minors
Trachycarpus fortunei and wagnerianus
Chamaerops humilis
Raphidophyllum hysterix (Needle palms)

My most tender ground specimens are Washingonias, which so far can grow unprotected but I cover under 20 f.. which this year, I did on two nights, and they look great so far!

Trachycarpus fortuneis don't need protection in zone 7a?

No, not once established.

Here is a link that might be useful:

(Duplicated post deleted.)

Here is a link that might be useful:

This post was edited by njoasis on Sun, Jan 13, 13 at 19:03

Could my trachy here go without protection?

I have not planted it yet

I would protect for at least the first few years, and I would never call that palm bulletproof. It would need to be protected at a moments notice in any given year.

If I cut the lower fronds off, will it kill it? That will make it easier to protect.

I like the look of the lower fronds attached so I would leave them on. You can easily tie up the lower fronds with some rope and the more fronds it has, the faster it's going to grow! That is a really healthy palm. You'll know it's established when it starts growing fronds faster which takes about 2-3 summers. One of my trachys is 2 years old and has never been protected but it does get some minor damage every year and is MUCH slower growing than the trachys I do protect.
-Alex