I have a queen palm, but take it in every year. Even though I do this, I have seen my queen palm go through alot of neglect from cold. Its been through tropcial storms, march rain and more and survived.
The first year I had it, it was only a seedling. I had 3 of them at that point. I kept it by a shrub next to the house and accidentaly left it ousiide until after New years. The 2 that went in the shrubs protection died, but the one that was protected by the shrubs and rocks, made it with very little damage. I brought it in immediately and it continuted to grow.
By year 3 after it recieved even more neglect from a pot that would never drain, I wondered if this thing would ever have separated leaves because it was at least 4 feet tall, but I didint know which palm it was. I was running out of room for mu other plants so I brought that one in my unheated garage. That winter got so cold in there some water bottles were completely frozen soild. Also the palm was in a pot exposing the roots to those temperatures unlikle one in the ground. It surivived 19 degrees in a pot, but lost every leaf. It barely grew at all until late june where it had its first separated leaf.

Unfortunately I have no success stories of their winter survival outside all year, but I think they are definately wourth a try. They are usually very cheap palms any way, and with some wrapping and X-mas lights it might pull through. I would say they are good without protection to a zone 8b, but I also remember hearing a zone 7 person who got them to survive outside.
Good luck.

I can't answer the basic question about palm hardiness, but I have to say, all of you guys are just killing me with the tales of what your local Home Depot/Lowes/local nurseries carry.

Here in metro Detroit area, the chain stores have NOTHING good to speak of, just big, overflowing yards full of the same old junk, pretty much boring mass-market stuff like arborvitaes, butterfly bushes, hostas, etc. Never anything fun like everyone keeps describing in other places.

Local nurseries, too, don't seem to have much that's "different" this year, perhaps it's the economy, especially here. It's been a boring gardening season -- all of my fun has come from mail-order, but alas, those plants are always small for obvious reasons.

Dennis
SE Michigan

Tropicalzone7,
You mentioned wrapping and xmas lights for winter. Just wondered if you've onverwintered any trachys, and if so what you did. I have 2 that will see their first winter this year, and I planned on burlap and c9 xmas lights around the trunk, and maybe a canvas drop cloth over it completely. Figured I'd take the drop cloth on and off with temp changes, but didn't know if the burlap would hurt the tree if I left it on. They are about 5' tall and in full sun. Would you wrap the burlap around and then xmas lights around the burlap? Just looking for some ideas from anyone who has previously pulled it off.
Thanks.
Also, saw some king sagos and silver european fans at home depot. Seems they have a good shot at making it outside all year. What do you think?
thanks.
tnwindmill

I love queen palms. Very tropical looking and moderately cold tolerant. My local HD's do occasionally sell queens and P. canariensis. I have two queens that may be about 12 feet tall. They are too big for the house so I overwinter them in a loft garage from about the beginning of December until mid to late March. The garage temps are rather cold but mostly frost free. Temps in the coldest part of winter may only be in the mid 40's by day, minimums are about 38 F. though dropped to 32 F. on one morning. I water very little in the dead of winter (during mild periods I'll drag it out and soak it with the hose). Despite the chill, leaves stayed green without damage. I overwinter the
Sagos along with the queens in the garage. I have a few T. fortuneis in the ground. I wrap the trunks with a couple of shear insulating blankets (some of them have x-mas lights under the blankets--looks pretty if nothing else).

This is the first year that I have decided to overwinter a windmill palm as well. They havent seen a winter yet, but they have seen some cold. Since mine are small (about 3-4 feet tall) I will probably put a garbage can over it when we get those cold winter rains. When temps go below 15 I'll put some x-mas lights inside the garbage bin to keep the plant warm. I think the main problem for most palms on the east coast is all the cold rain. When mine gets too large for the garbage bin to cover it (which may be as soon as next year) I will first put burlap around the trunk followed by christmas lights, and then burlap around the lights. I probably wont cover the leaves because I have it in a spot away from bad winds. I will only turn the lights on when temps go below 15F. It really keeps alot of heat in so I think this method will work well especially since windmill palms can handle 5 degree temps which most zone 7ers dont even see every year unless you live in a cold zone 7.
I was also considering a king sago, and may try that this winter as well. I think they have a good chance in a zone 7 with protection. If I do get one I will mulch it well, and put a tarp on it, or use the garbage bin method when rain, snow, or cold comes.
Also Ive had lots of luck with livinstonia chinesis. They have lasted to late January in a pot without protection, so they cold probbaly make it in zone 7 in the ground with protection. They are also one of the nicer looking cold tolerant palms.

Good luck with your windmills, and any other tropical plants you are trying!

Tropical zone 7. Trachycarpus palms really don't need too much babying in zone 7. They are very tolerant of wet and cold winters as long as the soil drains well (and my winters are very wet along with the rest of the year). I do have mine on the south side of the house so they do get a ton of sun year-round. Still, they have gone through snow and ice storms and a minimum of 4 F.. Yes, many of leaves look ratty by the end of the winter but center bud and surrounding leaves stay nice and green. They've already grown a new crown of leaves. Most recently, I put down a layer of black mulch (extra heat absorption). Don't know if it does any good but I also put down a layer of larger rocks and stones around them. All in all they have surpassed my zone 7 expectations for palm growing. Good luck with yours!:)