Robustas are not considered to be hardy in San Antonio, although I see a few around town. We lost a lot of them when temps got in the teens one year. This was just for a few days, at night. Temps during the day rebounded, usually above freezing. Washingtons prefer a dry, hot climate. The California fan palm is a street tree here. It likes the hot baking sun. California fan palm is only marginally hardy in Dallas. In Dallas (zone 8a) it should be grown in protected areas, such as downtown or next to a southfacing wall of a two story house. I'm not an expert on handling damaged palms or protecting them from cold. I wish I was. I'm just providing hardiness info. I've got my own problem with a sabal minor seedling I transplanted, so hardiness isn't everything. Trying to grow plants, especially palms, from a significantly warmer climate forces gardeners to learn a whole lot about palm botany!! LOL So, I guess that is the fun of it too!!

Looking good Gill! Just do whatever you feel is best. We have so many I dont think it would hurt to try different methods. Also, I just counted and since I have 18 robustas I can keep some inside and some outside next winter and try different protection methods to see what works best. Now if I could only protect my coconut outside that would be an accomplishment. Thats just wishful thinking. Jay

Wow Gill things are looking great! How have you been? We haven't talked in a while. Congratulations on your new grandson. I love his name BTW. I know what thats like to have an off schedule baby. Our first son Caleb was like that. About the robustas. Mine are doing fine. I have two in the ground and two in containers. My largest is one of the potted ones. Heres some pics along with some new pics of my garden today. You know I cant resist taking and posting more pics than I should. LOL! The bananas do not like the wind! Its just something I have to deal with at my location. I can have ripped leafs or not have bananas at all. I choose ripped leafs. More pics at the link below. Here is a link that might be useful: My Photobucket (May 25th Plants)

Years ago, I purchased seeds that were identified as both W. filifera and W. robusta. Only the robustas survived and continued to the present day--pure filiferas all seemed to die out over time. Some of my current collection of Washingtonias were seed grown, one brought up from Miami, and a few supermarket bought locally (which was unusual because neither filifera, robusta, nor filibusta tend to be sold locally)--too prickly for the average house and not Winter hardy in zone 7 (without protection). All were labeled Mexican fans (W.robusta) but as I say, I suspect some may be filibusta, but I doubt I have any pure filifera. Filifera may well do fine for you in the Pacific NW (or Europe for that matter) where most areas are warm and relatively dry in the summer. I suspect that it's high temps combined with humidity that they might resent. (I would be interested in knowing if any healthy filiferas are grown in South Florida.) In any event, I have more than enough Washingtonias already as they just DON"T DIE--even after spear pull! :) By the way, another palm from an arid region has given me problems over the years. I've tried growing True Date (Phoenix dactylifera) a few times unsuccessfully. Have no problems with other Phoenix species. But I am giving this one another chance. Am growing the current one in a very coarse mix. Monsoon season has just started here so won't be able to post pics until Tuesday . But what I want to do, is to select my most robusta-like Washingtonia and the most filifera-like one in order to get better identifications from the experts out there.