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Palm Cold Hardiness Test

17 years ago

We had a hard freeze this past week with the first night reaching 23 F. and the second night reaching 25 F. I left the following in containers on open ground unprotected to see what their respective cold tolerances would be. Nothing died.

Washingtonia robusta(7 gallon) untouched.

Washingtonia filibusta(resembling robusta, with 1-3 split leaves)70% burnt.

Washingtonia filibusta seedling(resembling robusta,2-3 straps) 70% or + damaged.

Washingtonia filifera(Truth or Consequences locale,1 split leaf) 50-67% burnt.

Washingtonia filifera(Truth or Consequences locale,10 months old)burnt lowest 1-3 fronds.

Washingtonia filifera(seed from CA,about 1.5 years old) smaller ones got some leaf tip burn on lowest fronds, larger ones undamaged.

Phoenix sylvestris robusta- untouched.

Trithrinax schizophylla(2-4 straps)undamaged.

Chamaerops humilis-all sizes undamaged.

Chamaerops humilis cerifera-all sizes undamaged.

Sabal minor-all locales untouched.

Sabal louisiana-untouched.

Sabal palmetto-all locales untouched.

Sabal uresana(6-7 straps)untouched.

Brahea armata(2-7 staps)untouched.

I had the following on tables about 2.5 feet above ground and they were all undamaged.

Washingtonia filifera(Truth or Consequences locale, straps only or single split leaf).

Washingtonia filifera(two locales from CA,straps only or single split leaf).

Phoenix theophrastii(2-4 straps, left out on 25F night only).

Sabal brazoria(4-6 straps).

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Comments (2)

DISSmith
17 years ago
I read your post with interest as I have a couple of young palms I'm hoping to keep outside over the winter, one of which is a W. Filifera. Just curious (and this may be something obvious) but why do you think the ones on the table fared better than the ones on the ground?
Deb
Steve
Original Author
17 years ago
Deb,
I think this has to do with the cold pooling effect on a calm night under clear skies. The coldest air which is denser and heavier than warmer air went underneath the plastic covered tables and didn't mix with the slightly warmer air above the table.
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