skip to main content

Cold tolerance for hardy palms

Jeff Ashenfelter

8 years ago

One of the factors that decides whether a palm will survive a cold spell is how much time it spends subjected to temperatures below freezing. As seen in El Paso, Washingtonia filifera survived at least 3 days of below freezing temps in 2011 (not all but some). Date palms also survived there during this time period. I believe Windmill palms also survived the 3 day freeze in El Paso. If info on the internet is correct, Needle palms have survived 12 consecutive days below freezing in New York. And Sabal Minors survived 12 consecutive days below freezing in Dallas.

What are the most consecutive days you have witnessed a palm survive below freezing temperatures unprotected?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

violetwest
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hello from El Paso! Sooo many things died during that freeze, including most of the tall palm trees (and I'm not knowledgeable enough to know which those were). Will be following this thread!
Jeff Ashenfelter
Original Author
8 years ago
I believe the tall palms that died were Mexican Fan palms (Washingtonia robusta)
Related Discussions
Hatteras Palm Seeds: Cold Tolerant
Q
Comments (2)
Do you still have some seeds, i would like to tade , please look at my list, plmk, thanks lilly.
...See More
Cold Hardy fragrant shrubs/trees (Damp soil tolerant)
Q
Comments (5)
butterfly4u: Any Species of Willow you suggest? I would love a willow tree, just want to get a hardy one. Looks like the dwarf is the "Kilmarnock Willow" and the full sized "Salix babylonica" Do you think both would damp soil tolerant and cold hardy.. ive seen a dwarf in my area.. funny looking tree :-) Ah yes i have some cannas, great plants. Wow i really like the Joe-Pye (Eutrochium) genus.. alot of species to choose from and your right they seem to like marshy areas. elvis: yes im in zone 8 (North Georgia) ah great plant, im going to look into getting seeds for all of these plants noted above! Well besides the Willow, will probably buy a young tree. thanks everyone! A+++++ info
...See More
Northern Virginia Hardy Palm and Cold Hardy Tropical Seminar
Q
Comments (1)
Sorry for the duplicate message as I thought the first one was lost....
...See More
more cold hardy...A foxtail or Royal palm???
Q
Comments (16)
Billheink, I see what you are saying and in general you are correct. Inland central Florida does not tend to be hospitable for royal palms (Roystonea regia). I feel Royals in coastal locations from Merritt Island on the east coast and Clearwater on the west coast are safe from all but the worst freezes. Even in 1989, I am sure there were some immediate coastal specimens still alive from and south of the aforementioned locations. Metro Orlando has been progressively built up during the last 50 years, continuing in earnest during the past 20 years. While average temps are lower than south FL, extreme minimums in the metro area in recent years tend to be more consistent with South FL locations such as Fort Myers and West Palm Beach (in some cases a bit higher). The urban heat island has a PROFOUND effect on winter lows in Orlando and I have watched many would-be freezes only bottom out at 33-35 in metro Orlando, while outlying areas, even to the south, reach well below freezing. I have two large royals (regia and borinqueana) and a large foxtail in-ground here in the northern Orlando suburbs. All were defoliated but had no problem pulling though the 25F we had early (and again in late) 2010. The executive airport, meanwhile, did not drop below 28-29F during any of the 2010 freeze events. I even feel that the city should frequently use Roystonea regia as a mainstay landscaping choice downtown, as I don't see this area getting cold enough to kill a royal more than once or twice a century now. Central FL microclimates adjacent to large bodies of water have similar results with royals and other 10a palms and those in these areas who want to attempt to grow such palms should not feel discouraged. My point is, these palms can survive and thrive for many years in coastal, metro and lakeside areas of Central FL. Coconuts are more marginal and anywhere in Central FL other than the immediate coast and large lakes in southern Central FL will have a difficult time with long term success. I do, however, know of a Coconut palm near Orlando that survived 2010. This post was edited by williamr on Wed, Oct 16, 13 at 1:14
...See More
Jeff Ashenfelter
Original Author
8 years ago
By the way violetwest, do you know if any palms survived in Truth and Consequences NM? I believe they had a low of -13 F.
violetwest
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Not sure about TorC -- the most I do there is pass by on my way to Albuquerque.

Of course the 2011 freeze was a very unusual event -- it usually doesn't get quite that cold in this area -- more like a few days in the "teens."
Jeff Ashenfelter
Original Author
8 years ago
True, I was bummed to hear that so many palms died. I had to go to Ciudad Juarez a few times and fell in love with El Paso.
violetwest
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I'm glad -- it's a very underrated city area. That freeze was pretty traumatic -- where I lived we had 50 pine trees that died (I think they already were weakened by a bug or disease though). And of course, we had no water or power for days because the power plant froze solid and everyone's pipes burst.

I see those Mexican fan palms everywhere here though. Or they could be the windmill palms -- My eyes can't see the difference from the pics on the 'Net.
Jeff Ashenfelter
Original Author
8 years ago
The trunks of the windmill palms look like they are covered in burlap (sort of). It seems like they can be easily confused with Mediterranean Fan Palms though (at least I confuse them). There are also mixes between Mexican fan palms and California fan palms which are hardier than regular Mexican fan palms (as I understand it). I think they call them filibustas.
Jeff Ashenfelter
Original Author
8 years ago
To me the difference between Mexican fan palms and California fan palms is that California fan palms have a very wide trunk, especially at the base, where the California fan palm has a more slender trunk.
violetwest
8 years ago
thanks; I'll look more closely at the ones I see around
Jeff Ashenfelter
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Looks like Virginia Beach had 2 consecutive days below freezing, followed by 2 days with highs of 33 then 34, then followed by 2 more consecutive days below freezing from 2/15/15 through 2/20/15. The average temperature for this 6 day period was 23.25 F. So I would think that any palm that survived in Virginia Beach this year could survive at least 2 days below freezing and at least 6 days with an average temp of no less than a 23.25 F.

I assume at least some cabbage palms survived.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Cold- and Heat-Tolerant Perennials and Shrubs for the Arid West

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

These flowering native plants shrug off the cold of winter and heat of summer while adding beauty to the drought-tolerant landscape

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Cold-Hardy Succulents for Cool-Season Interest

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

These attractive plants shrug off colder temperatures, and many can be brought inside in containers in extra-chilly climates

HOUSEPLANTS Meet a Palm That's Fine With Fluorescent Light

By creative jewish mom.com

Get the look of the tropics without the full-on sun and high humidity — parlor palm tolerates regular indoor conditions with aplomb

TREES Great Design Plant: Sabal Palm Enchants in Balmy Sites

By Steve Asbell

Towering and tolerant, this tree blends in, stands out and happily stars in vacation photos

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Plants for Colorful Fall Blooms in the Drought-Tolerant Garden

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Want fall color but not a big water bill? Consider these not-too-thirsty fall bloomers

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Celebrate a Sunny Climate With the Right Leafy Palm for Your Site

By Steve Asbell

So you get freezes or floods. So your garden is small. These palms send excuses riding off into the tropical sunset

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Drought-Tolerant Shrubs That Thrive in Full Sun and Reflected Heat

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Got a hot spot in your garden where plants often die? Try these tough shrubs that add beauty while shrugging off the heat

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Verbena Stricta Tolerates Tough Spots

By Pollination Press LLC

With its subtle beauty and long-lasting flowers, this pollinator pleaser is a boon to wilder areas

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Sea Grape, a Hardy Coastal Delight

By Steve Asbell

Up to the high-tide line or even indoors, sea grape draws smiles for its looks and cheers for its tenacity

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Great Design Plant: Retreat to the Shade of Hardy Catalpa

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Big foliage and a towering height provide a shady respite in summer, but that's not all hardy catalpa offers dedicated gardeners

Sponsored

More Discussions

Please help my palm ignorance!

4

palms and cycads

0

Pot size for Palm

5

Can I put these in a worm bin?

1

Sick pindo palm

0