Peopl have already given some good suggestions. For longer term freezes, the best cycads are the ones with subterranean stems will survive lower temperatures because the ground temps will always be warmer than the air temps. As an example, I have seen the Zamia floridanas at Steinhatchee where the apecies were 12 inches below the surface, which means it would have to get about 15F a foot below the ground to kill them. A really good plant that hasn't been mentioned yet is Ceratozamia hildae. The ones I sold to Zilkor BG in Austin took 12F without any leaf damage, which means they could easily survive single digits if the plants were planted deep enough. Also, for what it is worth, ANY pumila type zamia would be like Z. floridana, so if that would make it, you have another 10 species to choose from. Oh yea, for the comment on trying to find sizable Cycas panzhihuanensis, the first commercial seeds were brought in from China in 1995, so there are people out there who have them available for sale with up to 1 foot of trunk, so availability is not a problem, what WOULD be the problem is what you are willing to pay for one, because they are truly easy to find with a little looking around.

" I once had one survivea cold winter in Siuth Jersey in which it reached -6f! ,,,The mulched Sago flushed a new set of leaves to replace the leaves it lost in the bitterly cold winter." What was it mulched with, 3 rolls of corning fiberglass lain in a criss-cross pattern, forming a 6' high, 15' diameter mound? Yes enough mulch can protect almost anything, within reason, but it eventually becomes a not practical thing to do. At least with a plant like that. Probably more impressive: I had a small Cycas panzhihuaensis recover from 3F with very little mulching. Alas, I gave up on getting them to survive around here because it's a little wetter in winter here than western suburban DC and they just need to be drier than I can give them, apparently. Furthermore that might be a plant that doesn't get much hardier with age, or even gets less hardy with age...for various reasons too complicated to go into. Definitely more impressive: the last C. panzhihuaensis I had came back up from the ground after a full two years of "playing dead". Apparently it has some ability for the growth point to go into a long term senescence or dormancy. Maybe an adaptation to things like volcanic eruptions which caused brief mini ice-ages? They have been on this earth for a while. Alas, not surprisingly polar winter #1 finished it off for good. In retrospect I probably should have dug it up and coddled it for a few more years, but I was tired of dealing with them by then. (yes I know that post was from 2006, so it was a rhetorical reply) BTW you see large ones along the Gulf, and inland to some degree like Baton Rouge, so they can survive down to 15F as long as it's infrequent. Probably a zn 9 plant but cultivated in some sheltered, warmer parts of 8. I'm pretty sure that mature outdoor ones do _not_ defoliate with a brief dip to 25F.

Well, I did not get everything, ( or anything for that matter) done today, in so far as getting anything in the ground. However, I did get these today: ***************** So, a short trip to home depot here in Alexandria (S. Pickett St. for those familliar) and what do I find that had just arrived there? ....... Sabal Minor. About 30 of them. The tag calls them "blue dwarf palmettos", and then the actual name underneath the title on the tag was S. Minor. $23.00. I couldnt resist. I went thru them and picked out the one that was the most visually appealing to me. The one I liked only had 2 growth tips, most of them had 3. I know they are young, but some of them are producing fan leaves like the one I got. Some of them were just starting to produce fan leaves and had mostly strap leaves, while some had shed most of their strap leaves, and had more fan leaves like the one I purchased. Was completely NOT expecting to see those there, so of COURSE I had to purchase one, especially when I discovered the price. =o) Ok, sorry for the S. Minor bit in the needle thread. On to more "ON TOPIC" things... I mentioned I was heading down to a place I "rediscovered" last week, to my surprise that had tons of cold hardy palms, yuccas, and some sago palms... ill post a whole n other thread with pics about that shortly.... Anyway, I went back for the needle palms I mentioned earlier in this thread for $89.00, that were pretty good size. Well, everything was %25 off, so I actually got it for $70.26. Anyway, here it is. She is pretty healthy looking, aside from a few old dead fans and straps that need to be removed. She's got about 6 or so sizeable suckers, and her main trunk is fairly tall maybe 6-8"? and, I think it is a she. She has an old flower spike on her main crown that you can see in one of the pics, and she stands about 2 feet tall or so at her largest leaf tips. Anyway...not trying to gloat at all here, but she is a pretty nice specimine and at a great price dont ya think? Here she is....

I would check around on the web. Most of what I have bought is off e-bay,you will find smaller stuff through e-bay,only as big as they can ship. I think you would need to cover IT AND START KEEPING IT DRY EARLIER THAN WINTER. There is kind of a feel you get as far as growing stuff goes,esp out of more native conditions.Most people would probably disagree but you could try this- Since you don't have a lot of experience,YET(-; why not buy a Needle are Trachy with some nice fan leaves,plant it out(while you are waiting for it you can search through all the old post's on various protection methods/and the web) and put something together to protect it.This way you can get some experience which is priceless. I planted my first 2 Trachys on Nov 1,(better to plant in spring but this way you'll get some experience) a few years ago and they both made it through the winter and are doing great- along with about 50 other palms/cactus-It really is a fun and rewarding hobby :)-Good luck