Palms Wintering Indoors (and some outdoors)

I've included some photographs that I just took of some of the palms I've got growing here. I am going to plant the cold-hardy ones outside in the spring. The not-so-cold-hardy ones will remain in pots and come inside to grace the house in the winter.

The palms in the blue tubs are Trachycarpus Fortunei. The seeds were collected in June, 2009 on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. They will remain outside growing in the blue tubs for the duration of the winter with no more protection than the cover during extended periods of freezing weather.

The other palms pictured that will be planted outside include a large Sabal Palm var. Louisiana, Sabal Minor var. Talladega, AL, Sabal Minor var. Cape Hatteras, Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Needle Palm), three Trachycarpus Fortunei (grown from seed and obtained, allegedly, from a tree that had set seed in Lancaster, Pennsylvania), and a Sabal Birmingham.

I'd LOVE to plant the Mexican Fan Palm (Washingtonia robusta) outside...but it would take a great deal of protection to keep it going through our extended cold temperatures. We'll see - maybe I'll try it out.

Some of the other plants you can see include a Brugmansia, Phoenix roebelenii (Pygmy Date Palm), Philodendron bipinnatifidum (Tree Philodendron), Key Lime, Ensete ventricosum (Red Abyssinian Banana, Dwarf Cavendish Banana, Musa Basjoo, another taller red/green variegated banana plant of which I am unsure of the variety, a rubber tree, a few sago palms, a few Chinese Fan Palms, and some other assorted plants.

Happy Gardening!
-PolarPalm

Trachycarpus Fortunei On the Outer Banks, North Carolina

I went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina in June, 2009. Along the way I noticed this Trachycarpus Fortunei growing by a gas station that I stopped at.

There were beautiful Trachycarpus Fortunei, Butia capitata, Sabal Minor growing all over the place. There were a large number of Sabal Palms growing also...but they looked highly damaged by the wind and cold of winter.

I found a whole stalk of seeds attached to one Trachycarpus Fortunei and claimed it as my own. There were several hundred seeds on it. I soaked and cleaned the fruit off of each seed. Then I planted about half of the seeds in blue plastic storage bins. To prepare the bins I drilled several small drainage holes in the bottom of each tub and filled them about 1/2 full of potting soil. The seeds have since sprouted and are doing well. I have the bin covers on them right now as they are living outside...but the seedlings are all looking healthy. I'll get some pictures of them and post them soon. -PolarPalm

Trachycarpus Fortunei Braving the Winter Outdoors

I've kept a Trachycarpus Fortunei on the front porch. It's a bit warmer there than out in the open yard since it is sited next to the house and is on a covered porch. I also have placed a string of C9 lights on the dirt around the base of the tree and covered the pot with some blankets to prevent the soil and roots from freezing.

It's been cold this winter and has gotten down into the teens several times. So far no problems.

PolarPalm

The Adventure Begins...

Several years ago I became interested in the concept of cold-hardy palms. I lived in Florida for a few years. When I moved away from the balmy zone 9 climate of central Florida I suddenly found that palm trees brought a sense of relaxation and peace to me. So I started researching cold hardy palms. I found out that several varieties are cold hardy. However, with the exception of Rhapidophyllum hystrix (Needle Palm), none are indicated as cold-hardy in a zone 6 climate. I happen to live in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

So several years ago I found a copy of Palms Won't Grow Here and Other Myths: Warm Climate Plants for Cooler Areas by David A. Francko. He presents the argument that several subtropical species of plants (including some palm trees) can be grown in colder regions with the proper siting and winter protection. After reading that book (rather voraciously and several times I might add) I picked up a few cold-hardy palms online. So began my love affair with cold-hardy palms.

Recently I moved into a house with my partner. Now, with the availability of outside planting space, I begin my adventure into growing cold-hardy palms. Will they survive? Will they thrive? Only time will tell.

PolarPalm