#PICTURES OF SNOW AND FREEZING WEATHER UP NORTH FULL#
So it is important to provide palm with abundant water, nutrients and sunshine during growing season to keep it in top shape.īy using some simple cold protection techniques, you can push palm’s hardiness zone by one or even one and a half USDA zones! With more advanced measures it is possible to move it two full zones. The healthier the palm the better it will be able to deal with cold. You should provide your new palm with some cold protection till it is fully acclimatized. Acclimatization include not only low temperature but also low moisture availability, sunshine, high winds, and other variables. If your palm has been raised in a greenhouse, it will need to be acclimatized to your area to withstand cold weather. Planting palm under a taller tree, behind a windbreak or a sheltered courtyard will protect it from chilly winter winds that can cause considerable damage. You can create one on your property by using a buildings, fences, rocks or patios. This is a relatively small area about few yards or even smaller, that has a slightly different climate from a general climate of a region. Mature palms have thicker trunks, more extensive root system and more leaves that offer better cold protection to the tree. As I have mentioned above, the age of the tree is very important. Have you wondered why some gardeners in northern regions can grow palms successfully while others that live in the same location can’t? There are a few factors that can play a key role in palm survival. Here is a comparison table to show you how these palms measure up against each other when it comes to cold tolerance. Dwarf Palmetto vs Windmill Palm vs Needle Palm It is also known to survive short periods of −5☏ (−21☌) temperatures. There are some evidence that Dwarf Palmetto can survive cold down to 5F without any damage. It will survive -10F but will lose all of the foliage.Īnother palm variety that is almost as cold tolerant as needle palm is Dwarf Palmetto palm (Sabal minor).
A mature plant can tolerate -5F without any damage. While windmill wins first place in climates with cool summers, Needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) is considered to be the MOST cold tolerant palm in the world in climates with hot summers. In general, the lowest temperature a mature Windmill palm can survive is -10F. However, young windmill palms are more sensitive to cold and will lose all of their foliage if the temperatures drop to 15F.Īccording to “Palms Won’t Grow Here” book, a mature Trachycarpus fortunei in Bulgaria have survived exposure to -20F. Mature well-established windmill palm can tolerate low temperatures down to 15F without any damage. Being native to China, this palm is not as cold tolerant if grown in areas with hot wet summers.Īlso, its cold hardiness dramatically depends on the maturity of the palm. Windmill Palm ( Trachycarpus fortunei) is considered to be the MOST cold tolerant palm tree in the world in climates with cool summers.
This slow growing palm is perfect for landscape in USDA zones 7b-11. It will get leaf damage at about 10☏ (-12☌).