A July update on my cold hardy palm trees

If you're seeing this blog, you're probably pretty well versed on the idea of cold tolerant palm trees. If you're not, I am so honored that my yard is introducing you to some of these gorgeous palm species.

There are thousands of palm tree species. Most palm trees are not tolerant of prolonged freezes, but there are a few that can brush off a whole lot more. Our low temperature this winter was 3F,  the coldest in several years - but it was also one of the warmest winters on record with many days in the 60s and even in the 70s for the first time ever. Palm trees can handle much colder temperatures when the duration is brief. That's why you'll see more gardeners with success in zone 7 in a southern latitude than you will up here. 

This is my oldest windmill palm, growing at my parent's house on Staten Island. It was planted as a seedling in 2009. The oleander peeking through is in a planter and goes in the garage during the wintertime. 

This is a new Windmill Palm I planted in May 2022 (last year) in my front yard on Long Island. 

Here's mid-August 2022

And mid-July 2023

My smaller Long Island Windmill Palm, was also planted in 2022. The protection blew off on the coldest night of the year, but it managed to survive with very little damage. The Hedychium Daniel Weeks on the left survived the cold too! 

My newest windmill palm ... a bargain from a local nursery. Definitely worth $19! It had damage to the growing point which makes me think it's seen some cold. Greenhouse-grown palms may look pretty, but they're a lot weaker and take time to adapt to the real world. Id rather have an ugly ducking that can handle it all! 

I actually really like having windmill palms in planters. It's easy to throw them in the garage when nights get cold in the winter & I can move them to more visible parts of the yard during the winter. 

Sabal minor is BY far my most cold tolerant palm. No protection and no damage. This is my Sabal minor (one year in the ground) on Long Island. 

This one in my parent's yard on Staten Island has been in the ground since 2010! 

Needle palms are advertised as the most cold-tolerant palm, but I have had more luck with Sabal minor. I had no damage on my minors this past winter, but my needle palm was pretty tattered. The good thing about needle palms is that they're a clumping species and can resprout from total dieback.

Arenga engleri is cold tolerant down to 15F for brief durations. Mine has struggled the past few years from root issues. This winter I kept it outside in temperatures down to 20F. I thought it was a goner,  but it's sprouting back!

Chamadorea microspadix is known as the "bamboo palm". It easily survives 20F. A fantastic palm!