Hi duke,

1. My planted Trachy has done better since it's been moved to the East side of my house. Our summers are brutally hot, with zero humidity (strong desert winds).
Leaves were previously always shredded from wind. It looked awful. Trachies don't like 40C with no humidity, but intense heat with humidity? I don't know.
Vancouver's trachies always have humidity and seem to do well at the typical lower summer temps on the Coast.

2. You protect it in winter, so how would it get winter winds on the East side?

3. I've got some other potted Trachies out, typically -2C every night. They're fine as long as they're dry. I have a roof over mine so rain/snow doesn't get them wet and then freeze on the fronds.

4. I don't have any experience with needles or palmettos so will leave that to others.

Barb

Thanks Barb,

That's useful information. I assumed that windmill palms would do better in part shade. The wind is more of issue through out the year. I'm up on a hill between tall condos, so I get very strong drafts on windy days. The last two years, the wind broke my fence. So I think at times it must get up to 100k/hour during wind storms.

So I think at times it must get up to 100k/hour during wind storms.

Wow...Tough decision then, duke.

100k winds would leave few petioles intact.
40C is too hot for Trachies, except for short now and then heatwaves.
But maybe the humidity would make up for extreme heat.

Your dilemma might be best described as "six o' one/half dozen of the other". 😕

Barb

Duke for when to plant, it depends on how big and established the plants are. If they are four years old or younger, I'd say forget it. Wait. Til late April cuz its too dicey to risk em

I would plant the palmetto on the south side LATER. It will have to be boxed in the winter the first year or so. Thereafter, ensure it gets some wind protection.

I just planted my (15gallon) needle palm today. So, if yours is big go ahead.

And finally, I went to the environment Canada website. In 2012, Windsor experienced four hours over 35c. Never hit 40. Not since 1988. High temp is of no concern anyway since yesterday my glass-covered Butia capitata and many Yuccas saw over 50c on my south wall enclosure. Which, by the way came down today.

You do however have some VERY gusty winds.

I'd love to see what you plant and where.

Thanks Adam,

I'll take you advice and still wait, the forecast keeps changing too. The windmill palms have about a foot of trunk, and if I had to to guess they're probably three years old. The needle and palmetto where bought last year in 5 gallon pots, so they're not too old.

The summer heat not being an issue is good to know. I realize these are palms, but I kept thinking that since the windmill palms naturally grow in mountain areas, that they liked it cooler and the ground moister.

I didn't know you could look up temperature so precisely on Environment Canada's website. I've only used Wolfram Alpha before to get the coldest and average temperatures, cool thanks.

I'll be sure to post pictures when I plant these out. There are a few other things to consider, so I'm still divided where to place them. But so far the consensus seems to be that the south side is best.

Trachys grow all the way down to the gulf coast and into Texas-to name a few areas-

Your best bet is the south side-
Planting-
wait until soil temps are at least 50F -8" down or more for best results.

I really wouldn't worry about the heat and humidity for a Trachy there. I've seen these in Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas NV, also, as posted above, they grow in heat and humidity along the gulf coat, granted, they don't look their best in the hottest climates but the problem isn't how hot it gets really, it is the incessant heat found in latitudes much lower than yours, so if you get hot for a while in summer I wouldn't really worry about it, there is no way you stay hot for, say, 6 months plus. I would plant it in the warmest microclimate you can find.

Welcome Xerarch

Thanks, I've been interested in palms for about 15+ years and have been living in the palm forum world for quite a while but only recently joined here.

Welcome aboard PN, Xerarch,

15+ years of palm passion. 😀
Hope you have some to show us...we go ga ga over photos.

Otherwise we'll enjoy all the palms you're about to acquire.
Look forward to reading about your favorites.

Barb

I would plant both your sabal minor and needle in full sun as they are both heat loving palms. As far as the Tracy is concerned I would plant it anywhere other than in the wind. That would be my main concern with a Tracy. Your temps are not that bad however as they do grow in the desert they look like crap there. If you have a spot out of the wind but does. Get afternoon shade then that is the ideal spot. They need lots of water in the summer heat too. Even in Vancouver where we only hit 30C for maybe a week or at the most two weeks in a given year they need lots of water. Again though wind is the main enemy of Trachies.

Good luck.

Mine do here in Omaha, NE

I have mine on my black stone west wall. Full sun for half the day and have taken 50 mph winds + easy.

Welcome, Xerarch!

I see lots of Trachycarpus in the Dallas, Texas arera. In full sun, by parking lots, etc. So, 40 oC is nothing for them, and 100kmh winds are common, too. I now think of these as much moe tolerant than I once did, having first known them from Portland, Oregon.

Also, Sabal minor and needles are tough, too.