I posted this message on another discussion board.
I was ranting on about how nurseries do not sell palms that are hardy to my area I have requested numerous times to bring in palms like waggies, needles and sabal minors but they insist on CIDP and washies. It turns people of palms when they try one of these and they die right away. They won't try another palm for fear of wasting their money.
Any way hear is the post.
I feel that even the nurseries do not stock hardy palms other than t. fortunei and c humilis. I see far to many washingtonia, butia, and CIDP. I would like to see true hardies like, waggies, takil, nanus, fortunei (of course), sabal minor, sabal palmetto, rhapidophyllium hystrix, chamaerops humilis, chamadorea radicalis, chamadorea microspadix, brahea armata, brahea edulis, jubaea chilensis. Palms that stand a chance. These palms are the only common hardy palms as far as I am concerned and even some of them are hardy only if protected on the coldest nights. I know there are some less common palms that I haven't mentioned but unless you grow them from seed you will never find them.
I would rank them this way. One being the hardiest. This is based on my experiences.
1 Rhapidophyllium Hystrix (unbelievable palm as far as it's hardiness)
2. Trachycarpus Takil (or extra large fortunei)
3. Trachycarpus Fortunei
4. Trachycarpus Wagnerainus
5. Sabal Minor
6. Trachycarous Nanus
7. Trachycarpus Manipur
8. Sabal Mexicana
9. Sabal Palmetto
10. Chamaerops Humilis
11. Jubaea Chilensis
12. Trachycarpus Martianus Nepal Form
13 Chamadorea Radicalis.
14. Chamadorea Microspadix
15. Brahea Armata
I would say even with this past winter which in my opinion was the worst winter since I can remember, palms 1 to 7 need no protection. 8 to 15 need minimal protection. Mostly overhead protection and maybe wrapped on the coldest nights.
I have no experience with any other hardy palms. I have although lost a CIDP and washingtonia.
I am curiuos what everyone elses opinion is.
How would you rank palms based on thier hardiness.
Wes North Vancouver Zone 8b/9a
Keats Island BC Zone 8a
Palm Springs CA Zone 9b/10a
I think you are very knowledgeable about the cold hardy topic. I agree with everything you said. I also think that its ignorance on the part of the nursery society. Where I live (zone 6a-6b), it is dismissed as foolishness to try and grow palms here. It's not possible or so it would seem.
There is a large nursery here that is bringing in a lot of the ones on your list. The general population has no information on this topic. I am sure if they did it would be a different story.
Thats my 2 cents...maybe 2 dollars
Great post Wes. I would add Butia in there as well.
Interesting... I think sometimes the nurseries bring in only the "disposable" palms with the expectation of repeat business when they die. One of our largest nurseries here treats Queens , Christmas, Mexican fan, windmill and even Bottle palms as annuals. They are sold as summer patio plants. If you enjoy them this summer... maybe youll buy them again next summer.
I noticed here in chicago they are starting to use thow away palms also its real sad. Last year I saw 20 washingtonias 19 livingstonia 8 pygme date 4 coconut 3 bottle palms many queen palms and some trachycarpus all over 10ft tall get thrown in the garbage. Only good thing is the oweners will give them away free if you ask.
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Wes ... you realize the vast majority of gardeners don't buy palms, even with the recent upswing in interest. Palm sales are a very small percentage of the nursery trade and little effort is placed on improving or enducating themselves. So until the demand for palms increases dramaticaly, our little world of palms will always remain out of the bigger picture.
Cheers, Barrie.
And that is why small speciality nurseries like yours will continue to survive,
That goodness for people like you.
By the way are you around on Thursday night around 4 to 5?
I will be on the island then and I would like to pic up that waggie from you.
Laaz,
Butia Capitata and eriospatha are good hardies but for this area capitata continues to disappoint and it is too early to tell if eriospatha is a winner or not. I know a few years back everyone here thought bonnetti was going to prove long term but is too was a disappointment.
I am just not sold on butia yet for the PNW.
Wes North Vancouver Zone 8b/9a
Keats Island BC Zone 8a
Palm Springs CA Zone 9b/10a
Sure thing Wes ... I'll be around Thursday afternoon. You know where to find me.
Cheers, Barrie.
I should be there around 5:00.
I want to catch the 7:00 back home.
Cheers
Wes North Vancouver Zone 8b/9a
Keats Island BC Zone 8a
Palm Springs CA Zone 9b/10a
