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Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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Hi All,
Just wanted to share some palm and yucca pics from my hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada (zone 3b). All photos (except my joshua tree seedlings were taken today-September 23, 2009). Today we hit an official high of 33c (92f) at the cold airport and 35c (96f) at my place (unheard of for this time of year)! This summer has seen the emergence of many palms and yuccas around the downtown area. There are potted Trachys everywhere-used as architectural features in pots, surrounded by various flowers. Of particular interest though, is the emergence of palms planted in the ground, both Trachy and Washy (I think Robusta-check out the pictures and let me know if they are Filfera or Fillibusta). As well, many yucca aloifolia (I think)-potted and in the ground. I've also included (from downtown Calgary, as well) some yucca glauca and also one plant I think may be a glauca/baccata cross (I know they have these in New Mexico-zone 4) but it might also be y. filamentosa. Let me know what you guys think-it has some trunk although the picture doesn't show it. I know the glauca x baccata does trunk-strangely, because neither pure glauca or baccata do, to my knowledge. Anyhow, it's great to see Calgary landscapers using hardier palms as annuals. It beats the same old fragile zone 10+ plants they traditionally use.
http://www.imagehostdirect.com/gallery.php?u=CowtownPalmSociety&g=Calgary-Palms-and-Yuccas
Also, here's some pics of my plants-Trachy, Needle, Washy Robusta, Med. Fan and y. rostrata.
http://www.imagehostdirect.com/gallery.php?u=CowtownPalmSociety&g=September-09-palms
...Last, but not least, my baby yucca brevifolias (Joshua Tree):
http://www.imagehostdirect.com/gallery.php?u=CowtownPalmSociety&g=Baby-Brevifolias
Happy zone pushing everybody!
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/71877.html?bannertypeclick=big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71877.gif" alt="Click for Calgary, Alberta Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 23/09/2009 11:29 pm
Hey, Nice shots! Good to know that palms are present in Calgary!
Ok. I was skeptical of the plant you have labelled as galuca x baccata. However, looking at the picture I'd say it's not a straight glauca, and the leaves look too narrow to be filamentosa (or flaccida, or whatever the proper name is)... I'd say most likely a hybrid with glauca (it is hardy to zone 3!) but I can only guess that it's glauca x filamentosa or glauca x baccata (or the reverse of those crosses). Interesting plant nonetheless!
The picture you have labelled as 'What_IS_This" is Phormium tenax, the New Zealand Flax. http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Agavaceae/Phormium_Guardsman.html
A very nice plant, often grown on the West Coast of Canada... Saw some huge ones in Tsawassen!
Thanks for sharing!
Posted : 24/09/2009 10:30 am
Topic starter
Hi Paul,
Thanks for the post and for the Phormium tenax link! I learned something new today-nice plant. I appreciate your feedback on the mystery yucca too. If I'm not mistaken, I think you're the guy from Ontario with lots of zone pushing yucca experience: brevifolia, elata etc. I wish I got a closer picture for you. I definitely agree that it's not pure glauca-I see lots of those in these parts. There is apparently glauca x filamentosa:
http://fhnavajo.communityhost.de/thread/?thread__mid=116945406
Here's a mediocre photo of glauca x baccata (click on the picture):
http://www.highcountrygardens.com/catalog/product/98749/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/71877.html?bannertypeclick=big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71877.gif" alt="Click for Calgary, Alberta Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 24/09/2009 12:34 pm
Hi, Duncan,
Very nice pictures,
it's always interesting to know that in really extremal places more and more people grow exotic plants and palms also.
Lang and warm fall!
With respect,
Antti
Posted : 24/09/2009 2:11 pm
Topic starter
Hi Antti,
Thanks! How are your plants in Finland? What is your weather like now?
Duncan
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/71877.html?bannertypeclick=big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71877.gif" alt="Click for Calgary, Alberta Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 24/09/2009 11:17 pm
"It's great to see Calgary landscapers using hardier palms as annuals. It beats the same old fragile zone 10+ plants they traditionally use."
Awesome. A great start, isn't it?
Posted : 25/09/2009 12:29 am
Duncan,
Very nice pictures! Nice to see there using the palms to spruce the place up in during the warmer months. I wonder what they are going to do with them all? You should see if you can get the washys since they will most likely just croke anyways.
Thanks for the post.
Bill
Posted : 25/09/2009 10:20 am
Topic starter
Hi Bill,
I've been wondering what will become of all these plants too. I know there are services in the U.S. that will plant palms for you and then dig 'em up for winter and store them inside. I'm wondering if someone is doing this in Calgary.
By the way, your yard looks very cool! Keep it up!
Duncan
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/71877.html?bannertypeclick=big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/weathersticker/big2_both_cond/language/www/global/stations/71877.gif" alt="Click for Calgary, Alberta Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Posted : 25/09/2009 8:14 pm
Thanks Duncan,
I wish I had a service to take care of my palms! But what fun would that be, thanks for the comments! You should contact the town manager/city manager soon to see if anyone has any accountability for those palms. Maybe they are free for the taking with a little finesse? Worth a try anyway!
Bill
Posted : 25/09/2009 9:05 pm
