Here's some from the front courtyard I took a few days ago.'ll try to post some from the back soon as I get a chance.
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Sweet-
Those are nice!

gpenny,
those are huge. 8) Thanks for posting. 😉

I got an even better one for you today Erik. How about that huge blue tag being labeled as windmill palms actually being a sabal? Nice labeling right?
Good luck to all the people buying them with a one year warranty, I might buy some just to expose to no protection. Perfect control palms on the big stores dime.

As for the needles they are the real deal. Two out of my three came through with just a minor wrap job, No Heat! The one with spear pull was a weak one to start, at best it's going into a pot to see if it gets with the program. The other two are already growing strong, not bad for Fla plants. If I plant more I'll protect different next year. A dry hut with no mulch for Needle and minor should do the trick just fine. Plant them Erik and keep them dry for a year or two and you'll have long term palms no matter where there from.

Bill

Those are some real beauties you have there Pennie! How long have you been growing them?

I hope to be picking up some of my own in a week or two when I head to Fla.
I have several 45 Gallons on my list along with other huge specimens I will be selling here.

My puny sabals came through fine after serious protection malfunction, soaked hay? Duh! Try again, at least they survived. Smarter protection next time.
Much smarter for the new big boys.

Bill

Penny My Bad!

Jim,
I'll ask for needle palm winter protection advice on a new thread this autumn.
As is typical for me, I did NOT plant them in a good microclimate. They get morning shade and afternoon sun, and lots of wind.
Penny,
thanks for the info.! It helps me understand. A few years ago I asked the botanist who teaches our horticulture classes about dwarf palmetto and she was dismissive, saying S. minor was "not much of a palm." So, I assumed nurseries did not stock them for that reason.
From what you said, it seems that nurseries cannot reasonably make a profit on Sabal minor. The schemer in me wants to raise 100,000 dwarf palmettos in Mexico for a decade and then sell them in the U.S./Canada to make retirement money. I won't do it, but from what you wrote, that would be the only way to make money off them. Thanks again for the insight into the economics as well as the biology of S. minor.
--Erik

Erik: Ditto with what Jim said on the needle palm. I planted my first one in the ground last spring here, covered it with a leaf pile for the winter, and in January it was shooting a spear leaf up through the pile, and when I uncovered it in march, it was completely unscathed. Out of all the palms I've tried so far, the needle was the only one that seemed to go through the winter with no damage whatsoever, and even grew a bit over the winter.

Bill
I have been growing them for 30 years,however, most reached their maximum height (current) within 15-20 years. they continue to put out new fronds but overall height seems to stay the same. Girth may be increasing (if that makes sense!).

Erik
We've all had that dream! (Mexico,Costa R.). You can make money,just not very Fast! I do believe there is a market for smaller growing landscape palms in my area. Right now the only choices are needles and Med. fan palms. As you know both of those sucker and can outgrow locations next to foundations. The Sabal minors stay fairly compact.

Erik
I agree with Jova about leaf piles,probably all you will need there.

I think in the location they are planted they will need to be kept
watered in well,Needles are one palm that's kind of an exception to the
keep dry in winter plan.
You will probably not need to do anything in winter except(in the first few years)
keep the crowns dry when wet/cold threaten and protect during Arctic out breaks.

In a normal year you may only need to protect Jan-Feb 😀

This means it is necessary to maintain the growing point of moisture in the winter?

I've watered my trachies every year over winter except the first. I use warm 85f water too. Any palms in huts next year other then washies and phoenix will get regular drinks at my place to keep from drying up from the sun.

Bill

I learn so much from you folks.
Just not where to buy large Sabal minor in a state where they are native.
Maybe I'll just go buy that huge Sabal palmetto from Florida....
--Erik

This means it is necessary to maintain the growing point of moisture in the winter?

Keeping water out during repeated freezing in some winter climates can be the
difference between spear pull and not.
Leaves of needle palms are pretty amazing when it comes to hardiness!

Maybe one of use should market a Palm awning for cool climates 😆