PalmsNorth.com – Cold Hardy Palm Forum
Growing palms and tropicals in cold climates
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How hardy is Trachycarpus nanus? Is it true, that this palm can withstand frosts down to -23 C (-10 F)? - I saw this information on the website "Future Plants by Randy Stewart": "Trachycarpus nanus ( Yunnan Dwarf Palm ). This endangered Palm is native to the mountains of west China; has no trunk and reaches 6 feet in height at most. This extremely cold tolerant clump Palm with bluish leaves is hardy north to zone 6 ( possible 5 ). No damage at - 10 F " [In my opinion it must be hardier than Trachycarpus fortunei or Trachycarpus fortunei "Wagnerianus" because it is trunkless.]
Posted : 24/09/2013 6:11 pm
Maybe one of the hardiest Trachys if only for its slow growth...
-10F doesn't really say much and I doubt it would take much of that.
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Posted : 25/09/2013 5:29 pm
Probably -10F for a short duration, not a whole winter of it.
Otherwise we'd all have them towering over our houses. (wish, wish!)
Barb
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Posted : 25/09/2013 5:33 pm
T. nanus is no hardier than regular T. fortunei. You'll have to protect all palms in your cold 6a/5b location.
The hardiest palm is the needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix). Once established, these palms can take BRIEF temperatures to -20C and even colder. Several people grow them outdoors unprotected in New Jersey, USA. Even though they can take brief cold, they are really zone 7b and perhaps 7a palms when sited very well. Most zone 6b areas would require some minor protection from the coldest events.
I remember seeing a large needle palm at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD (Maryland). This specimen must be 30 years old by now? Photo of this specimen 'off the web'. I'm sure this area has dropped to -20C since it's been planted.
link to google maps showing where Brookside Gardens is:
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Brookside+Gardens,+Glenallan+Avenue,+Wheaton,+MD&hl=en&ll=38.998909,-76.981201&spn=0.234264,0.617294&sll=42.036922,-71.683501&sspn=1.790978,4.938354&oq=brookside+garden&t=h&z=11
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Posted : 25/09/2013 5:38 pm
Topic starter
TimMAz6, I'm going to test sabal minor in the open ground. I'll plant approximately 500 or more 3-year sabals in the garden (now I have only 90 seedlings and ~400 seeds). And I'll use the straw winter protection. I think, that the frost will choose the most hardy sabals for growing in zone 6a (but, of course, with a winter protection) 🙂
Posted : 27/09/2013 9:03 am
Nanus only gets hardy when it gets larger. It has a large subterranian trunk. IT grows slow as molases though.... It is indeed a gorgeous palm. I think the benefits of trying it over a t fortunei is that they stay small and should be easy to protect ( at least comparing it to a larger palm like t fortunei or even some sabals.
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Posted : 27/09/2013 9:46 am
TT Cruel and simple way to find out, most of the seedlings will survive under the snow..
Max, Beograd
Posted : 27/09/2013 9:46 am
