Which palms have you tried outside?

A bismarkia in Iowa would be quite the sight for sure. I think when it got big you could build a removable green house around it. S. louisiana seems to be the palm to try I know where there's a giant one in Daytona in the woods that would be really hard for anyone to find, I don't even know how I found it exploring I guess. I'm going to try and get some seeds off it when I there in Nov. hope there is some. Maybe I'll dig it up in the spring and bring it home with me :headbang: I want to collect a bunch of seeds from unusual looking palms.

Bill

I will try it only if they seem doomed inside,they are probably not the best house palms,the unique ones never are 🙄
Your right about the small working G-house,I think they are hardy only to about 25F
They do like being dry in winter and wet and hot in summer so who knows? It's a nice dream.

I had Nannorhops (green and blue),
Washy (filifera and filibusta),
2 Sabal minor - all they died.

2 Raphys steel don't move (spear rot).
Trachy takil and nana also.

But Trachy fortunei (5), wagnerianus (2), Butia eriosp., Jubea and 2 Chamerops are fine.

Among other exots the best is blue passionflower, Camelia, Fig tree, bamboo and Dicksonia antarctica.
Amazing but Cycas panzhihuanensis survived and give new leaf.

Experiments continue, only praying for Warming. (2 cold summer).

Sorry to hear you lost those Antti,glad to hear your other palms made it!
Good to hear from you again 😉

Sabal 'Birmingham' has been rock solid even as a small specimen.
It's never shown any stress but it's also a somewhat slow grower here.
It may pick up once it gains in size.

Cheers, Barrie.

Pic taken today (Jan31-2010)

Looks good, Barrie.
I'm sold on Sabal after reading this thread. I have a couple of S. mexicanum in the house I bought in Dallas in October (5 gal. size) I'll try in the ground. They'll get good protection.
Then in Spring I'll make a road trip to "Amazing Gardens" with the truck for a big Sabal, "Lousiana" or "Birmingham"--whatever I can get that is big (15 - 30 gal.). I'd like at least one palm I can see and enjoy in the winter. 😆
--Erik

I have found with Sabal that they need to be starting divided leaves are already into them to
have a chance here,otherwise to slow and not enough grow.
The one exception so far has been Brazoria.

My 5 gallon S. mexicanum have mature-looking leaves. I'll still protect them from wind next winter.
I'm hoping to get really big Sabal by driving to Amazing Gardens in a truck vs. mail order.
If they have Brazoria, do you recomend them? I was thinking "Louisiana" myself.
--Erik

Both are great.

S.Louisiana came back from defoliation last fall/winter and grew 3-4 leaves,
that's pretty dang good for a Sabal.
Brazoria is incredibly cold hardy even when small,mine has only strap leaves.
It puts out 2 leaves every summer so far.
It may be this hardy because it's so close to the ground but still it's getting established!

I need to do some serious pruning on a Maple in my yard to get it(Sabal) and others some sun-argggggg

I have a spot in mind with lots of sun: the SE side of a Gazebo (the one my poor Trachy is on the NE side of). It'll get AM sun, and sun pretty much all day except for the late afternoon in Summer. And wind protection from the NW for the winter. No tall trees anywhere nearby. Good soil. I don't need a tree there, so a big but trunkless Sabal would be perfect. I just want to be able to look out the window and see palm fronds all winter, or at least all but the dozen or so worst days.
--Erik

Look out the window and see palm fronds......

sounds like a good plan!

Antti, i'm sorry to hear this. Could you tell me what is the troubles was happened with your palms?

This isn't my trial, but close by. I was at the Tulsa Zoo today. They have numerous Sabal minor outdoors with no protection from cold or wind. They all look great!
The Zoo has a great horticultural staff and a huge heated greenhouse. They dig and bring in a lot of plants for the winter. That they decided to leave a couple dozen Sabal minor of different sizes in the ground with no protection at all shows me the confidence they have in this species on the Zone 6/7 margin. For me, another reason to shop for Sabal this Spring.