Greetings from southern Illinois

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 10:54 pm

Hi everyone my name is Bryce im new to this board. I live in a small town in southern Illinois. I have one Trachycarpus fortunei that is planted outside, this will be its second winter in the ground and so far it's done well. I am interested in getting some more Trachycarpus fortunei or Takils, Sabal minors, and Needle palms. Also wanna try Yucca rostrata. I like experimenting.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:23 am

Hi Bryce, welcome aboard!

We'd love to see your Trachy and its winter protection, as well as learning your area's min. winter temps.

Got some photos?
We LOVE looking at photos of people's plants.

Pick a topic and post away...

Barb

oppalm · Post by **oppalm** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:19 am

Bryce - you da man. welcome to palms north. Barb is right, we love to see pics. what are you doing to protect your TF thats planted outside?

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:18 am

I have been growing Trachycarpus fortunei in my yard for about a year and it has seen one winter. I started out with 2 but we had a dry spell and I lost the smaller one. I still have one though these photos are from last winter Dec 2010, emerging spring April 2011 and Summer, August of 2011. The winter protection I use is just a tomato cage that is wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap and I wrap the trunk of the palm in burlap and stuff the tomato cage with straw and place a plastic trash bag over the top to keep everything inside dry. I will take of the winter protection in late march. This plant is about 4 years old it was growing 2 years in the house and then about a year and a half outside.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60940697@N ... otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60940697@N ... otostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/60940697@N ... otostream/

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:05 am

Good that you needed no heat at all (I'm jealous).
What is your average winter minimum temp?

Sad you lost the little Trachy...the big one looks great.

Late March removal of protection?
Maybe you'll be able to remove protection earlier as it gets a bit older.

Thanks for the great pics.
Barb

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:28 am

Thanks the coldest average temp here is about 20 F. Yeah I was kept it on until late March just to be safe. It could prob withstand the weather though without protection in March. I don't use any heating at all it is next to the porch though and it kind of helps keep the wind off of it. Im excited about planting some more palms and watching this one grow.

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:36 am

If it helps im in USDA Zone 6b close to the border of zone 7a. I can grow some zone 7 plants without any protection.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:35 pm

in USDA Zone 6b close to the border of zone 7a.

You sound like us already ... almost wishing we'd wake up one morning in zone 9

20F min is pretty darn good for Trachy survival, but depends on the duration of cold and whether freezing rain can be kept away from the spear area.

Trachy's spot next to your porch sounds perfect.
Mine hates wind too and since I planted it on the east side of house (where there's very little wind) leaves aren't routinely shredded.

Im excited about planting some more palms

Great!
Others around here seem to have found some good deals at big box stores this Fall.
I always look for one that's been neglected and is barely alive in the corner, marked down (naturally).

Let us know what palms you discover/buy.

Barb

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:41 pm

I added you as a flickr contact.
Southern Illinois is a good place--yes, it gets cold, but summer is warm and wet.
Sabal minor and needle palms should be your bread and butter, with some Trachycarpus to baby each winter.
I do suggest using heat (pipe heat tape is my favorite) to help them come through as well as possible.

hardyjim · Post by **hardyjim** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:53 pm

Welcome Bryce.....

bgodwin1987 · Post by **bgodwin1987** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:31 pm

Yeah im a bit of a zone pusher lol. I travelled to San Diego, CA twice and fell in love with all the pretty exotic plants especially the cacti, succulents, and palms. I loved it so much I just wanted to kind of bring it here, plus ill admit im kinda a show off. I really like to see peoples faces when they see something out of place, like a palm tree in my backyard, lol. The only other palm I have right now is a Pygmy date palm but I bring it in dring the winter, otherwise id have a dead Pygmy Date Palm. I also have had good luck overwintering Musa basjoo, Cannas, and Calla lilies.

TerdalFarm · Post by **TerdalFarm** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:37 pm

Yes, PDP are wimps.
MuSA basjoo and Canna should do great for you. Calla lillies can't take my summers but you may be better off there as well.

lucky1 · Post by **lucky1** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:57 pm

I just wanted to kind of bring it here

That was always my second choice.
First choice would've been to move there.

But here I am in Canada, so #2 won

Barb

Godfryd · Post by **Godfryd** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:18 pm

Hello Bryce!

CTPalm · Post by **CTPalm** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 4:15 pm

Welcome Bryce!

Paul

PalmsNorth.com

Greetings from southern Illinois

Greetings from southern Illinois

Trachycarpus fortunei growing in southern Illinois

Trachycarpus fortunei growing in southern Illinois

Trachycarpus fortunei growing in southern Illinois