Earthworm, it's been my experience that the louisiana & brazoria s. minor variants (same horse) for the most part are faster & a bit more robust than these east Carolina minors. Brazoria first pic, Carolina second.
It's my guess also that the hardiness honor would slightly favor the Carolina side.
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Well that is a good one earthworm. We have friends in N.Y. that are in the same zone as I am that loose their minors if they are not protected. While I leave mine completely unprotected to the snow, ice and rain.

While your in a closer zone to dixieboy, like you said your climate is completely different. They need their specific microclimate which you are far from. For this reason I would try the slower, and more hardy minors like the McCurtain or maybe try a Shavannah Ga. from Yuccado. Just checked yuccado website and they are listed for 9.60$. Like dixieboy said the faster brazoria and louisiana maynot be as hardy.

Once you figure out how to keep them alive you will be in love with them. Especially the trunking forms.

Earthworm, I have to second the nomination for S. Louisiana. Faster growth and mine survived the 2010-11 Winter from HELL in the N.E. unprotected. I also like Sabal Mexicana (or Texana)--Texas or Mexican Sabal--for strong growth and cold hardiness.

I also agree that you should try a Louisiana. I have Minor "Arkansas" form and a Sabal Louisiana. Both have continued to grow for me despite having daytime highs only in the low 80s for the last week and a half. And both have been growing faster than I expected. The only thing I would worry about though is rot, so plant them in a sandy mixture.