I live in seattle, wa. our zone according to usda is zone 8-9, but on the map(www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ushzmap.html) it says ZONE 9 for urban seattle. i live in the city limits and it rerely snows here. i am 26 years old and i know it has only snowed about every 2 winters for 2-3 days since i have been alive and the occasional cold snap over night with temperatures never reaching below 22f within the last 2 decades. the coldest ever ever on record was 0F (-18°C) in 1950, the winter temps with average lows around 35Â40°F (2Â4°C)most like northern cali. i understand that temperature zones are often discussed, but the most important thing is the actual "number" (low temperature) anticipated. because, within any zone, there are variations and microclimates, such as with seattle. (global warming? combine with a city warmth microclimate??) what tropicals are really viable here in seattle, has anyone experimented? honestally?? i am not trying to expecect the impossible and nothing can subistatute tropical climate for a freezing night nor how warm the next dayor subsequential day, i am trying to be realistic on my expectations and not be in zone deial, just becauae i live in a zone 8/9 (what ever we may think 8a,8b,9a,9b)doesn't mean that the climate is not diferent than in a zone 8-9 in florida or califonia. seattle for the reputation or a rainy ciy the city has a reputation for frequent rain. In reality, the so-called "rainy city" receives an unremarkable 37.1 inches (94 cm) of precipitation a year, which is much less than New York City, Atlanta, Houston, and most cities of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States!! So if you are worried about water logged root systems think again. as for sunny days with plants that are desert like sun loving i can under stand with our verage of 200some odd cloudy days it might affect groth of a sun loving plant. i honestally just dont think anyone has tryed to grow different tropicals here untill now.

Here in seattle we are having an explosion of tropical land scapeing because there are a number of tropicals that will over winter here in seattle due to our mediterranean climate (mild winder and not too hot summers, a.k.a. marine west coast, similar to san francisco climate minus the ocasional snow...we get it because we have more moisture and the conditions lign up but RARELY get accumuliations that last over a 24 hr period), although outwards of urban seattle, the temperature is ofter colder. due to the valleys and higher elevations and far prox. from the effects of coastal marine warming. THESE PROXIMITYS CAN EXPECT grater temperatures of cold and LONGER periods of snow accumulations as well as harder frosts.

i have sago plam that does excellent here, of course i have the windmill palm... everyone knows about those sortsof hardy palms, the usual........

Rhapidophyllum hystrix - Needle Palm

Sabal minor - Dwarf Palmetto

Trachycarpus takil - Kumaon Palm

Trachycarpus latisectus - Windamere Palm

Trachycarpus wagnerianus - Miniature Chusan Palm

Trachycarpus fortunei - Chinese Windmill Palm

Serenoa repens - Saw Palmetto

Nannorrhops ritchiana - Mazari Palm

..... i have a butia, and a phoenix canariensis, also a white bird of paradise at my home(wich also has been recentally planted at a seattle mall as part of out-door reland scapeing in a recent remodle about 3 - 4 years ago.) all of wich are at least 4 yars old and have been over wintered without protection and doing well.

i was wondering if anyone had tried growing a queen palm in such an environment or if i am one of few that has speculated(or even tried?!) feed back would be awesome.

From researching online it says that queen palms are hardy to zone 8(A,B) and if that is correct why dont i see them in urban seattle and portland? is this due to the stereotype that "palms are just out of place outside of the southern states and troppical regions... I.E.; CA, FL & HI." Thus no one cares.? why try?