I'm in Central Texas. You can plant palm trees here...you just have to get the right ones. I did this research about 3 months ago so I don't remember all the names. I remember the Mexican fan palm I believe was ok and I think it was some other Washingtonian varieties or something like that. Both of those were sub zero tolerant. I really wanted to plant some Foxtail palms as I like the look of those but they can't handle the cold. I put them in pots on the deck that I can bring close to the house and wrap up during the winter.

yellowjacket - I've heard washingtonians have worked for people in Stephenville.

Queen Palms are pretty cold hardy. Try this website: http://davesgarden.com/

Stonesmama, we're both in zone 8a. Most palms are described on the tag as being good to 40 degrees (zone 9) but can actually tolerate the brief freezes we get here if they're not right out in the wind. I've seen some people wrap their palms in the winter and others just leave them exposed.

You can also put lights on them to warm them up a few degrees.

The bigger the better, the more likely they will make it through...you might loose a few leaves but the "core" of the tree will make it and spring new leaves.

I'm in zone 8a on the east coast and all the following survive:

Sabal Palmetto
Pindo Palm
Washingtonia Robusta (Mexican fan palm)
Mediterranean fan palm
and some other shown on the link below.

My Washingtonia's take a beating in the winter, but with them being fast growers they pop back in the spring. Usually the outer layer burns and I leave them on all winter and cut them back to reveal green palms on the inside after last frost. We occasionally hit the 20's but primarily the 30's are the lows.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cold hardy palms

Hey guys, thanks so much. Again, my husband will be thrilled. Plus, I am trying to concentrate on other tasks while I'm waiting for things to move on my pool. Redirection and distraction. lol

Live in S.Fla.and love and planted several beautiful palms.
Fox tail and Bismarcia are my favorite.
But that is besides the point.
Which is a few years ago I was watching as they landcaped
a newly construted multi million dollar Federal courthouse
in Miami when a large semi flatbed pulled up with several
Canary Islands Palms.The C.I.is the Cadillac of palms.
They are very slow growing,hence the price of the big ones.
Anyway these babies were near full grown at $7,000. a pop.
Good to know our tax bucks was going top of the line things.
Oh yeah these palms came from Texas!
Good Luck...JR