Small to midsize trunking palms for greenhouse/outdoor containers

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

My idea is to have a few potted, trunking palms that can live in a greenhouse during the cold months, but will live by my pool in summer. I'll probably use a gritty mix or something similar, and would like something trunking that won't get too tall TOO fast to live in a greenhouse. If it eventually got too tall, I could probably find someone in the South to take it off my hands.

My GH won't have fully tropical temps, but will be kept above freezing, possibly getting to 70 or 80F on sunny winter days. Summers here in central Ohio are usually in the 80s, sometimes 90s, usually humid.

Ideas?

Featured Answer

stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

Bottle palms. Spindle palms. The whole Chamedorea family. Phoenix roebellini. Look for the silver palms like Bizmarckia and silver Med palm. Or blue palms. They all can stay potted forever.

King and Alex palms can grow new fronds very fast. Good for adapting to outdoor life after a winter under glass. I would say the same for Bismarckia's.

Manila palms- there is a reason they are popular all over the tropical world. They do need a winter greenhouse that keeps nights well above 50f. The drawback.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
11 years ago
Yeah, I'd consider some of the cold hardy cycads. Palms will soon outgrow your space!
Related Professionals
Asheville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Dayton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Champaign Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · South Sioux City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · La Crosse Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Wausau Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Belleville Landscape Contractors · Annapolis Landscape Contractors · Aurora Landscape Contractors · Los Angeles Landscape Contractors · Jacksonville Architects & Building Designers · Greenville Architects & Building Designers · Richmond Architects & Building Designers · Great Falls Architects & Building Designers · Salt Lake City Architects & Building Designers
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
11 years ago
Well,the hardy temperate palms are a given. The others listed can take high to near freezing temps,even mild temperate days (50's) but,yes,none can take 33f all day and night for days.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
11 years ago
Sure they would. For a few days and nights,above freezing? Even a Queen palm can take that. As long as its a short spell...and back to highs in the 50's or more.

He must be heating it...because I'm sure Ohio cant keep a greenhouse "above freezing and some days in to the 70's" in December and on. I would think he's using a lot of heating to still keep it in that range.

Well,only he knows if he's saying "best days" or everyday in winter above freezing.
hairmetal4ever
11 years ago
I'd guess that any winter day with sunshine would probably get fairly warm inside the GH, wouldn't it? Heating just to freezing at night...solar gain in the daytime? Sounds reasonable to me, but you'd have to ask the OP.
Jeff Ashenfelter
11 years ago
supposedly Sabal Minor endured 12 consecutive days below freezing in Dallas back in the 80s. Lowest temp was 5 degrees. Needle palms can handle at least 12 consecutive days below freezing (some, not all).
Cheryl Reid
10 years ago
What can you tell me about a cardboard palm for a pot in Zone 9??
Jeff Ashenfelter
10 years ago
I'd never heard of this palm before. I looked it up quickly on the web and it said hardy to zone 9b. I've heard that plants are less hardy in pots because their roots are exposed to colder than normal temps.

Personally, I'd say you are better off planting it in the ground and covering it with a blanket on days that it will be below freezing. Unless you plan on taking it inside when it freezes.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
10 years ago
Cardboard palm isnt a palm. Its a Cycad. That particular one is root hardy for the southeast z9. I have it here in the SF bay area z10. Needs full sun here to grow well. Its just not a hot summer climate.
stanofh 10a Hayward,Ca S.F. bay area
10 years ago
If we are tossing in cycads? It all depends on how warm you keep that greenhouse. If its 80f one day and 24f the next night or ten nights because its cloudy,then I have to say not many palms or cycads can take that. So,I guess my bottle and spindles advice is n/a for that.