Growing Zone 8a and 8b Palms In Zone 7a/7b Border

10 years ago

I am going to try to germinate some California and Mexican fan palms from seed then have them in almost like a mini green house outside all year long with no winter protection. My theory is if they make it in the mini green house, unheated, for 2 - 4 years I could try to plant them beside my house in the spring one year and they will be much more cold hardy then if they were grown in Florida or Georgia. I am also aware that the California fan Palm is a little more cold hardy then the Mexican fan palm. I may also try this with some other zone 8a and 8b palms as well.

What do you think?

Featured Answer

mesembs

10 years ago

Go for it!

It never hurts to try, unless of course the palms are expensive, but I think this should be interesting. I can see how keeping them in a green house with no other protection would 'toughen them up', but I personally think it won't work without protection.

Good luck!

~palmsandsnow

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
GardenDude
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Yep, that is what I trying to do! They would not cost much, since I wil be growing them from seed.

Also, do California fan palms have a fast growth rate like the Mexican fan palm?
Related Professionals
Elizabeth City Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Danville Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Pine Bluff Landscape Contractors · New Braunfels Landscape Contractors · Orlando Architects & Building Designers · Monroe Architects & Building Designers · Cambridge Architects & Building Designers · Vicksburg Architects & Building Designers · Asheville Architects & Building Designers · Fergus Falls Architects & Building Designers · Willmar Architects & Building Designers · Bakersfield Architects & Building Designers · San Bernardino Architects & Building Designers · Carson City Architects & Building Designers · Wenatchee Architects & Building Designers
User
10 years ago
I have found Washingtonia robusta or the hybrid 'filibuster' to be a faster growing plant. In fact, if your Summer climate is hot, humid and RAINY, filifera will sulk if not worse. However, filifera is cold hardier..., especially in more arid climates.
GardenDude thanked User
PRO
GardenDude
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Where I am in the summer it is VERY hot and humid, but not that rainy, with a thunderstorm here or there. Also we do get droughts every once and awhile.

I think the Calironia fan palm (Washingtonia filifera) would be my best choice, especially for my climate. Do you know where I could buy any California fan palm seeds? All the places I looked at seem to get the Mexican and Californian fan Palm mixed up.
cm05
10 years ago
Go for it, it's always fun to experiment. Keeping it fairly dry during winter might give it a temporary boost in cold tolerance, some California fan palms grow in dry zone 7 climates. I guess the less water there is in the plant the less freeze damage will occur.
GardenDude thanked cm05
PRO
GardenDude
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Actually, I just remembered a long time ago my friend had a California fan palm in his back yard, and it was grown locally from seed. I believe it was in the ground for quiet a few years and it was well established. It pulled through the winters unprotected, but his neighbor hood "code" made him cut it down because it still had the beard on it and even when pruned they still did not like it, he was not so happy about that.

But I think I will be going with the California fan palm. Our winters are dry and it only gets really cold here for about 2 weeks until it starts to warm up. I'll give it a try!