Going to live or die - Windmill Palm

5 years ago

We planted this 12 ft Windmill Palm June 2020. Feb. 2021 (8 months later) we had a record breaking week of winter with 17 inches of snow and below freezing temperatures for 3 days. We are in Zone 7B in Arkansas and was told this is supposed to be a cold hardy Palm when we bought it. I do realize this was unusual cold snap and not established. We are not experienced with palms at all, being from Iowa, and we we we were extremely proud of our Palm. We wrapped the bottom with blankets hoping to help keep it warm. We have done eveything possible, from pouring hydrogen peroxide in the crown, fertilizing etc. We trimmed the dead palms and now just yesterday gave it a complete haircut. The very middle did have some very light green in the lower stems yet so we are hoping there is some life yet. The core is hard so it is not rotten. We are going to wait a year to see what happens before we totally give up and cut it down. What do you think our chances are? Thank you!

Featured Answer

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

If the second pic is a current picture, then it's definitely alive and will fill out slowly over the summer. Trachys should be long-term in 7B, but your cold was unprecedented. Trachys can totally defoliate from cold and still regrow. Cosmetic damage can start somewhere below 12 degrees and death can occur somewhere around 0, depending on duration of the cold event, as well as the number of days below freezing. Good luck!

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Comments (7)

Kris W
Original Author
5 years ago
Unfortunately the first picture is with the snow and cold, second picture is shortly after we had purchasd it, and the last picture is current. I think we had about 4 nights of below freezing temps. Thank you so much for you response.
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Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Oh, just clicked on the last pic. If it's not starting to grow by July, I'd cut it down.

Four nights of below-freezing temps is nothing for a Trachy by the way. LOL! Now if that was 'below ZERO', then, yeah, that can kill them.
Kris W
Original Author
5 years ago
Ok….sad…but thank you!! It was not below zero temps. Lowest temp was like 17 degrees if I remember right.
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Seventeen degrees F is nothing for an established Trachy. I'd certainly buy a new one and try again. Maybe start out with a smaller one. That way you can throw a tarp or something over it to get it thru it's first winter or two, if you need to.
Kris W thanked Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
5 years ago
Here are mine in zone 7A. They've seen 0 degrees and nearly completely defoliated, but still lived. I think their days are numbered though as they are growing above the roofline and won't be protected from winter winds.
Kris W
Original Author
5 years ago
Nice!!