Do I Buy S. Minor 'McCurtian' or a "Normal" S. Minor?

[PalmTreeDude]

I was originally planning on ordering some Sabal minor 'McCurtian' to plant here soon, but, I have read that Sabal minor 'McCurtian'defoliate quicker than other Sabal minor ecotypes. I am on the boarder of zone 7a/7b in Virginia, so wouldn't any Sabal minor be "bulletproof" here? 

[Andy8201]

 Is the plan to put it in the ground? I used to be in a 6B (now in 6A) and it is a struggle. I know the temptation to put in the ground (and I've 

succumb to it) You will read about the minimum temperatures cold hardy palms will take but what really does them in is persistent cool wet weather. I have a potted plain old Sabal Minor and I have gotten it to flower and seed the past two springs. In May just like clock work. Not to dissuade you but list a thought. I can post a pic this weekend if you like.

[Ben OK]

6 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

I was originally planning on ordering some Sabal minor 'McCurtian' to plant here soon, but, I have read that Sabal minor 'McCurtian'defoliate quicker than other Sabal minor ecotypes. I am on the boarder of zone 7a/7b in Virginia, so wouldn't any Sabal minor be "bulletproof" here? 

No two locations have the same climate, even if they are in the same zone...so my neck of the woods may be a little different even if most of Oklahoma is 7a or 7b. In my experience Sabal minor is pretty much rock solid in zone 7. Even if they get damaged in a hard winter, they come back from pretty incredible cold. I have lost a handful of seedlings over the years, but I've never lost a minor over strap leaf size. I even planted one in front of the north side of my parents' house about five years ago. They don't give it any real care aside from occasional watering in the summer, and it thrives in east central OK.

Long story short, I think you would be fine planting any variety of sabal minor in your area. You may want to baby them the first year or two, but I think they'll do fine for you...With the disclaimer that Virginia is not Oklahoma, though I don't think the differences would be enough to thwart you.

[kinzyjr]

On 2/23/2017, 4:14:05, PalmTreeDude said:

I was originally planning on ordering some Sabal minor 'McCurtian' to plant here soon, but, I have read that Sabal minor 'McCurtian'defoliate quicker than other Sabal minor ecotypes. I am on the boarder of zone 7a/7b in Virginia, so wouldn't any Sabal minor be "bulletproof" here? 

You definitely want a hardy ecotype.  I'd suggest McCurtain or a type from Arkansas.  They should be able to handle more cold than types that grow here in Florida just due to natural selection.

[Flow]

I have a small McCurtain and it sailed through two weeks of sub-zero temperatures and daytime highs below freezing and didn't show any signs of cold stress. However, I have no other minor to compare it to. Most years we are roughly in zone 7.

Edited February 25, 2017 by Flow

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

I grow the minors native to the trinity river basin in downtown dallas. 

[jfrye01@live.com]

Here in the Wichita, Kansas area, I've seen Sabal minor (McCurtain, Cape Hatteras, North Texas,) Sabal Louisiana, and Brazoria grown, and I honestly can't see a difference between them...they all handle our cold very well...very little if any damage.  

[Matt N- Dallas]

The 'mc curtain' ecotype is very hardy.  I've had them growing at my Mom's house in Kansas City, Mo z6 for 20 years.  I know they've prospered in Wichita for decades also.