Potenial Palms for Eastern NC and Tidewater VA

[NC_Palms]

I have been working on a list of potential palm for the eastern regions of NC and VA. Many of these palms are underutilized, yet are hardy for either North Carolina or Virginia.

Also, it is important to add that many of the palms provided probably can be grown in a zone cooler if sheltered in a warm microclimate. I hope y'all find this useful in a way.

 

Zone 7a

Rhapidophyllum histrix

 

Zone 7b

Sabal birmingham

Sabal brazorensis

Sabal minor (native)

Sabal palmetto var BHI (native)

Trachycarpus fortunei

Trachycarpus nanus

Trachycarpus princeps

Trachycarpus takil

 

Zone 8a

Brahea armata

Chamaerops humilis

Jubaea chilensis  

Jubaea x syagrus

Sabal etonia

Sabal mexicana

Sabal miamiensis

Sabal palmetto (native)

Sabal uresana

Serenoa repens
Washingtonia filibusta

Washingtonia filifera

 

Zone 8b

Butia catarinensis

Butia eirosphata

Butia odorata

Livinstonia chinesis

Pheonix canariensis

Pheonix sylvestris

Pheonix theophrasti

Sabal bermudana

Sabal causarium

Sabal domingensis

Washingtonia robusta

[VA Jeff]

The temperatures you quoted are near the lowest these palms can be guaranteed to survive unprotected, but not thrive if they average the temps in these zones.  Many can survive being wrapped without heat in the winter to half a zone colder or more.  Some better if you keep the crown dry.  I also used a brick wall and dryer vent to keep my palms warm when I lived in SE VA.

[RedRabbit]

You might be able to torture an Acrocomia totai in the 9a section of NC for a few years. 

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

this last winter many canary island date palms were hugely damaged as well as washys and other date species in southern NC 

heres some pictures of the carnage

Edited November 15, 2018 by Mr.SamuraiSword

[Mr.SamuraiSword]

the outer banks did horrible even for established palmettos and butia.

[NC_Palms]

On 11/14/2018, 12:38:47, VA Jeff said:

The temperatures you quoted are near the lowest these palms can be guaranteed to survive unprotected, but not thrive if they average the temps in these zones.  Many can survive being wrapped without heat in the winter to half a zone colder or more.  Some better if you keep the crown dry.  I also used a brick wall and dryer vent to keep my palms warm when I lived in SE VA.

This list is what I have personally noticed with palms in NC and VA. A lot of the more tender species are best reserved to the Cape Fear region. 

@Mr.SamuraiSword The Phoenixes didn't do so well but I have noticed they are making a comeback. I should have noted but many of the tender palms are root hardy after defoliation. And with the palmettos in the OBX; yeah they aren't doing that great but go further south and they are all fine. 

[NC_Palms]

On 11/14/2018, 12:56:53, RedRabbit said:

You might be able to torture an Acrocomia totai in the 9a section of NC for a few years. 

I heard of people torturing Syagrus romanzoffiana on the Crystal Coast. I think only protecting on the coldest of nights 

[PalmTreeDude]

I would put Sabal minor under zone 7a, especially the cold hardiest varieties (McCurtain, Northeast Texas, South Arkansas, North Alabama, and Northeast North Carolina). There are some places with thriving Sabal minor in cold parts of zone 7a in non-sheltered locations. 

[NC_Palms]

4 hours ago, PalmTreeDude said:

I would put Sabal minor under zone 7a, especially the cold hardiest varieties (McCurtain, Northeast Texas, South Arkansas, North Alabama, and Northeast North Carolina). There are some places with thriving Sabal minor in cold parts of zone 7a in non-sheltered locations. 

You're correct. I think Alabama has some Sabal minor in zone 7a. 

[kinzyjr]

12 minutes ago, NC_Palms said:

You're correct. I think Alabama has some Sabal minor in zone 7a. 

Technically 7b (in the Weiss Lake area of Cherokee county)

[PalmTreeDude]

On 11/15/2018, 9:26:28, kinzyjr said:

Technically 7b (in the Weiss Lake area of Cherokee county)

*I miss read some information and posted it here incorrectly, can't delete it.*

Edited November 18, 2018 by PalmTreeDude

[kinzyjr]

59 minutes ago, PalmTreeDude said:

*I miss read some information and posted it here incorrectly, can't delete it.*

Not a big deal.  The most hardy varieties of this palm easily grow in zone 7a area.

[PalmTreeDude]

25 minutes ago, kinzyjr said:

Not a big deal.  The most hardy varieties of this palm easily grow in zone 7a area.

The info I miss read was the record low for Centre (the are where some of the Weiss Lake minors are found), I thought it was lower than ours but it wasn't. I have a hardy variety going in the ground this Spring.