Cold Survival Suprises

[_Keith]

My Arenga engleri is unfazed at this time.

Also, so is my Schefflera, now a small tree, and flowering.

And my cold hardy Avocado, variety 'Wilma'

[galveston1602]

your schefelera must be a mutant, or itll show it later, they melted around here at higher temps!

as for the A. engleri, keep us updated, Ive always wanted one but didnt figure itd be that much hardier than anything else in my yard (on a % basis) so I didnt do it, if it survives 20 (even fully defoliated) Ill make sure to acquire one!

[spockvr6]

your schefelera must be a mutant, or itll show it later, they melted around here at higher temps!

Same here. Mine, which is a small tree (maybe ~15 ft tall) got the uppermost leaves burned at ~34F. After the next two nights, a whole lot more than that will likely be burned, and Id expect some wood dieback as well.

[chris78]

Allen

Arenga engleri are quite hardy.... I have a large plant under shade take two nights at 18F a few years ago and it was not that badly damage at all... So you try one...

[epicure3]

your schefelera must be a mutant, or itll show it later, they melted around here at higher temps!

Same here. Mine, which is a small tree (maybe ~15 ft tall) got the uppermost leaves burned at ~34F. After the next two nights, a whole lot more than that will likely be burned, and Id expect some wood dieback as well.

My Queensland Umbrella came through the '07 freeze of 28F unscathed. It is a monster size though so that might have helped. Also, no frost.

[Alicehunter2000]

Keith,

Who sells the "Wilma" variety of avocado. I currently have 1 Gainsville I got from Kyle, 1 Mexican variety from San Antonio, and one Mexican variety that I got fromt the grocery store. All are in pots and have not been subjected to freezing temps. I would be interested in this "Wilma" variety if you know of a source for them......plants or seeds. Thanks.

Good to hear about the A. engleri .... I got a small one and look to have more.

Edited January 10, 2010 by Alicehunter2000

[_Keith]

Keith,

Who sells the "Wilma" variety of avocado. I currently have 1 Gainsville I got from Kyle, 1 Mexican variety from San Antonio, and one Mexican variety that I got fromt the grocery store. All are in pots and have not been subjected to freezing temps. I would be interested in this "Wilma" variety if you know of a source for them......plants or seeds. Thanks.

Good to hear about the A. engleri .... I got a small one and look to have more.

David, there is a nursery in San Antonio named Fanick's. One of their specialities is cold hardy Avocados, all grafted clones of old survivor trees from the region. Just had our second night reaching down to 22 and it still appears to be have no significant damage.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

In my opinion the key with Arenga engleri is frost protection. Mine hasn't suffered from the dry cold but frost really whacks it. So if you have a place with a high canopy (say a pine grove), that'd be an excellent place to try A. engleri. Be aware that the've divided engleri into two species now. The new one is called ryukyuensis (my spelling could be funky). Ryukyuensis is allegedly hardier but also smaller rarely exceeding 6' in height (if I'm recalling it correctly). Engleri on the other hand is considerably larger, up to 20'. Eric a Leu Gardens in Orlando posted a great piece on this a few months back.

[_Keith]

After a 2nd night at 21/22 for a low, the A. engleri is still holding up.

All of my Chamaedorea, microspadix, radicalis, elegans, and even the little klotzschiana look fine.

The larger Livistonas, saribus, decora, and even chinensis are looking good. The little decora second year seedling, however, seems to be in trouble after this second 22 degree night.

The Parajubaea toralyii is not looking so good, but the sunkha actually seems to be enjoying the cold.