Six Winter Damage/Survival Surprises

[jaybo]

In West Palm Beach, I experienced several nights in the 30s; 8 out of 9 nights in the 30s during one stretch. Coldest night was 33. I feel the cold damage experienced was more about how long the cold lasted than the absolute minimum temperature as my garden has experienced 30degF a few times in the past. Now that it is hot, sunny, with daily rainfall; rapid growth and death are being observed. Below are cold damage and survival that I did not expect.

Bactris gasipaes

In twenty years I have never seen any winter effects. This year everyone lost its spear. All but one have survived.

Dypsis fibrosa

Spear came out early January. No sign of survival until last week. There were a few times I almost cut these tree down. Now I see a few week fronds trying to push out.

Elaeis guineensis

These palms survived the 1989 freeze. The palm actually became a weed in my yard with seedlings everywhere. Many large specimens died this year. I have three with 15'+ trunk. One appears dead, no new growth is observed on the other two. But I can't get to the crown verify due to the height. A few seedlings that were allowed to grow to fruiting size did survive. Most died.

Latania loddigesii

Large palm, about 6' trunk. No damage observed until this week. New growth was observed during the past few months, then the center fronds died. After removing dead fronds, no new growth observed inside,

Pinanga coronata

Everyone had the spear pulled/fall out. All recovered with the exception of one or two stems.

Pritchardia waialealeana

Large palm, about 8' trunk has been planted in my garden for over 10 years. Totally defoliated. Pushed out 5 or 6 green fronds before the crown toppled over.