Dypsisdean 1,108 Report post Posted January 15, 2007 Does anyone have info to share on this one? I am very curious. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peter 232 Report post Posted January 15, 2007 Dean, I have 3 Bismarkia's and none of them showed the least bit of damage. Unfortunately my hi-lo guage packed it in last week, so I can only go by the official low here in Woodland Hills which was 20d. according to the paper this morning. I'm up in the hills and sometimes I'm a degree or two warmer, but not always. I didn't get any frost or ice, which is the usual case for me up here. Whatever, it was cold and damaged almost every other palm not under canopy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doubravsky 692 Report post Posted January 15, 2007 One... 3 yrs old from a 3 gallon. Took 24 - no visible damage at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
epicure3 91 Report post Posted January 15, 2007 No damage after an all time low of 29 Sunday morning. Juvenile palm, no trunk. Blue variety. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gtlevine 311 Report post Posted January 15, 2007 Hit my all time low of 27F on Saturday night. All Bizmarkia went through easily without damage. Gary Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tropicalb 43 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 I'll guarantee it was in the VERY low 20's or possibly even the high teens, and the 15 gal bizmarkia's i had stashed underneath some allspice trees showed no damage at all. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
doubravsky 692 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 Here's my little one... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
steve 9atx 2 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 The amazing thing about the little, potted Bismarkias is that at low 20's/high teens overnight, the pot and roots must have virtually have frozen as well, don't you think? Unbelievable. Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoomsDave 8,659 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 Two galloner, at least down to about 29 FF, two going on three nights, no damage so far. dave Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Don Little 15 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 Saw 29 an no damage Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BS Man about Palms 2,344 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 Mine is about 3' overall in the ground, saw 28F no protection and seems to even MORE "pinkish bronze" in color that it was a month ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ghar41 201 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 It's early, and I don't know what to look for on a Bizzy as far as freeze damage goes, (other than the usual stuff) My low was 24.9F and I have one that I planted in a lousy spot against a North fence. It doesn't look any different than it did a week ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ghar41 201 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 (ghar41 @ Jan. 16 2007,07:27)QUOTEIt's early, and I don't know what to look for on a Bizzy as far as freeze damage goes, (other than the usual stuff) My low was 25.1F and I have one that I planted in a lousy spot against a North fence. It doesn't look any different than it did a week ago. ....I need to mention that I did have a "pooch pot" burning about 25 feet away. :: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elHoagie 275 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 30F (first night) - no damage 27F (second night) - no damage This plant is about 3m (10ft) tall. Four or five of the oldest leaves have curled up and look desiccated, but I think that's from the root damage when it blew over a week ago.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattyB 2,015 Report post Posted January 16, 2007 Bizmarckia nobilis (Silver/Blue), 4 feet tall overall, in ground planted next to a 6 foot tall wood fence. 24.1F, no frost, no canopy No Damage Note: Like BS's this palm has been showing some pinkish/purpleish hues in the older leaves since the begininning of winter but no major foliage damage due to extreme cold. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Geoff 267 Report post Posted January 17, 2007 3 seedlings, all abou5t 4' tall, no damage on any from 27F for 5 hours, and frost the next night (but temps over 33F)- one totally out in open, others against walls Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alicehunter2000 705 Report post Posted January 17, 2007 Got to Get One! Note to self........Got to get one! Keep the data coming folks...............do you think any effects will be felt later? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
epicure3 91 Report post Posted January 17, 2007 I forgot to add this one. 29F both satAM and Mon AM. No frost. Slight freeze damage to one frond. Pic can be seen in separate post entitled "Freeze 2007 pics" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim in Los Altos 2,356 Report post Posted January 19, 2007 26F low, very little frost. Three silver Bizzys, 2', 5', and 8'. NOOOOO damage to speak of. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmGuyWC 1,480 Report post Posted January 19, 2007 My Bismarkia took 23.5 F on Dec 19, '06, unprotected and no apparent damage. I chickened out for the Jan freeze and covered it and put a 100 W light bulb under it. HOWEVER......The two prior years 25F to 27F must have been the low and unprotected. The two prior years it looked fine untill warm weather arrived, then it developed ugly tan splotches on the foliage. Mine produces about 6 new fronds a growing season. Mine has never been subjected to night after night freezes, so I'll give a report in the spring. Dick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
aztropic 2,074 Report post Posted January 20, 2007 I had 2 nights at 25 F,5mph wind,8 hours exposure to minimum both nights,no frost;no protection.Center 1/3 of leafs are alive while 1/3 on each side has dried up.No obvious signs of freezing while it was happening.It will survive. aztropic Mesa,Arizona Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iwan 207 Report post Posted January 26, 2007 Climate info for these palms is third party. These palms are ~1/4 mile from the Nickel Palm Nursery near Bakersfield. Phil Nickel reported temps at his nursery were 15-18F for several days with extended periods of freezing over the last three weeks. Closeup The smaller one I don't know what these may have looked like before, but they look better than every Washingtonia in the area. For reference L. chinensis and various Sabal species at Phil's nursery. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon T 4 Report post Posted January 27, 2007 I need to jump on the bandwagon here, too. I have a couple of small bizzies like the little one near Phil's, and they took 14.7, 14.9, 16, 18, and several low 20s. They aren't dessicated, though they are bronzy-purple. The tight spears look good. They look like they'll be fine, though I think we need to proceed with caution as far as discussing temp limits, since stuff I thought was lightly damaged for the first week looks like death warmed-over a week further along. I want to see if the fronds remain viable, and if the little tough guys begin to grow again in April. And if they do, then it may be that these are remarkably cold-tolerant. Jon T. i Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DoomsDave 8,659 Report post Posted January 28, 2007 2 galloner, no damage after four nights of 28-29 F. No frost. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palmnut 1 Report post Posted January 29, 2007 I was talking to friend in the San Francisco Bay area last week about the freeze. He said he saw several big Bismarckia (silver) that were totally untouched by two consecutive nights of 17º-18ºF. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palmy 13 Report post Posted February 1, 2007 Where on earth are there big bismarkia's in the bay area? I would love to see one. This spring I will have one in the ground. My fav fan palm. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmGuyWC 1,480 Report post Posted February 7, 2007 My Bismarkia, about 4" high, is looking worse and worse. Now the center fronds are turning tan. It's low was 23F and many other nights of below freezing. I think it's gonna bite the dust. Oh well, leaves a nice sunny spot for something more hardy. It was an "experiment" anyway. Dick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alicehunter2000 705 Report post Posted February 7, 2007 4" or 4'? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmGuyWC 1,480 Report post Posted February 12, 2007 Sorry, I meant to say 4'. It looks pretty sick now and I don't know if it will live. More later. Dick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmGuyWC 1,480 Report post Posted March 12, 2007 A much later report: I have 3 palms planted in the same area, and totally exposed, no overhead protection. The Butia X Parajubaea was untouched by the freezes and has started to grow again with our warm weather of the past week. Near by my Bismarkia is totally cooked....It's dead as a door nail! No green (silver) DEAD!! Gone!! The Parajubaea T V T in the same area had severe damage to all the fronds that were horizontal and frosted. The 3 center upright fronds were undamaged, and it's started to grow again with warmer weather. Had it been older with a trunk and the foliage further off the ground, I think it would have faired much better. I think this is a keeper for those of us in Sunset zone 14 and definatly for those of you in zones 15 to 17. I have have a nice 5 gal. P. sunkha that I think will replace the Bismarkia, maybe as soon at today as it's supposed to be in the 80's today. Whoope! Spring!! Dick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Palmy 13 Report post Posted March 13, 2007 Dick- Where did you find a bismarkia to buy in the bay area? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kris 1,365 Report post Posted March 13, 2007 Dear Guys i used to call bizie baby as hot baby ! no doubt it is proving its worth.that is hot... so able to survive even in cold wheathers.. Kris. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freekypalmguy 10 Report post Posted March 14, 2007 (PalmGuyWC @ Feb. 07 2007,12:48)QUOTEMy Bismarkia, about 4" high, is looking worse and worse. Now the center fronds are turning tan. It's low was 23F and many other nights of below freezing. I think it's gonna bite the dust. Oh well, leaves a nice sunny spot for something more hardy. It was an "experiment" anyway. Dick My Bizzie very similar in size to Dicks, but still in a small box, just pulled the spear out, completely rotten . Low of 22F and many nights below freezing. Another Bizzie, same size but in the ground is doing OK so far. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PalmGuyWC 1,480 Report post Posted March 16, 2007 Hi Zack, I just saw your post. A friend of mine picked up the Bismarkia in S. Calif., and I'm not sure where he got it. I've never seen them for sale in N. Calif. Mine is only a memory now as it's been dug up and removed. After 3 years in the ground I was surprised at what thick roots it had grown, a half inch in diamater. Mine was totally cooked at 23F and night after night of freezing temps. and that was even with some protection in the Jan. Freeze. I really didn't think it would survive long in Walnut Creek, and now I know. I suppose I could get another and grow it as a large container plant for my deck, but I'm not sure it's worth the effort since I would have to protect it each winter. Dick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jon T 4 Report post Posted April 11, 2007 Fellow Fanatics, It's just like Dick said -- you can't plan for bizzies surviving temps below 25. I am personally responsible for spreading misinformation: my January 27 post said truthfully that my Bismarcks looked pretty good, after temps in the mid-teens, but now, two-plus months later, they look pretty darn dead. One has a dessicated spear that is still in place, but there's no apparent growth, and no color of life anywhere. It may be that truly big ones will have the mass to survive 8b temps, but it's not appropriate for anybody to characterize bismarckia nobilis as anything but a 9b palm, and for practical purposes it's really only going to be consistently attractive in 10 a. Sadder but wiser, Jon T. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonoranfans 1,804 Report post Posted June 1, 2007 (Jon T @ Apr. 11 2007,15:11)QUOTEFellow Fanatics, It's just like Dick said -- you can't plan for bizzies surviving temps below 25. I am personally responsible for spreading misinformation: my January 27 post said truthfully that my Bismarcks looked pretty good, after temps in the mid-teens, but now, two-plus months later, they look pretty darn dead. One has a dessicated spear that is still in place, but there's no apparent growth, and no color of life anywhere. It may be that truly big ones will have the mass to survive 8b temps, but it's not appropriate for anybody to characterize bismarckia nobilis as anything but a 9b palm, and for practical purposes it's really only going to be consistently attractive in 10 a. Sadder but wiser, Jon T. I seriously doubt the claims of surviving the teens with "no damage". My fully established 11' bismarckia survived 22 degrees 2 nights in a row, but all (14) exposed palms were toasted, dead as a door nail, and the exposed spear wont open fully, has obvious burn damage today. The temps were 22 degrees, but these palms were next to the pool, with th pool heater running overnight. All palms either turned deep bronze or white(more wind protection), and wrinkled. Today, my biz are pushing out new palms, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
avb 30 Report post Posted June 25, 2007 One plant with no damage at 29 degrees. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonoranfans 1,804 Report post Posted July 31, 2007 In the interest of providing a baseline I decided to show a pic that has several species so there is an understanding within the pic of what the true temps may have been. Here is a pic of my largest bizzie along with syagrus(20F(?)), phx roebelinii(25F?), and a brahea(12F(?) and sabal bermuda(10F). My bizzie was totally burned except for one spear that never did open right. The colors are bronze and white(very wrinkled). I ended up cutting off the burned fronds months later as they were very stiff, lifeless, brittle and caused damage to a new emerging spear as it tried to push its way out. The two phx roebelinii in the foreground were totally bronzed like straw (defoilated but survived), the syagrus show green fronds, plenty of them, but did burn up to 50% as well. The brahea and bermuda didnt even blink. Well since we know roebelinii are tender at about 25F, and the syagrus at 20F, the temp was in that range(weather said 22F for 2 nights in a row). Further, freezing duration was about 8-10 hours each night according to the weather report. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonoranfans 1,804 Report post Posted July 31, 2007 here is the Biz in april with its first new frond since the freeze opened. Sorry its a different angle, but psychologically I was having a hard time taking photos of it for a while. The newly opened frond along with 2 freeze damaged fronds, yet to be removed, is pictured. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sonoranfans 1,804 Report post Posted July 31, 2007 and here is the same bizzie at the beginning of july, after pumping out 3 more fronds and 2 additional new spears. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites