Jump to content
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT LOGGING IN ×
  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Palm Book


ghar41

Recommended Posts

I've been very impressed with the book Cold Hardy Palms by Alan W Meerow. I have found the information very helpful with lots of examples of cold hardy palms. Much better than the coffee table type palm books you see floating around this one has specific information about nutritional needs, propagating seed, disease problems and much much more. It is obviously well researched and I recommend it to my cold hardy friends out there.

post-376-0-43364500-1380581877_thumb.jpg

Glenn

Modesto, California

 

Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

 

Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

 

High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

 

Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

 

             

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I agree, this book deserves some comments. The problem goes back to what I've mentioned before about the poor and vague definition of what "Cold Hardy" means. In the past, I've always looked at "cold hardy" as referring to those people trying to grow palms outside of the usual palm belt, usually the 8b to barely 9a hardiness rating. But Steve's comment prompted me to want to check out the book.

Turns out the book covers palms below USDA 10a, it covers 82 species, although I know there are more than 82 species that survive in 9b and colder. I tried to find a table of content and wasn't able to find one. I did find this web site that is associated with the book: http://www.coldhardypalms.com/availability/ColdHardy.asp, which lists the classic 50 or so hardy palms that grow in USDA 9a, but it doesn't even list parajubaea. But it has howea fosteriana. Unfortunately, unless the author enables the "preview" mode on Amazon or at least makes the table of contents available, I will pass on ordering the book.

I am pretty sure this book won't cover our climate, as pretty much zero palm books ever cover cool Summer mild Winter climates around the world.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great book to loan to people first becoming curious about cold hardy palms. It's a thorough, and concise summary of hardy palms which is well organized as to not be too overwhelming for a beginner. Enough info for more advance palmophiles to reference regularly. I find it particularly useful for pointing out palms when presenting the "Intro to Cold Hardy Palms 101" talk to people. Nice array of photos with a overall shots of entire mature palm and detail images for each species and often a pic of juvenile examples. While written primarily from a southeastern US perspective there are comments about west coast differences. Most of the hardiness zones/temperatures seem well stated; not too conservative as to limit possibilities and not too unrealistic as to set people up for disappointment. pH and other soil requirements are indicated. Plenty of comments about special conditions or hazards for determining placement in the landscape. A few lists of palms grouped by characteristics and a summary of palm diseases and problems are in the back. Well worth the money. Plus the snow covered Trachys on the covers really help sell the concept.

Axel, the library at Strybing might have a copy you can look over. Initially, I thought it looked a little thin by the cover but it is really dense with info.

The Riffle/Craft book is the "bible" but if I had to pick out only one book for a public library to promote hardy palms it would be this one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi everyone,

Monkey ranch, nice synopsis in my opinion. It could easily be picked apart, not perfect but If there is a better cold hardy book please share.

I have a copy of the first edition from 2005. I've referred to it a number of times- the nutritional deficiency and flower specs info for example. Axel, Parajubaea is included pgs. 68-69.

Glenn

Modesto, California

 

Sunset Zone 14   USDA 9b

 

Low Temp. 19F/-7C 12-20-1990         

 

High Temp. 111F/43C 07-23-2006

 

Annual Average Precipitation 13.12 inches/yr.

 

             

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...