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

Which is hardier, Beccariophoenix alfredii or a Mule Palm?

palmhort

By palmhort
in COLD HARDY PALMS

 Share

Recommended Posts

palmhort Enthusiast

palmhort

Posted
Posted

Despite being the coldest night of the season, I'm contemplating ordering some unique palms for Spring and want to know...which would be hardier with protection; Beccariophoenix alfredii or a Mule Palm for z7b NJ? Also what is/are the best mail order companies to order these from?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Zeeth Grand Master

Zeeth

Posted
Posted

Mule palm by far. B. alfredii is a 9b palm that hates frost. It can be pushed into 9a if preparations are made to prevent frost on it's leaves, but I would definitely go with a mule palm in a climate as cold as yours.

Keith 

Palmetto, Florida (10a) and Tampa, Florida (9b/10a)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
_Keith Grand Master

_Keith

Posted
Posted

Mule without doubt. And by a good zone or more.

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

Mule, definitely.

Buteas grow in Virginia Beach, VA, and, I've heard, points north.

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
SubTropicRay Grand Master

SubTropicRay

Posted
Posted

B. alfredii has a reputation for being cold hardy but has anyone actually verified this? Has anyone planted one and had it tolerate 25F (-4C) with 14 hours below freezing, without damage? That would be cold hardy for 9b. Anything less is comparable to any marginal zone 9 palm. I'm very skeptical about this reputed cold hardiness.

As far as hardiness, I'd definitely say the X Butiagrus is much hardier.

Tampa, Interbay Peninsula, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10A

Bokeelia, Pine Island, Florida, USA

subtropical USDA Zone 10B

Link to comment
Share on other sites
gyuseppe Veteran

gyuseppe

Posted
Posted

B. alfredii has a reputation for being cold hardy but has anyone actually verified this? Has anyone planted one and had it tolerate 25F with 14 hours below freezing, without damage? That would be cold hardy for 9b. Anything less is comparable to any marginal zone 9 palm.

As far as hardiness, I'd definitely say the X Butiagrus is much hardier.

Hello Ray!
to me,are died at -2 degrees below zero (degrees celsius)

GIUSEPPE

Link to comment
Share on other sites
palmhort Enthusiast

palmhort

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for all your replies....a Mule it is! Any recommended mail order nurseries where I could get one?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Peoria Palms Apprentice

Peoria Palms

Posted
Posted

Thanks for all your replies....a Mule it is! Any recommended mail order nurseries where I could get one?

I sent you a pm

Steve

Peoria AZ

Link to comment
Share on other sites
_Keith Grand Master

_Keith

Posted
Posted

http://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/user/1930-eriksji/

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Sandy Loam Veteran

Sandy Loam

Posted
Posted

Hello Palmhort. Others on this forum may differ from me, but I wouldn't recommend planting ANY palm in New Jersey. It is too cold up there. If you really wanted to try something, then go for one of the really cold-hardy palms, like chamaerops humilis, trachycarpus fortunei, sabal palmetto, butia odorata, etc. I would not try a mule palm in New Jersey. In fact, I have never seen any palm growing in New Jersey, although I have heard that you can grow certain running bamboos (not the clumping ones) in coastal New Jersey and they will survive. That may be an alternative if you are trying to create a tropical look.

Good luck.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
_Keith Grand Master

_Keith

Posted
Posted

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/07/hardy_species_of_trees_bring_t.html

http://www.bg-map.com/palms/woodbury.html

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

Link to comment
Share on other sites
palmhort Enthusiast

palmhort

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Lol, Thanks _Keith for those clips! @SandyLoam- while it is extremely challenging, it IS possible to have palms grow here. Although I lost two large (6ft) Windmills last winter, I have many Sabal minors growing in the ground with no protection whatsoever....they are extremely tough. I have a Needle Palm, a Chamaerops, some Musa basjoo and some other subtropicals. BTW, I went to school at UF...lots of good memories there!

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DoomsDave Grand Master

DoomsDave

Posted
Posted

Alfredii are tough, though. 25 FF for a night, no damage, no yellowing.

Let's keep our forum fun and friendly.

Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or lost profits or revenue, claims by third parties or for other similar costs, or any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising out of my opinion or the use of this data. The accuracy or reliability of the data is not guaranteed or warranted in any way and I disclaim liability of any kind whatsoever, including, without limitation, liability for quality, performance, merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose arising out of the use, or inability to use my data. Other terms may apply.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

b.alfredii can take frost. mine takes frost every year. as a small plant it would show damage. but now at about 6 foot it does great with no damage. mine saw 5 nights straight below 32f with 2 nights hitting 26f and that was 2 years ago. the olny damage it got lately was when i cut back a banana that was shading it and it got some sun damage this summer (that move also killed my allogoptra)

With that being said Mules are by far hardier

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

Link to comment
Share on other sites
_Keith Grand Master

_Keith

Posted
Posted

My alfredii, still young, but with another year of establishment behind them seem at this point to have been unfazed by the 24 degrees we just experience. One thing that helped was that this front came in dry, not wet as is usually the case. And, I'll make the disclaimer that cold damage sometimes takes weeks to show its ugly head. All of that said I have high hopes for them here. Sooner or later, they will face 19-21 and then we shall see. I would give them 50-50 odds at those temps of surviving.

But again, as for Mules, they laugh at 19-21.

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

Link to comment
Share on other sites
John Case Grand Master

John Case

Posted
Posted

4 years in the ground each year 25 degrees, some browntipping,.....but they come back strong!

John Case

Brentwood CA

Owner and curator of Hana Keu Garden

USDA Zone 9b more or less, Sunset Zone 14 in winter 9 in summer

"Its always exciting the first time you save the world. Its a real thrill!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ben in Norcal Grand Master

Ben in Norcal

Posted
Posted

Small B. alfredii will show damage out in the open in warm 9b...great plants but not even in the same hardiness stratosphere as mules.

Ben Rogers

On the border of Concord & Clayton in the East Bay hills - Elev 387 ft 37.95 °N, 121.94 °W

My back yard weather station: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=37.954%2C-121.945&sp=KCACONCO37

Link to comment
Share on other sites
_Keith Grand Master

_Keith

Posted
Posted

Small B. alfredii will show damage out in the open in warm 9b...great plants but not even in the same hardiness stratosphere as mules.

Yes, I should add that mine are under the outer canopy of a Live Oak. I would not dare put them out fully exposed here in a 9a climate.

In my post I sometimes express "my" opinion. Warning, it may differ from "your" opinion. If so, please do not feel insulted, just state your own if you wish. Any data in this post is provided 'as is' and in no event shall I be liable for any damages, including, without limitation, damages resulting from accuracy or lack thereof, insult, or any other damages

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Ben in Norcal Grand Master

Ben in Norcal

Posted
Posted

Jury is still out on my 6 foot plant out in the open here, Keith...looking forward to seeing how they do at this larger size!

Ben Rogers

On the border of Concord & Clayton in the East Bay hills - Elev 387 ft 37.95 °N, 121.94 °W

My back yard weather station: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/hdfForecast?query=37.954%2C-121.945&sp=KCACONCO37

Link to comment
Share on other sites
John Case Grand Master

John Case

Posted
Posted

Mules have the cold weather advantage....end of story....

John Case

Brentwood CA

Owner and curator of Hana Keu Garden

USDA Zone 9b more or less, Sunset Zone 14 in winter 9 in summer

"Its always exciting the first time you save the world. Its a real thrill!"

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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
 Share
Go to topic listing



  • Recently Browsing

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