Coccothrinax borhidiana in Zone 9a Dare me?

[Frond of Palms]

This little beauty was one of my birthday gifts to myself last year for my 50^th. I bought it at the LueGardens spring plant sale in Orlando, FL along with Licuala ramsayi and Yucca rostrata. It came in a one gallon container. I immediately potted it up into a three gallon, and it grew pretty well (a lot faster than expected) in a mixture of crushed limestone and native topsoil. I have been on the fence whether or not if I should keep it in a pot or roll the dice and put it in the ground here in a warm zone 9a. I’m aware it will need protection when the temperatures drop and it is small enough to even build a makeshift greenhouse during the winter period. Has anyone attempted to grow this palm in zone 9a? Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

[SirOxylon]

I am trialing this species as well as many other Coccothrinax as well in a temperate climate. I don't get the cold temperatures of a typical zone 9 (I am in a zone 10) however, where I am (near Melbourne Victoria Australia) suffers from extending cool periods so is probably more or less equivalent to a 9 to palms. I am growing it up large in a heated glasshouse before I put mine up. Mine is a bit smaller than yours and I think mine would die in one winter if I planted it now. I have seen some good signs of cold hardiness in C. alta before. I think in Florida you would be in for a fighting chance if you built a makeshift glasshouse around it as you suggested because you probably get reasonable daytime temperatures all year round right?. I am getting away with growing Dypsis leptocheilos like this which is another species that would ideally be planted much larger than what mine is.

[PalmatierMeg]

Pretty little palm. I think it will be happier in the ground. It should be easy to cover with blankets if you get below freezing or have frost. Just remove the covers when the sun comes up. You shouldn't have to protect it too often.