Sabal Louisiana Hardiness?

[LasPalmerasDeMaryland]

I recently have bought some Sabal Louisianas because I thought they were basically the same as Sabal Minors in terms of hardiness. But I’ve been finding conflicting reports on their hardiness. Some say they are equal to Sabal Minor, and some say they aren’t as hardy. I’m afraid that they’ll croak in my Zone 7b. Has anyone had experience with S. Louisiana? Would they be possible in a Maryland 7b/8a? Or are they more of a solid zone 8? 

[Allen]

My belief is they are around 5F hardy.   And Minor is -5F-0F hardy.  When smaller before they get a trunk they may be hardier because of the warmth of the ground.  (ie closer).  I would wrap in a blanket in arctic events below 10 or 5F if you want to be safer.  They have a pretty good shot in your area.  Plant in late April if temps look good.

[mdsonofthesouth]

5 hours ago, Allen said:

My belief is they are around 5F hardy.   And Minor is -5F-0F hardy.  When smaller before they get a trunk they may be hardier because of the warmth of the ground.  (ie closer).  I would wrap in a blanket in arctic events below 10 or 5F if you want to be safer.  They have a pretty good shot in your area.  Plant in late April if temps look good.

 

All good news for me as I was starting to lean sabal Louisiana.

[Allen]

Sabal minor and Louisiana are much more resilient to ice/spear pull events.  Think of Louisiana as a fast growing minor.

[Brad Mondel]

I lost my potted Louisiana last winter when it hit 15F but they would probably be fine in the ground. 

[mdsonofthesouth]

Now whats the difference between sabal Louisiana and bluestem? I only kinda know that bluestem is a similar most likely less hardy Florida version. But I could be wrong...

Edited February 20, 2019 by mdsonofthesouth

[cm05]

I believe they’re as hardy as regular minor.

 

[sashaeffer]

From my personal experience here in my 5b/6a climate (although this winter it's more like a 3a lol) the Sabal Louisiana is the most cold hardy palm other than the Needle.  My first was between a seedling and a 1 gallon that first couple of winters only had a small plastic pop up greenhouse and a 50ct ministring of lights for any kind of warmth. The protection did not offer ANY thermal protection at all, yet the palm came through totally unscathed and has done so each winter since. Now that it's grown some height  I now use a 55 gallon plastic barrel to protect it.

I have since looked for these palms and they are not always easy to find especially outside the 1 gallon size.    I have around 25 palms planted in the ground I over winter of various species and now have 4 S. Louisianas part of that group.  For me, it's my go to outdoor palm because of how tough it is.

[Tropicdoc]

I understood Sabal Louisiana was just a sabal minor that pushed its trunk above ground. I understand that Sabal Minor has a huge subterranean trunk. That would mean that until any of the sabals push their trunk above an insulated ground they would come back from the trunk. 

I also thought that it was debatable that they were actually separate species and that possibly Lousiana's high water table and clay soil sends the trunk of a sabal minor up looking for fresh air, resulting in Sabal minor "Louisiana"

[PalmTreeDude]

This does not have anything to do with Sabal Louisianas hardiness, but holy moly look at this one from the USDA Plant Database in Southern Louisiana. It's not the biggest one, but imagine seeing that in a swamp. https://plants.sc.egov.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=salo14_002_avp.tif 

Edited February 26, 2019 by PalmTreeDude

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

On ‎2‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 3:34 PM, Tropicdoc said:

I understood Sabal Louisiana was just a sabal minor that pushed its trunk above ground. I understand that Sabal Minor has a huge subterranean trunk. That would mean that until any of the sabals push their trunk above an insulated ground they would come back from the trunk. 

I also thought that it was debatable that they were actually separate species and that possibly Lousiana's high water table and clay soil sends the trunk of a sabal minor up looking for fresh air, resulting in Sabal minor "Louisiana"

Very interesting to hear it explained that way I'm very intrigued now as I just got my hands on a Louisiana =)

[Tropicdoc]

We’ll see if it trunks!

[maple]

Well, how is it doing?

Not sure if this thread is still alive but I'm planning myself to get a Sabal minor but I'm debating between Sabal minor 'Louisiana' and 'McCurtain' because the McCurtain is a smaller size. I'm in zone 6.

[oasis371]

Louisiana may be a tad bit less hardy than the regular species, Sabal minor, BUT they do have the advantage of growing faster and potentially recuperating from cold damage.  I am not familiar with McCurtain.

[Allen]

1 hour ago, maple said:

Well, how is it doing?

Not sure if this thread is still alive but I'm planning myself to get a Sabal minor but I'm debating between Sabal minor 'Louisiana' and 'McCurtain' because the McCurtain is a smaller size. I'm in zone 6.

Get McCurtain or any regular minor.

[teddytn]

Mccurtain may be smaller than Louisiana, but it’s not small. I used to assume mccurtain was the same size as a “standard” minor, but that’s not the case, they can get big in their own right. Robust and vigorous are good descriptors for mccurtain. Mccurtain in both pics below.

[Chester B]

@teddytn I thought they were standard size too. I’m going to have to move some of them based on your photos. - I know it’s a huge no no but they are still quite small with only strap leaves so if I dig deep enough I should be ok. Thanks for posting those great photos. 

[teddytn]

13 hours ago, Chester B said:

@teddytn I thought they were standard size too. I’m going to have to move some of them based on your photos. - I know it’s a huge no no but they are still quite small with only strap leaves so if I dig deep enough I should be ok. Thanks for posting those great photos. 

The one I have planted is nowhere near that size. When I saw those in person it was a definite wake up call lol. Had to be 7’ to the top of the fronds. When they’re mature they’ll take up some serious real estate. I’ve dug sabals and they all lived, you know better than me, just be kind to the roots.

[WSimpson]

Hardy here ; I've never seen damage and it has seen a low of 5F in 2014 and a low of 4F in 2015 . I need to collect seed on it now . 

I'll see if I can get a picture of mine today .

Will

Edited January 1, 2022 by Will Simpson

[RJ]

Is anyone selling Louisiana ? TCHP I’m sure had them and that was my purchase avenue but that’s a dead end I fear now. 

[RyManUtah]

17 minutes ago, RJ said:

Is anyone selling Louisiana ? TCHP I’m sure had them and that was my purchase avenue but that’s a dead end I fear now. 

I acquired one from Brian’s Botanicals last month 

[Chester B]

I know where you can buy seeds.

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

2 hours ago, RJ said:

Is anyone selling Louisiana ? TCHP I’m sure had them and that was my purchase avenue but that’s a dead end I fear now. 

I got mine from @Phil Jungle Music he would be worth a try. 

 

2 hours ago, Chester B said:

I know where you can buy seeds.

I would be interested in some seeds for sure. Actually any trunking minor im always interested in =) 

T J 

[Chester B]

http://www.alligatoralley.com/palms.html

I've bought seeds from them before with good germination.  My needle palms and McCurtain minors all were grown from his seeds.

[teddytn]

4 hours ago, RJ said:

Is anyone selling Louisiana ? TCHP I’m sure had them and that was my purchase avenue but that’s a dead end I fear now. 

If no luck from anywhere else, I know Nearly Native Nursery did have some left in the fall. They also usually have etonia and mexicana as well. 

[steve617]

I've bought seeds multiple times for Alligator Alley and they always did good.

[steve617]

I may have some Louisiana seedlings for sale in a few months. 

[Will]

For Europe mypalmshop.com sells small Lousiana seedlings. Got 2 recently. 

[frewworld]

On 1/4/2022 at 12:47 PM, RJ said:

Is anyone selling Louisiana ? TCHP I’m sure had them and that was my purchase avenue but that’s a dead end I fear now. 

here's a link to a lady who sells the Sahal Louisiana's on Ebay in spring-fall.   She may ship if you send her a message.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/ctigar?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2559

[Luis Arroyo]

I have a 2 large ones (5ft tall) in ground for 7 years now. They went in as 3 strap seedlings,  here on Newark,NJ (Zone7a).   Minimal protection.  Its been giving me lots of seeds on multiple inflorescence stalks last 3 years. It just shot up 4 new stalks.😊

[Luis Arroyo]

[LeonardHolmes]

I've had a S Louisiana for over 25 years from the old Louisiana Nursery ("Magnolias - the Garden Aristocrat").  They swore that it was a separate species.  It was always in shade and the petioles were longer, but a tree fell and the canopy opened-up a bit.  Large leaves, but no real trunk in all that time.  It's near water but planted in clay up-hill from the water.  It has always seemed to me to be as hardy as S minor.  I'm in 7B.  

 

 

[EJPalm05]

On 7/4/2023 at 11:56 AM, Luis Arroyo said:

OMG I saw this palm in person walking by it the other day! 

[WSimpson]

As I mentioned in January , I have found mine as hardy as Minors . Oh , and that picture I mentioned in January lol . 

Notice the shorter than Minor inflorescences .

 

Edited July 13, 2023 by Will Simpson