Wichita, Kansas palms as of summer 2019

[jfrye01@live.com]

Hello all! It's been a while since I've posted here, so I figured I'd post some updated pictures of palms growing around Wichita...all of these survived the below zero dips in 2014 (-7F) and early 2018 (-2F).  Some of these are planted at a church downtown, some at various businesses, and some residential plantings.  None of these were planted by me, but based on my experience growing palms in Kansas, we have two very important factors that are helping these survive.  1. Long, hot, usually wet summers and 2. While our winters can get very cold, below zero temperatures are relatively rare and they don't stick around. I have seen morning lows around zero and afternoon highs in the 50's or 60's a day later...that is always nice!  

Needles: 

Office building downtown

Office building downtown

University extension office, northwest side of town

Church downtown

Church downtown, myself for scale  

Residential planting I stumbled upon last week

 

Edited August 6, 2019 by jfrye01@live.com

[jfrye01@live.com]

Sabals: 

Grove of Sabal louisiana at church downtown, only one was planted, the rest volunteered! Picture taken July 3

Sabal palmetto, church downtown 

Sabal minor Cape Hatteras, church downtown

Edited August 6, 2019 by jfrye01@live.com

[jfrye01@live.com]

Others: 

Trachycarpus fortunei downtown

Trachycarpus fortunei downtown 

Chamaerops humilis "cerifera" downtown, growing under a roof overhang for protection from rain 

 

[PalmatierMeg]

They all look fantastic! Cold hardy palms have a future in Wichita. Thanks for the update.

[jfrye01@live.com]

1 hour ago, PalmatierMeg said:

They all look fantastic! Cold hardy palms have a future in Wichita. Thanks for the update.

We're slowly spreading the word! They're showing up in more places each year...only time will tell, but so far, these seem reliably hardy! 

[redant]

Pretty amazing they are doing well.

[Rickybobby]

Pretty awesome. Palms are making there way north and west!

[Matt N- Dallas]

Those look awesome!  I’m originally from Kansas City, Mo and left a number of sabal minor growing there.  Cold hardy palms can definitely survive & thrive in z6 & z7 areas with hot summers.  

[pin38]

Nice pictures! I'm in Kansas City and put a sabal minor 'McCurtain' in the ground this summer, with possibly more experimenting next spring.

[The Silent Seed]

This is awesome! Do you guys mind posting the names / species of these palms? 

[Reeverse]

Glad to see they are doing well!!

[Jim in Los Altos]

6 hours ago, santoury said:

This is awesome! Do you guys mind posting the names / species of these palms? 

Under each photo you’ll find the palm species named.

[Neil C]

Great to see you enjoying showing us those palms. All look pretty healthy.

Regards Neil

[The Silent Seed]

Hi Jim,

Thank you! I noticed that in the latter pictures, but not those in the original post. Sorry if it's obvious to others, but not to me. 

[faceyourfaces]

8 hours ago, santoury said:

Hi Jim,

Thank you! I noticed that in the latter pictures, but not those in the original post. Sorry if it's obvious to others, but not to me. 

They all look like needle palms to me.

[kurt decker]

This has to be one of the more amazing posts I've seen in awhile. Those Palms aren't surviving, they're thriving. Seeding and volunteering? That's unheard of. Wichita, palm city USA? Great job, guy, giving us the tour, those are worth collecting seed off of, since they're cold hardiness is already proven.  I would have never thought some of that was possible.

[jfrye01@live.com]

On 8/8/2019 at 3:19 PM, kurt decker said:

This has to be one of the more amazing posts I've seen in awhile. Those Palms aren't surviving, they're thriving. Seeding and volunteering? That's unheard of. Wichita, palm city USA? Great job, guy, giving us the tour, those are worth collecting seed off of, since they're cold hardiness is already proven.  I would have never thought some of that was possible.

I think there’s something in the soil!  I’ve been collecting seed from these every year, and I’ve sent them all over the Midwest and Southeast. I’m happy to share and spread the palms!

[The Silent Seed]

Hi,

I'm PM'ing you now - I would love to try these, since according to the latest USDA maps, we are actually in the same zone, believe it or not. Definitely tempting to try!