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Cold Hardy Trunking Palms Hybrid - Is anyone doing this?


LouisvillePalmer

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Doing research on creating new palm species, there should be a way to create intergeneric (different genera) palms. With that being said, do you know of anyone trying to hybridize sabals with Rhapidophyllum hystrix?

 

I was thinking you could make a super cold-hardy trunking palm if you crossed perhaps a Needle Palm x s. Birmingham. If that is impossible, then what about a s. Birmingham x s. Minor 'McCurtain'?

 

Living in zone 6B, I have very few options for palms. Mainly, I am looking at Needle Palms and Sabal Minors.  Of the Sabal Minors, there are the cold-hardy variety like 'McCurtain' or 'Cherokee' that I think I might be able to grow here. However, there is also the 'Louisiana' variety that seems to grow very quickly. I have looked at the possibility of Trachycarpus Fortunei 'Bulgaria' which seems to be hardy to zone 7, but that would require extensive protection in the winter. That brings me to another hybrid idea: Fortunei 'Bulgaria' x  Rhapidophyllum hystrix.

 

Anyways, I appreciate any input and look forward to learning more!

~ I'd rather be on the beach ~

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5 minutes ago, LouisvillePalmer said:

Doing research on creating new palm species, there should be a way to create intergeneric (different genera) palms. With that being said, do you know of anyone trying to hybridize sabals with Rhapidophyllum hystrix?

 

I was thinking you could make a super cold-hardy trunking palm if you crossed perhaps a Needle Palm x s. Birmingham. If that is impossible, then what about a s. Birmingham x s. Minor 'McCurtain'?

 

Living in zone 6B, I have very few options for palms. Mainly, I am looking at Needle Palms and Sabal Minors.  Of the Sabal Minors, there are the cold-hardy variety like 'McCurtain' or 'Cherokee' that I think I might be able to grow here. However, there is also the 'Louisiana' variety that seems to grow very quickly. I have looked at the possibility of Trachycarpus Fortunei 'Bulgaria' which seems to be hardy to zone 7, but that would require extensive protection in the winter. That brings me to another hybrid idea: Fortunei 'Bulgaria' x  Rhapidophyllum hystrix.

 

Anyways, I appreciate any input and look forward to learning more!

Welcome to the forum and Palmtalk..

As far as your question/thoughts..  You might search this section of the forum for topics started by a PT member growing some Needles/ Sabal sp. just north of you in Cincinnati. Believe there are a few other members ( though they might only post occasionally ) who have/ are growing/trying different things in zone 6 and 7.

As far as crossing various things,  Species to species crosses, within a particular Genera are possible.. intergeneric crosses, say crossing a Needle w/ a Sabal or Trachy will be far more difficult.. though maybe possible if you involved some cutting edge technology like CRISPR.. though still likely close to impossible.. Guarantee many people in colder areas would love to accomplish crossing a Coconut with something which would impart far hardier characteristics..  People have tried.. maybe continue to try behind the scenes but nothing concrete has been produced so far..  I myself think a fan palm, say like a Brahea ..or sliver colored Copernicia ..that throws bright Red/Orange new leaves, grows at a good speed, and sheds old leaves easily would be a cool intergenetic, if it could be done.. esp. if super hardy as well. Suppose CRISPR could theoretically produce something like that..

The easiest way of finding something that will survive your climate is to start selecting specimens from the coldest potential locations in a particular species range ( or vise versa if looking for heat and/ or drought tolerance. ) anyway, from what i understand, Sabal do cross quite easily and it isn't totally  impossible to achieve a trunking " Plametto " that could withstand pretty extreme cold w/ very selective crossing, over time.  Honestly though, you might just gamble a bit and wait to see what happens.. With things as they seem to be headed atm,  not completely out of the question you could be a full zone warmer in say 40+ or so years..

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53 minutes ago, LouisvillePalmer said:

sabals with Rhapidophyllum hystrix?

impossible two different species of palm

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."
~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

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13 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

As far as crossing various things,  Species to species crosses, within a particular Genera are possible.. intergeneric crosses, say crossing a Needle w/ a Sabal or Trachy will be far more difficult.. though maybe possible if you involved some cutting edge technology like CRISPR.. though still likely close to impossible.. Guarantee many people in colder areas would love to accomplish crossing a Coconut with something which would impart far hardier characteristics..  People have tried.. maybe continue to try behind the scenes but nothing concrete has been produced so far..  I myself think a fan palm, say like a Brahea ..or sliver colored Copernicia ..that throws bright Red/Orange new leaves, grows at a good speed, and sheds old leaves easily would be a cool intergenetic, if it could be done.. esp. if super hardy as well. Suppose CRISPR could theoretically produce something like that..

the chronozones would not match up its like mixing a human with an orangutan

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."
~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

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2 minutes ago, climate change virginia said:

CRISPR

I might do this in the future with my cousin

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"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."
~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

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I would love to see a zone 8a or 8b crownshaft palm! I think the filibusta palms are really incredible, what an amazing intra-genera palm.  Here in Albuquerque it is making some tracks. Climate change has likely added at least a month to our growing season since I moved here 30 years ago, but we still get some frigid weather and at best are a very cold 8a with over 100 freezing nights in winter on average. Thanks to our dry climate, and an absolutely blazing sun, this remarkable hybrid has been gaining appreciation and there are many trinket examples in town which have been growing for more than 10 years.  Definitely needs a good site and protection for the first several years.

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I wish there was a genetically engineered cocos nucifera that can survive in russia

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it."
~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

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9 minutes ago, Nj Palms said:

If it was possible a R.Hystrix x S.Birmingham would be insanely slow growing.

But at the same time would be insanely cold-hardy, probably up to zone 6.

Imagine seeing trunking palms unprotected in Pittsburg!

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~ I'd rather be on the beach ~

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