2021 Freeze Damage - Texas and the Southern US

[Austin Ag 4]

Update from north Austin.  Looks like they will make it.  I did burn them a bit by over fertilizing ;(

[Gaga Iowa/Arkansas 8]

  
Question please? When we purchased this Windmill Fan Palm a year ago ( July 2020) and had it planted, it was 12 foot tall. Then in Feb. 2021 we had the terrible week of winter and we have ended up with this. If we trunk it, could we trunk it at 6 - 8 ft high so it would be more manageable for us to monitor and care for?  Do you trunk it at an angle or straight across? What more do we have to lose, unfortunately! We are so sad!! Thank you!! 

[ShadowNight030 74]

On 4/13/2021 at 9:13 PM, Matthew92 said:

Has anyone noticed damage with Elaeocarpus decipiens?

Update: the two largest were cut down by the mall entrance, but are coming back from the roots. The two that were left are leafing out on a few branches, but there are large sections of the trees dead. 

[ArkiePalms95 10]

Gaga Iowa/Arkansas,  I had success with cutting mine - just start cutting the trunk horizontally bit by bit until you find bright green or white tissue (if there's going to be any). I really hate this for you - my guess is that it was not established enough. If you do find this, which unfortunately I doubt after this amount of time, you will need to treat the cut surface first with hydrogen peroxide and then a couple days later copper fungicide. I have one in Rogers, AR (NW Arkansas) and mine completely defoliated and I had to cut the trunk back about 6 inches or so. Mine has 3 fronds now but I've babied it. Let me know if I can be of further assistance!

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Hi Y'all I am new member to Palmtalk but have been familiar with the site of some years, its a pleasure to be here ! In my spare time I will help report on the condition of recovering palms in central Texas and abroad.    

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Here is a pic of a Sabal Palmetto that did not receive care and a Mexican Fan Palm that has had at least 6 inches of its crown removed it sprouted but is doing poorly.  Location is Taylor, TX on September 1st  

 https://gm1.ggpht.com/ZrnUwjB11A6MXQyg6MmMRtqt7SXDeLBpJhKiOnVDCaszJU823iOo8Rg5w4Wh7eGvdQsKIZKIyREWo8GnBu2mhJUHSFzi222Pozy84SkQGkSk1GtlfqqbRsR1YHuINNXNNhlNAZtr_G-fw1HekOn-aquZRLBHGuw2JQzfmysoMHycNYEm9RGvacBLUxDTk5UoztIxHPvy89DZ90MkSiw8zSYlU93khPWOHyMtlUv0dnerjFa7Rp02Mz7Qdc3X97DOQnue45CfsNWzVokkYlOMXGpppuKELAh8w48mOSdYhJiQvQeP20K9G-dordKKXr4JJGbXbr5pkUfa4Do2PTgXt-43zXYmqgKK-CBG6pxrnO_I_btQJXHOSClmRSvkYN_tjVUjQW1XWZ9W5Z02WS28hQDP5TxzPB3QVfpFoWIfBaH6JMd9Apud2b88Bnbw2XmFIup4hUhjCAzjfQbBByX-jcB_bXu_p0sS7fSH7XOKqa0VTMHEd-m1MVJKh9mrBMCzlOfCfi6G7nHLqcG87GiDhr-yXLd6bV6oR_gaj1CtWaMXON8pOt6sxALlMO4ElwvBZMMa_joilsVSDAj1feEOYjd7ePGi0R2GBzUPSjZyLsiqDLPB9az80IBlKhTKfNt-tkAMgmEhL6jccPWeZRKaIbh-FeJ8TsBRo8hhJBQHdp3lfXNl3E-5eFKw5L4EJq9QKdPkhpxOSZX829XrKUpBOd8rKaH-I4H3fL_4PpDX=s0-l75-ft-l75-ft

[Arecaceae78743 34]

4 minutes ago, Arecaceae78743 said:

Here is a pic of a Sabal Palmetto that did not receive care and a Mexican Fan Palm that has had at least 6 inches of its crown removed it sprouted but is doing poorly.  Location is Taylor, TX on September 1st  

 https://gm1.ggpht.com/ZrnUwjB11A6MXQyg6MmMRtqt7SXDeLBpJhKiOnVDCaszJU823iOo8Rg5w4Wh7eGvdQsKIZKIyREWo8GnBu2mhJUHSFzi222Pozy84SkQGkSk1GtlfqqbRsR1YHuINNXNNhlNAZtr_G-fw1HekOn-aquZRLBHGuw2JQzfmysoMHycNYEm9RGvacBLUxDTk5UoztIxHPvy89DZ90MkSiw8zSYlU93khPWOHyMtlUv0dnerjFa7Rp02Mz7Qdc3X97DOQnue45CfsNWzVokkYlOMXGpppuKELAh8w48mOSdYhJiQvQeP20K9G-dordKKXr4JJGbXbr5pkUfa4Do2PTgXt-43zXYmqgKK-CBG6pxrnO_I_btQJXHOSClmRSvkYN_tjVUjQW1XWZ9W5Z02WS28hQDP5TxzPB3QVfpFoWIfBaH6JMd9Apud2b88Bnbw2XmFIup4hUhjCAzjfQbBByX-jcB_bXu_p0sS7fSH7XOKqa0VTMHEd-m1MVJKh9mrBMCzlOfCfi6G7nHLqcG87GiDhr-yXLd6bV6oR_gaj1CtWaMXON8pOt6sxALlMO4ElwvBZMMa_joilsVSDAj1feEOYjd7ePGi0R2GBzUPSjZyLsiqDLPB9az80IBlKhTKfNt-tkAMgmEhL6jccPWeZRKaIbh-FeJ8TsBRo8hhJBQHdp3lfXNl3E-5eFKw5L4EJq9QKdPkhpxOSZX829XrKUpBOd8rKaH-I4H3fL_4PpDX=s0-l75-ft-l75-ft

(Try this if it did not work) 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Here is what looks to be 

On 9/19/2021 at 12:12 AM, Arecaceae78743 said:

(Try this if it did not work) 

CORRECTION   The back one is a CALIFORNIA fan palm 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

 

Location: Taylor, TX    Date: September 12   The Two on the left are Wash. filifera and the two on the right are Wash. robusta, all have irrigation but have not been pruned.  I would have to say that as far a Mexican Fan Palms go I am 99.999% sure that they are extinct in this region of Texas.     

[SusanDallas 3]

My huge sabal by the side of my house is finally putting out a new frond. This is 7 months after the freeze. I have another smaller one that started putting out new fronds last month. 

Both palms have been just trunks with no foliage since the freeze in February.  I am still watching my Washingtonia filiferas. I put hydrogen peroxide in the palms that I could reach. I am 25 miles south of Dallas.

.

[Xerarch 1,133]

On 9/20/2021 at 8:36 PM, Arecaceae78743 said:

Here is what looks to be 

CORRECTION   The back one is a CALIFORNIA fan palm 

Hello and welcome to the forum! Nice to see large sabals turning out ok up there.  Also nice that California fan clinging on to life, those things are so tough, and it will regrow quickly if it finishes pulling through.

[Collectorpalms 1,873]

All but 1 of my Filifera dropped dead after coming back from the freeze. So disappointing to think they lived only to decline. 1 Washingtonia hybrid lived that would burn at 17F, survived 3-4F. 
I live in a very humid and wet part of Texas. They might have survived if I was in arid West Texas. ( El Paso)… maybe even San Antonio or Austin. All my Sabals survived, one 7ish year old Uresana put out a partial leaf in September. So it may die over winter. 

Edited October 12, 2021 by Collectorpalms

[mgmccabe 105]

How are some of the more tropicals doing? Curious about coconuts far south. Did any make it? Royals too?

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Hello Palm talk, today I will share with y'all some info on south Texas plants, although the pictures from google maps where taken in April it helps to sheds light on the situation, you must note that even if a palm looks to far gone there is always a possibility of survival for instance I have personally seen some palms come back to life as late as October.   

 

BEFORE (2019 Donna TX) not palms but orange trees are still important 

 

 

AFTER (2021 Donna TX) note the poor royal palms in the far left side

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Also from Donna TX 2021,  some queen palms re-sprouting even without care 

     

[Arecaceae78743 34]

 

In Brownsville TX you can see that this queen palm is just fine but I cant say the same for the pygmy date palm 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

More from Brownsville TX, not palms but Norfolk pines, they are still important because even these very tropical ones managed to survive (notice the north facing sides are toasted) 

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Brownsville TX . In the red I believe they are foxtail palms and it looks like they could come back   

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Brownsville TX. Pygmy Dates have taken this freeze very hard I think its because of there small size and slow growing speed, but this one will be ok.  

[Arecaceae78743 34]

Brownsville TX. The Royal Palms don't look good but some are poking back up and remember that this was only in April with no trim   

 

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

In Brownsville TX April 2021 

This just might be a COCONUT PALM THAT SURVIVED ! Why I think this is a coconut and not a queen is because queen palms are much more cold hardy than coconuts it would not make sense that this palm would be knocked back completely PLUS its located on the south side of the home and because the burnt frons are more coconut like than an very feathery queen palm.  let me know what you think it is. 

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX. By the way if you want to know what a cardboard palm looks like without foliage. here you go 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX.  Bismarck palms look ok 

 j

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX. a Royal palm out in the open and not trim but it looks like a tiny green is poking through, remember is is only April.

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX. an Unidentified mass of dead plants, but it looks like there are two re-sprouts. Could there be a coconut in there !?  

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX. Good news, it looks like theses very tall royal palms survived !

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX. A good example why you should always place your tropical plants behind south facing buildings.

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX.  Brace yourself here is what one of the coconuts on the island looks like.....OOF

 

 

BUT LETS REMEMBER THAT THIS IS OLNY APRIL AND CONSITER THIS NEXT PICTURE...

This is that same coconut palm from 10 years ago the last time an arctic blast came through. It looks bad and not to come back BUT it did survive. Lets just hope and pray that its alive today and someone is taking care of it.  

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

South Padre Island TX. Here is another Coconut. Unfortunately google maps dose not have an updated picture for the inner streets, this is the closest you can get. If you look closely you can see some burnt frons sticking up, perhaps its a little good news because the it means the crown is not rotten. 

 

[Arecaceae78743 34]

But lets hope for the best,  at least until more resent info is put out !  

[Arecaceae78743 34]

HERE IS MORE RESENT INFO ON SOUTH TEXAS PALMS ! 

 

https://www.palmtalk.org/forum/index.php?/topic/67385-palmageddon-aftermath-photo-thread/

[GoatLockerGuns 741]

My data from the 2021 Texas Freeze Event attached.  I put it in the same format as the "Cold Hardiness Observation Master Data" spreadsheet created by @kinzyjr for ease of consolidation.  I only left the "Event ID" and "Source" fields blank.  All observations collected from palms that were growing on my property in Bexar County at the time of the freeze event.

 

Cold Hardiness Data.xlsx