Sabal palmetto PNW growth

[ShadyDan]

Just wanted to share some springtime growth on my S. palmetto planted on Vancouver Island. Two days ago, I marked across the active spear to and older leaf with a sharpie to track its growth. Much to my surprise, it moved quite a bit in just two days. While the weather has been nice here (daytime highs 18-22C, lows 10-12C), its by no means been Florida hot. I’m looking forward to see what kind of growth I’ll get once the real summer weather arrives here! Luckily, I’m still young so I might actually see a trunk on this before I die! 

I know it’s probably not exciting for some of you folks in the SE, but for me and my comparably heat-starved climate I’m going to chalk this up as a win. 

[teddytn]

4 hours ago, ShadyDan said:

Just wanted to share some springtime growth on my S. palmetto planted on Vancouver Island. Two days ago, I marked across the active spear to and older leaf with a sharpie to track its growth. Much to my surprise, it moved quite a bit in just two days. While the weather has been nice here (daytime highs 18-22C, lows 10-12C), its by no means been Florida hot. I’m looking forward to see what kind of growth I’ll get once the real summer weather arrives here! Luckily, I’m still young so I might actually see a trunk on this before I die! 

I know it’s probably not exciting for some of you folks in the SE, but for me and my comparably heat-starved climate I’m going to chalk this up as a win. 

Looking good! Just curious what temps you see high in summer, low in winter? I’m just a plant nerd, would be cool to see the growth rate over the years

[ShadyDan]

27 minutes ago, teddytn said:

Looking good! Just curious what temps you see high in summer, low in winter? I’m just a plant nerd, would be cool to see the growth rate over the years

Pretty mild all around, but my average July high/lows are 24C/13C.  January high/lows are 7C/2C. We usually get few night below 0 in the winter and very few days that fail to rise above 0. Our average yearly low usually bottoms out at around -5C. Summers are generally dry and sunny with winters being wet and cloudy. On top of a plant nerd, I'm a big weather nerd too haha.

[teddytn]

@ShadyDanI’m giving it a go with palmettos as well. The temps at my house are farther into the extremes both ways than yours. Max high around 35c for the year and max low around -15c. We’ll see how they handle that cold this coming winter.

Edited May 14, 2021 by teddytn
Addressed to

[Ryland]

1 hour ago, ShadyDan said:

Pretty mild all around, but my average July high/lows are 24C/13C.  January high/lows are 7C/2C. We usually get few night below 0 in the winter and very few days that fail to rise above 0. Our average yearly low usually bottoms out at around -5C. Summers are generally dry and sunny with winters being wet and cloudy. On top of a plant nerd, I'm a big weather nerd too haha.

That's very similar to where I live, but you have slightly warmer and dryer summers.  I'm also really interested in climate, even took it on as a study subject and internship in uni.  I hope the Sabal does well for you.  The warmer summers alone I think give you a better chance than I would have (I'm not even going to try).  One positive here at least is we never see a day that fails to get above 0C - it did happen 2 or 3 times in 2010 but that was the all time historic record cold (much like Texas just had).  Average annual low here is similarly a solid USDA 9a - every winter since 2010 has been a zone 9a/b, except one 10.  So I might be able to keep a Sabal alive, but it would never thrive 

[ShadyDan]

@teddytn you probably have a better shot than me with your hot humid summers. Even if the palm gets damaged, it will have a better shot at recovery. If mine ever gets winter damage it will be a long recovery with my lack of heat. 
 

@Ryland yea I’ve been to your part of the UK, I was there for 3 weeks in June when I was 17. I distinctly remember the days being pleasant, but having to wear a jacket most days haha. I think you definitely have milder winters though. I would say my part of the Island in 8b max. No harm in giving a Sabal a shot though if you can find an especially warm area to plant it. And hey, climate change IS a thing and folks like us with temperate maritime climates have been experiencing warmer, sunnier summers. 

[Chester B]

Looking good Dan, that is some respectable growth.