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Mule Palm Not Enjoying Northern Zone 8b


MRB1192

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Hey All - 

I've had my Butiagrus Nabonnandi in the ground for about 2 years in Portland, OR. Planted in full-sun, well-draining soil, fertilized each spring and watered regularly during the summertime. It continues to push out new fronds, but In each of its first two winters, it's had substantial leaf damage. 

Through it may not be killed outright by our winter low temps, I'm thinking this is more of a Zone 9a+ palm long term, at lest in the Northern US.. Our wet winters make it challenging to grow certain types of palms that are theoretically hardy to our zone, like W.Filifera. 

Curious if anyone in Northern Zone 8b has had long-term success with this one without overwintering..?

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I have one that I've had in the ground for maybe 4 years now in Seattle. I did protect it this winter for one week in January during a freeze, otherwise never protected. I haven't had much winter damage to speak of, lows of 17 degrees maybe every other year. Mine is supposedly a cross involving a 'silver queen' as the pollen donor. 

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@MRB1192 Welcome to Palmtalk! I don't have a mule palm but I have a super mule. I cannot comment on its hardiness yet since I planted it last Spring and I protected it during our 1 week below freezing artic blast. I think @Hutch has a successful experience with his mule. 

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I suspect mules love the heat of summer. Both its parents are heat-loving species. Not to rub your nose in my success but my mule in 8B (granted, it's warm 8B) is going bonkers. It's 4 years old, and has not yet been subjected to temperatures in the low 20s or teens, so we shall see.

The grower who sold me the palm told me to plant it where drainage is good.

Edited by Manalto
Battling with autocorrect
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Heat lover for sure. My regular mule has spotty damage in low 20's and lots in teens.  

Edited by Allen
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YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@tntropics - 60+ In-ground 7A palms - (Sabal) minor(7 large + 27 seedling size, 3 dwarf),  brazoria(1) , birmingham(4), etonia (1) louisiana(5), palmetto (1), riverside (1),  (Trachycarpus) fortunei(7), wagnerianus(1),  Rhapidophyllum hystrix(7),  15' Mule-Butia x Syagrus(1),  Blue Butia capitata(1) +Tons of tropical plants.  Recent Yearly Lows -1F, 12F, 11F, 18F, 16F, 3F, 3F, 6F, 3F, 1F, 16F, 17F, 6F, 8F

 

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They struggle at uptaking nutrients when its cold. But when they start pulling nutrients in the spring, they better be available quick, or they will suck nutrients from the leaves quickly. For whatever reason, it's the queen blood. You need to fertilize when you're pretty confident you won't get anything below 30F. And then, fertilize until things start to cool down outside.  

Try a lyto mule. You might like it better. 

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Longview, Texas :: Record Low: -5F, Feb. 16, 2021 :: Borderline 8A/8B :: '06-'07: 18F / '07-'08: 21F / '08-'09: 21F / '09-'10: 14F / '10-'11: 15F / '11-'12: 24F / '12-'13: 23F / '13-'14: 15F / '14-'15: 20F / '15-'16: 27F / '16-'17: 15F / '17-'18: 8F / '18-'19: 23F / '19-'20: 19F / '20-'21: -5F / '21-'22: 20F / '22-'23: 6F

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Here’s an 8b mule palm in the wet Deep South.

Not sure what our low was this year, anywhere from 18-21 degrees but I had some leaf damage on my mule. It didn’t show up until the weather started getting warmer in February some time. It slowly has been pushing out a new frond all winter, the center always looked good, but the lower fronds felt it. It’s now pushing out its second frond this spring and they grow quick. It’s been in ground for 1 year and 2 months now. 
 

the smaller palm, I’m thinking it’s a mule, I could be wrong. I bought it on clearance for $10 at lowes in October, it completely defoliated so I cut it off at the top, but was quick to start sending up a frond

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I have two smaller ones in the ground, for the last couple of years.  They do show some spotting from winters, but this what I expected.  Even straight Butia can get the spots in a wet winter.  I find the east wind causes more cosmetic damage, the leaflets on the fronds are pretty weak.  Like others have mentioned @Hutch has a real nice one, but he got it at a bigger size.  He's down near Eugene.

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Yeah this was a really weird winter for sure.  My Mule ( B x Q ) has more damage this year than any other year. I have never had older leaf damage before like this one. Notice the center is still good and growing.  Planted as a seedling 8 years ago, with overhead protection.  Thank goodness by Queen palms were not planted out, will leave them be in the greenhouse for another year.  My bajoos died to the ground also which tells you how cold it got. 

This was the only palm that had damage, all other look prefect. 

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Edited by Paradise Found
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The palm grabs nutrients from the oldest fronds if it's not able to get anything through the roots due to availability or temperature. 

Longview, Texas :: Record Low: -5F, Feb. 16, 2021 :: Borderline 8A/8B :: '06-'07: 18F / '07-'08: 21F / '08-'09: 21F / '09-'10: 14F / '10-'11: 15F / '11-'12: 24F / '12-'13: 23F / '13-'14: 15F / '14-'15: 20F / '15-'16: 27F / '16-'17: 15F / '17-'18: 8F / '18-'19: 23F / '19-'20: 19F / '20-'21: -5F / '21-'22: 20F / '22-'23: 6F

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