Pseudophoenix sargentii ??

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Yesterday I purchased a very nice Pseudophoenix sargentii from Botanics in Homestead, FL. After having good luck with Leucothrinax morrissii last winter, and inspired by some of the FL and CA cold tolerance reports, I want to plant it into the ground but I'd like to see some discussion about hardiness before I do that. I'm especially interested in any experience you've had with frost since we have frost here several times a winter.

[Caribbean Palms]

Hi Keith,

I had 30 degrees with heavy frost for several hours this past winter with no damage. My tree has been in the ground about six years and is in a very open area with no protection. It just started seeding last year.

Good luck.

Mike

[Davidl]

It depends on the size of your Pseudophoenix sargentii I think but 30 with frost burnt the fronds of my one gallon sized plants.

[PalmatierMeg]

My P. sargentii, 4.5' tall and forming a trunk, endured several nights down to 33F with heavy frost. I wrapped it in a bedsheet but frond tips burned where they touched the sheet, which was covered with ice crystals. Rest of the palm did well.

[surgeon83]

I can tell you that my scrawny little two-footer, which was placed two feet from the southwest side of my house and wrapped with insulation on cold nights had burned tips at least. There were 4 nights below freezing, two at 30 and at least 6-8 total nights of frost. I haven't checked its growth rate, but I know that the vast majory of my 10+ palms are growing at 1/4-1/10 normal rate now.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Thank You everyone. Now I'm considering a large pot! I've become a bit nervous about risking freeze death to such an uncommon palm. It's certainly a beauty!!

[kylecawazafla]

The trunking one growing in Gainesville, FL died this winter from ~29.6 F. Direct damage to the palm included leaf spotting, and then the spear pulled about a week ago. The palm was weak to begin with though, and was not fully rooted into the ground.

[PalmatierMeg]

Thank You everyone. Now I'm considering a large pot! I've become a bit nervous about risking freeze death to such an uncommon palm. It's certainly a beauty!!

Based on my experience in Cape Coral, I would say a Pseudophoenix has zero chance of surviving winter in the ground at Jacksonville without shelter of a heated greenhouse. Even here, I have the feeling I am zone pushing this palm.

[elHoagie]

Wow, I had no idea Pseudophoenix sargentii were that cold sensitive. I've always had the impression that they're the hardiest crown shafted palm. Thankfully they seem to put up with the prolonged cool winters here, and I don't have to worry about frost at my location...

[DoomsDave]

Wow, I had no idea Pseudophoenix sargentii were that cold sensitive. I've always had the impression that they're the hardiest crown shafted palm. Thankfully they seem to put up with the prolonged cool winters here, and I don't have to worry about frost at my location...

Gotta rub it in!

[Tala]

here in O'town the Fla. version of sargentii suffers slight foliage damage around 27f down to 23f. Mine have never defoliated at those temps as well, going on close to 15 yrs of growth. For here it certainly is the most cold tolerant crownshaft palm, with Dypsis decipiens closing fast (those were undamaged at 25f) but little thus close to the ground (can't quite count'em yet).

[Jonathan]

So would you say they are as cold/frost hardy as Archontophoenix cunninghamiana?

Cheers,

Jonathan

[surgeon83]

here in O'town the Fla. version of sargentii suffers slight foliage damage around 27f down to 23f. Mine have never defoliated at those temps as well, going on close to 15 yrs of growth. For here it certainly is the most cold tolerant crownshaft palm, with Dypsis decipiens closing fast (those were undamaged at 25f) but little thus close to the ground (can't quite count'em yet).

You have been growing a pseudophoenix outside in Orlando for 15 years? How about a pic! Throw in one of the decipiens too, if you wouldn't mind.

Thanks

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Dave, you give me hope! I think I'll put it in a nice pot and observe over the next few winters. The specimen I bought is 10 years old and about 6' tall. It is only beginning to form a trunk but it sure isn't seedling.

[Rafael]

What happened to this pseudophoenix sargentii?

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Still in the pot, Rafael. However, it's going in the ground soon. It's grown a lot in the last 5 years. It's been subjected to some freezing temps too, but hasn't suffered much damage. However, it hasn't had to endure our coldest weather. I'm now in a place with warmer days, but the nights are still frosty.

[Stevetoad]

I have a 3 footer that saw 26f last year and a week straight of lows between 26-30. Mine is totally exposed and didn't even leaf spot.

[Palmə häl′ik]

Buccaneer Palm:

Wheres the like button?

-Ray.

[Phoenikakias]

I have a 3 footer that saw 26f last year and a week straight of lows between 26-30. Mine is totally exposed and didn't even leaf spot.

Steve, had it been also exposed during the icy rain two years ago?

And a general question; which is more cold sensitive, Thrinax radiata or Pseudophoenix sargentii?

[aztropic]

Thrinax radiata with its rather thick succulant leaves will show damage way before Pseudophoenix.

[stevethegator]

Yeah Thrinax radiata is known in Florida for being sort of wimpy, Cocothrinax argentata is hardier, and apparently Pseudophoenix is too.

[Alicehunter2000]

How's everyone's palms doing

[SubTropicRay]

P. sargentii is the toughest crownshaft palm around in my experience. Mine had some tip burn from frost in the unusually cold 2010 winter but never skipped a beat. My lowest low that winter was 26F but two other days that week had lows of 29 and 28F.

My T. radiata totally defoliated during this same freeze and then the owner, slowly killed it with too many copper fungicide bud treatments.

Leucothrinax morrissii is the hardiest of the bunch. It can take mid 20's with frost and still look very good.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I planted the Pseudophoenix in the ground in Winter Haven spring 2014. In Jan 2015, we haven't had a freeze yet this winter! (Wonderfully odd, btw). It looks ok though i left it in the pot too long and it had begun to decline by the Time I got it planted. So, I suspect it's going to take a year or two to look great again. I will concur about the Thrinax radiata. It's got wimpy foliage. Never lost one due to freezing but the foliage damages about as easily as coconut. Cocothrinax argentata is good into the high 20's, Leucothrinax morrissii to mid 20's as long as it doesn't last very long. I even had Cocothrinax crinata take high 20's though it died after the mid 20's.

[Palmə häl′ik]

pseudophoenix's foliage is so thin it seems frost doesnt have much to get on...

i luv all my bucs

and i think they luv me, cuz theyre still around!

[Mandrew968]

Wow, I had no Idea Pseudophoenix sargentii was so cold hardy! How about the other species? Does vinifera have a chance at my place in St. Pete? Looks like I will be bringing up a Buc, this spring...

[Palmə häl′ik]

Heres a couple of mine:

[SubTropicRay]

Does vinifera have a chance at my place in St. Pete?

P. vinifera is endemic to Hispaniola so my gut tells me no way for cen Fla unless it's an extremely well protected spot. Palms that include Cuba in their native range do much better in central Florida than those exclusively from the DR and Haiti.

[Keys6505]

On 1/19/2015 at 8:09 PM, Keith in SoJax said:

I planted the Pseudophoenix in the ground in Winter Haven spring 2014. In Jan 2015, we haven't had a freeze yet this winter! (Wonderfully odd, btw). It looks ok though i left it in the pot too long and it had begun to decline by the Time I got it planted. So, I suspect it's going to take a year or two to look great again. I will concur about the Thrinax radiata. It's got wimpy foliage. Never lost one due to freezing but the foliage damages about as easily as coconut. Cocothrinax argentata is good into the high 20's, Leucothrinax morrissii to mid 20's as long as it doesn't last very long. I even had Cocothrinax crinata take high 20's though it died after the mid 20's.

Any chance your P. Sargentii is still going?  If not, what temp did it in?  Thanks

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

On 11/29/2020 at 9:27 PM, Keys6505 said:

Any chance your P. Sargentii is still going?  If not, what temp did it in?  Thanks

I don't know.  Sold the house, sold the tree.  If its gone, its probably not due to cold as last year was very mild.