Accumulating Snow

[ruskinPalms]

I never really thought of Seattle as a snowy place except for on the mountain tops. Growing palms against all odds really epitomizes the philosphy of this society from what I have seen on this board. I think we all want to grow something we shouldn't be able to grow - even in the seemingly most perfect tropical places they have challenges with certain palms and these are the palms they want the most. I started this subject because I think if palms are making it in places that "snow" then they should be more widespread. Diane, I hope that your palms make it through just fine!

[Diane Kirkland]

Diane, I hope that your palms make it through just fine!

Thanks, Bill.  The Trachycarpus wagnerianus has a good chance of being okay.  The Butia capitata is a little riskier; it could have gotten down to 12'F Tuesday night which would be pushing it.  I have a beautiful very blue Chamaerops humilis on the front porch which should be okay, too.  The waiting is the hard part!

I have a rare Dendroseris litoralis which is about 6 feet tall (from 10 inches in the spring) in a big, heavy pot.  Thank goodness I managed to get that into the house.  This year.  I don't know what I'll do next year.  I guess get it it's own greenhouse!  There aren't many growing in the world right now.  

[Zac in NC]

Diane- I looked up the Dendroseris. Where did you get one? It looks extremely hard to find.

Zac

[Diane Kirkland]

Diane- I looked up the Dendroseris. Where did you get one? It looks extremely hard to find.

I got it from Dan Hinkley via Heronswood Nursery before Burpee closed the nursery down.  My friend Linda Cochran bought all of their stock.  Dan wound up without one so I think she gave him a couple.  I wonder if Tony Avent might have some?  

There are about 6 of us growing it.  I have a small one that's going to go to Sean Hogan at Cistus in OR; he can probably make it bloom and get some seed.  I'll keep my ears open for a seed source or a small plant.  It's a fun one to grow.

[Diane Kirkland]

Zac, here's a picture of the dendroseris in July.  By October it had grown about 18 more inches and lost some of the bottom leaves (which are about 14 inches across).  Plant with pot weighs about 150 pounds.  There was an interesting article about the plant here:  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1300953,00.html

[BobbyinNY]

Here are a couple of links to pics.  It sure looks like an attractive palm, at least from the photos of it.

http://www.hardypalmsinnc.homestead.com/index.html

and another site:

http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Curre...tail/04084.html

Hey Sunny....

after looking at those pics of Sabal Birmingham, I think I've seen a few of them planted around my neighborhood.. It's trunkless though... I would really like to see if I could get a trunked variety to grow....

Diane,

I'm sure you'll be a reference point for the board with those temps you had.. If most of that stuff makes it through without any problem, I'm sure alot of people in colder climates will want to try - I know I will Since we rarely get that cold here (maybe once/year) Especially because of the fact that even though your temps moderate during the winter, It still stays cold & damp for the most part (unlike a place like texas which could be really cold at night and then rebound to 70f during the day)

[SunnyFl]

(BobbyinNY @ Nov. 30 2006,08:43)

QUOTE

Here are a couple of links to pics.  It sure looks like an attractive palm, at least from the photos of it.

http://www.hardypalmsinnc.homestead.com/index.html

and another site:

http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Curre...tail/04084.html

Hey Sunny....

after looking at those pics of Sabal Birmingham, I think I've seen a few of them planted around my neighborhood.. It's trunkless though... I would really like to see if I could get a trunked variety to grow....

Hi Bobby,

It could be that the ones in your neighborhood are simply young ones that haven't trunked yet - they're supposed to be very slow growers, totally opposite of the S. palmetto.

I'm surprised to hear there are sabals growing on LI at all though.

[Diane Kirkland]

Bobby, the worst part about the cold and my palms is that they're in pots -- they're very very heavy (and big) Asian pots but still...  The plan was to put the palms in the ground in the spring.  

We had more rain in November (15.63 inches) than any other month recorded since records were found from 1890.  

I had friends leaving for Costa Rica on Thursday morning who were sweating our weather only to find it fine here but the flight canceled because of snow and ice in Dallas.

[SunnyFl]

(Diane Kirkland @ Nov. 30 2006,05:16)

QUOTE

The Trachycarpus wagnerianus has a good chance of being okay.  The Butia capitata is a little riskier; it could have gotten down to 12'F Tuesday night which would be pushing it.  I have a beautiful very blue Chamaerops humilis on the front porch which should be okay, too.  The waiting is the hard part!

Hi Diane,

Good luck with the butia - I hope it will be all right.  Have you ever considered eriospatha (hardier) - it's a nice green butia, but seems hard to come by.

Is your C. humilis a cerifera?  Might you happen to have any pics of it?

Love seeing your garden and what you're growing, btw.

[BobbyinNY]

Bobby, the worst part about the cold and my palms is that they're in pots -- they're very very heavy (and big) Asian pots but still...  The plan was to put the palms in the ground in the spring.

Diane,

there is no way you could've dragged those inside for a couple days until your temps moderate (which they will)..

I know what you mean about being really heavy though, as when I bring my big stuff out of the greenhouse for the spring, there is really no way of sheltering it - short of wrapping it and praying for the best.