Syagrus romanzoffiana

[iwan]

Burning/spotting/yellowing up to 20-40%  on trees in ground 15g to 20' size.  Similar damage to 15g potted trees with blanket around trunk.  Still working on the temp numbers, but 16 out of 18 days below freezing.  Most days 12+ hours below freezing, rebounding to mid-40's.  Official lows in Madera and Fresno in low 20's.  Some frost every day, but nowhere near as heavy as normal 28-32F freezes.  No overhead canopy.

[Jim in Los Altos]

26.5F low. No damage or stress to any of my eleven queens ranging in size from 3' to 40' tall.

[iwan]

Spotting (in 15g nursery pot).  40% damage.

Fronds overhanging roof severly burned.  In ground, 6' to growth point, 15' tall.  Just trunking, 20% damage.

Planted last year (from 15g).  Fronds tied up and mostly damaged.  

[Kathy]

24F low here, no frost, multiple nights below 28F, no damage to any individuals from 6 foot to 20foot in size.  No damage to any of the 70+ individuals on the street.

Driving around town, where lows were in the 23-24F range (maybe as low as 22F in some microclimates), no damage to healthy individuals of all sizes (healthy looking before freeze),  only damage to those that looked sickly before freeze (were already low on nutrients and very yellow/frizzled/few fronds).

[Collectorpalms]

Texas Zone 8b. Damage Ranged from 70% burn to 20% for the largest that are 25 feet tall and flowering. There does seem to be some variability in the palms that I have. And overhanging leaves near house were the only leaves on the biggest ones damaged.

Feb 13: 56/37

Feb 14: 40/33

Feb 15: 41/29

Feb 16: 50/21 ( airport) (My house 23.4)

Feb 17: 64/32

Feb 18: 62/28

Feb 19: 72/40

[Bilbo]

Cant really say too much about Queens except they seem fine down in Southern Europe.

My own specimen is getting on for 20` but was already tall when I planted it early last September so I shall be applying high nitrate and seeing what it will be like in 12 months.

I am optimistic but then I always am.

Now for a good laugh: I unearthed an RHS book published in 1993 which stated that Queens required a minimum temp  . . . . wait for it . . . . of 18C!

I know guys, I too fell about laughing.

Seriously we do have several palm guys at RBG Kew (including of course JD but others as well).

Why were they not consulted?

Regardez

Juan

[freekypalmguy]

The damage to the queens has been slow in showing it's ugly face. We had lows of 12F at the worst but many nights sub freezing. They get browner and browner as the day have gone by. My large queens did just fine but all of my small queens show significant browning and many fronds have folded to the ground. When I drive down the street I see a sea of brown queens. The palm growers below me saw 10F and all of his 100's of queens are brown.

[AJQ]

I have 2 "Silver Syagrus"  both are alive but one has not shown any sign of growth at all, this one was planted in what I considered to be the prime position. The other one planted in the "not so prime position" has actually done a lot better and has even put on some growth this winter. perhaps we have to be a wee bit more patient and allow the roots to get established before consigning them to the compost heap?

Regards Andy.

[GREENHAND]

15 deg all oueens, TOAST!!! even wrapped. O well live and learn.

[NBTX11]

24F official airport low, buy my Syagrus saw appx 21-22F for an hour or two.  Plant is a small juvenile, appx 5-6 feet tall  50-60% leaf burn and spotting.  By May/Jun 07, completely recovered.  By Jul 07, growing at a fast rate and very established and healthy.

[mjff]

December 15-16, 2007 14 hours below freezing with a low of 18 degrees, no apparent damage 1 week later to a 15' tall specimen planted less than 2 months prior with a basketball size rootball.  This is a "Silver Queen"

December 22-23, 2007 13 hours below freezing with a low of 16 degrees, and 120 degree-hours below freezing.  Will report back in a week or so regarding damage, if any, from this freeze.

[Frog]

Hello, a testimony concerning the resistance of this variety in zone 8a. here are four years that I installed a seedling of this syagrus in a patio. it profits from the protection of a wall and is protected every winter. In spite of temperatures going until to -8°c, the seedling did not suffer.

[Moris]

hi guys, i'm moris from Italy. - 8 in France with syagrus? interesting. Is it litoralis or Santa Caterina form?

[Rafael]

Syagrus Romanzofiana is supposed to resist until -8ºC / 17.6F. With less damage.

My seven (mostly adult palms), wich you can check at the link above, faced maybe 10 nights with -3ºC, last winter, with no damage.

They are adorable palms, indeed.

Edited November 21, 2009 by rafael

[peachy]

Before I moved to this house, I lived in the country. Every winter my queens were exposed to frostss nearly every night. Usually about - 5 or 6c but often down to -8 or -9c. They were all in exposed areas and of all sizes. The only ones I ever lost were still entire leaf. Once they go pinnate they are indestructable. !! Not one of them was ever affected in any way by cold or frost. My Chamaerops humilis was the only other palm that would remain without damage of some kind.

Peachy

[Wilyum]

I have a concern and question. Here in South Louisiana, a few weeks back we got into the TEEN temperatures. Mine along with most of other peoples queen palms in their yards all seem to be brown and barely green. What is the best solution to getting these back healty and green again? Will this take years?

I have about 8 of these planted behind a fence for my pool viewing area and its going to look horrible this summer. Any ideas how to spruce this up for the summer time? Anything special I can do? I have about $2,000 invested in these trees.

Any information can help.

Thanks

William

[TikiRick]

William,

The only real thing that can help is time. I know that doesn't sound all that great...but time will tell whether or not a green spear emerges. It may take months for true cold damage to show. If they can be reached, the crown should be drenched in copper fungicide. If not, then there's not really anything to do. Just don't do anything premature like chopping them down too soon. As long as there is not another cold blast (freezing temps for hours)you may just be in luck.

[gsytch]

William- Queens will respond quickly. Last years' freeze up north of me in rural areas burnt them but good. They looked fine come summer. If they are alive, they will come back quickly once the weather does. I wouldn't feed until I see new growth and warmer temps! Greg

[Rafael]

I have a concern and question. Here in South Louisiana, a few weeks back we got into the TEEN temperatures. Mine along with most of other peoples queen palms in their yards all seem to be brown and barely green. What is the best solution to getting these back healty and green again? Will this take years?

I have about 8 of these planted behind a fence for my pool viewing area and its going to look horrible this summer. Any ideas how to spruce this up for the summer time? Anything special I can do? I have about $2,000 invested in these trees.

Any information can help.

Thanks

William

Can you upload some good pics of it?

And how low did temps raise overthere?

I have 7 of those palms, all big sized!

Wish you luck!

[Gallop]

You're Queens should pull through just fine,there pretty good about @ coming back. Mine were completely defoliated and spears pulled on 4 of mine the last two winters in a row and have come back. In spring I fertilize and water, nothing special just be patient by the end of summer they will have recovered. I've never lost one in Pensacola fl,our temps are pretty much the same as you re's. You might want to consider trying BXS they are tough as nails, prettier I think and readily available. The also grow fast once in the ground. Beats having to worry about the queens each winter.

[NBTX11]

Every queen around here defoliated as well. I'll be interested to see how many of them survive, once the heat returns. The only thing that will really help is time. Queens recover well from low 20sF and spear pulls. Seen it first hand on mine. The first spear will come up deformed once it resumes growth in Mar or Apr, then each one after should be healthy. That is, if you were able to keep it alive. I saw mid teens here, but I think it is still alive, although completely brown. There appears to be some life to the spear. It got so cold my CIDP and Robustas defoliated, except for the central spears which are green. Do not give up on them and wait for the spear to start moving again in the spring.

[Alicehunter2000]

They may appear dead ...... but don't give up on them until the end of summer (if no new growth). They sound like larger palms, so that will help. What doesn't die will be stronger during the next freeze. I have a few queens that had spear pulls last year, that barely had leaf burn this year and this has been a much, much worse winter....go figure? All I can attribute it too is that these really harden off after being exposed to low temps. Hopefully the future will be bright for your palms as well........that being said, teens are pretty darn low temps., even for a queen. Good luck, and Welcome to Palmtalk.

[Kailua_Krish]

Big box store queen variety. Multiple nights below freezing, ultimate low of around 20. All exposed fronds are burned, most plants look as if they will grow back, the smaller ones are a bit iffy.

-Krishna

[jrh735]

Can someone please tell me if Queen palms will survive in Spring Hill Florida ? It seems to me that they do well for a number of years until a bad freeze. Will they recover ? Why do people cut them down ? Ive seen a few very large ones that have survived for 20-30 years ? Please help !!!

[Zeeth]

Probably they would do pretty well, just make sure to water a lot in summer and fertilize.

If they get cold damaged badly, replanting with a mule palm is always an option though.

[PalmatierMeg]

Welcome to PalmTalk, jrh. How low do temps drop there in a "normal" winter? This winter is far from normal. I think queens can take to low 20s, at least. My 7 queens saw as low as 28.5 this winter without blinking.

[jrh735]

Probably they would do pretty well, just make sure to water a lot in summer and fertilize.

If they get cold damaged badly, replanting with a mule palm is always an option though.

Thanks for the info ! I've seen some really nice Mule palms around.

[jrh735]

Welcome to PalmTalk, jrh. How low do temps drop there in a "normal" winter? This winter is far from normal. I think queens can take to low 20s, at least. My 7 queens saw as low as 28.5 this winter without blinking.

Thank you ! It is a zone 9a. Normally 27-30 at least once or twice a winter. I live in Miami Beach zone 11,and we didnt hit freezing,but i am still amazed at the damage to the Coconuts !!! My grandparents live up in Spring Hill. I have been trying to figure out why people just dont let the Queens recover. Istead they get rid of them Its sad because queen palms are the only palm that gives that area a tropical look !

[gsytch]

I teach at Hudson Middle, on the campus with the high school, about 3 mi S of the Hernando line and in a rural area. I am also teaching a student homebound in an area called Shady Hills, which is farther east and open...and very rural. I have seen CIDP toasted out there! Washingtonia are fried, Queens obliterated. There are even Queens near campus in really bad shape, yet none in my yard 14 mi south are even nipped. When I look around, those Queens that are taken care of...good nutrition and watering only when it is really dry...are easily the best after this mess. You can see how the Queens neglected, even a little east of me, look awful. But, the ones here will recover as they are only fried on the outside. It also helps to feed in late Oct in our area to harden them off. I do a liquid feed in a bucket for a quick filter of food. In Spring Hill, Pindos are perfectly suited and if you look for the more upright varieties (crosses I assume) they give a more tropical look. It is a rough climate in Hernando...even 8b because the house I go to hit 18F when I hit 27/28F! Greg In New Port Richey

[jrh735]

I teach at Hudson Middle, on the campus with the high school, about 3 mi S of the Hernando line and in a rural area. I am also teaching a student homebound in an area called Shady Hills, which is farther east and open...and very rural. I have seen CIDP toasted out there! Washingtonia are fried, Queens obliterated. There are even Queens near campus in really bad shape, yet none in my yard 14 mi south are even nipped. When I look around, those Queens that are taken care of...good nutrition and watering only when it is really dry...are easily the best after this mess. You can see how the Queens neglected, even a little east of me, look awful. But, the ones here will recover as they are only fried on the outside. It also helps to feed in late Oct in our area to harden them off. I do a liquid feed in a bucket for a quick filter of food. In Spring Hill, Pindos are perfectly suited and if you look for the more upright varieties (crosses I assume) they give a more tropical look. It is a rough climate in Hernando...even 8b because the house I go to hit 18F when I hit 27/28F! Greg In New Port Richey

Thanks,Greg ! Great information... Ive often wondered if Spring Hill was actually that much colder. I can remember after some of the really cold freezes of the 1980s, driving down US 19 and once i got to around Bayonet Point the Queens seemed to be OK.Could it be that Port Richey south may even be a zone 10a most years ? My grandparents have had the same queens in their yard since the late 1970s. They are well watered and fertilized.I have to say that Pindos are my least favorite. they wash out the landscape with the blueish/grey/green foliage. Mule palms seem worth looking into.

Thanks again ! Keep me posted on the progress of the Queens in your neck of the woods.

[gsytch]

Yes, New Port Richey, especially my area around downtown, does seem to get away with quite a bit. I lived here since '88, and only a handful of years has damage been substantial. Unfortunately, the past two winters have not been the best....although last year we got through much better than this year. Greg

[jrh735]

Yes, New Port Richey, especially my area around downtown, does seem to get away with quite a bit. I lived here since '88, and only a handful of years has damage been substantial. Unfortunately, the past two winters have not been the best....although last year we got through much better than this year.

Hopefully most things will recover once it warms up.There is even alot of damage here on Miami Beach. We got down to 35 at least twice. The coconuts have really taken a beating. Everything looks very stressed out !!!

[Kathryn]

Hey William - Welcome to PalmTalk!

With the prolonged cold temperatures you experienced reaching into the teens, the future doesn't look so bright for your Queen (Syagrus romanzoffiana) palms. Most get damage in the low 20’s and many don’t survive 18ºF with the prolonged cold we had - multiple nights below freezing without warming up much during the day. All this rain we’ve had with continued cold won’t help with root rot.

Check out the Syagrus romanzoffiana thread in this cold damage forum for a little more information.

That said, only time will tell if your palms will survive. Carefully remove the brown foliage and the emerging spear (if it can be removed with a slight tug). Pour some hydrogen peroxide on the area of the emerging spear to help with fungus and rot.

If it recovers, at least the first several new leaves will be deformed but eventually they next ones will look normal. I shouldn’t take long to look good again - maybe by the end of the summer.

The Louisiana palm society is having a meeting at my house March 14. I will give a tour of my yard and discuss the brown and green plants, giving their history and projected life. Check out the Affiliate forum for the meeting information.

[_Keith]

I have a concern and question. Here in South Louisiana, a few weeks back we got into the TEEN temperatures. Mine along with most of other peoples queen palms in their yards all seem to be brown and barely green. What is the best solution to getting these back healty and green again? Will this take years?

I have about 8 of these planted behind a fence for my pool viewing area and its going to look horrible this summer. Any ideas how to spruce this up for the summer time? Anything special I can do? I have about $2,000 invested in these trees.

Any information can help.

Thanks

William

If you are in New Iberia, then I am right down the street from you. We were borderline here on the queens. Many look dead, but I suspect most will return and fast, but likely not return to their former glory till the end of the summer. Shoot me a PM and let me know where you are.

[Wilyum]

I have a concern and question. Here in South Louisiana, a few weeks back we got into the TEEN temperatures. Mine along with most of other peoples queen palms in their yards all seem to be brown and barely green. What is the best solution to getting these back healty and green again? Will this take years?

I have about 8 of these planted behind a fence for my pool viewing area and its going to look horrible this summer. Any ideas how to spruce this up for the summer time? Anything special I can do? I have about $2,000 invested in these trees.

Any information can help.

Thanks

William

If you are in New Iberia, then I am right down the street from you. We were borderline here on the queens. Many look dead, but I suspect most will return and fast, but likely not return to their former glory till the end of the summer. Shoot me a PM and let me know where you are.

[Xenon]

Queens look blowtorched in Houston, with more minimal damage closer to the Gulf. Queens within a mile of the Gulf have no damage.

-Jonathan

[sfooz]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this site and was looking to get some help. Firstly, I'm 21 years old and I have loved palms ever since I can remember. I just recently moved outside of Houston Texas from new orleans(regretfully the northern side). So I decided to get my first palm tree ever andI have been obsessed with it ever since. It is a queen palm and I bought it at home depot with about 7 or 8 feet tall leaves. I planted it in early July and it grew to about 11feet(guess). I know that's late to plant it but it seemed fine. However of course I planted it just in time for the coldest damn winter ever, I think we even saw some teens at night. Anyways I bought frost blankets that I wrapped it up in during the cold days(which was quite a task considering it's size). The last time I took the blanket off(I took them off when it got warmer) one of the branches just snapped down. I don't know if I wrapped it too tight or if it was to cold but at first I thought it was fine because it was green but I didn't know it took time to show freeze damage . the lower leaves were completely fried after a week. The upper fronds were left with green leaves on the base. Well not knowing that it would stress the tree I cut all the brown off. Just down to where there were green leaves on the upper fronds. It looks terrible like a bad poodle cut. But anyways the trunk is still green and it has green leaves. But the leaf that is coming out is all brown I even looked down as far as I could and its just brown. I've read about spear pull so I tried tugging but the spear won't come out it's in there like a rock. It's growing out a little along with the other fronds getting longer. Is there hope for this tree or do y'all think it doomed? I can provide pictures if needed. Thanks so much for any help.

Sam

[sfooz]

You're Queens should pull through just fine,there pretty good about @ coming back. Mine were completely defoliated and spears pulled on 4 of mine the last two winters in a row and have come back. In spring I fertilize and water, nothing special just be patient by the end of summer they will have recovered. I've never lost one in Pensacola fl,our temps are pretty much the same as you re's. You might want to consider trying BXS they are tough as nails, prettier I think and readily available. The also grow fast once in the ground. Beats having to worry about the queens each winter.

what is a bxs???

[John Case]

Pictures would definitely help; but from your description, I think the palm will do fine given your attention to it during the winter. There are a couple of others here on PalTalk in the Houston area who have a ton of palms that can be grown there. Hopefully one of them will be able to hook you up.

Welcome to the merry group!

[PalmatierMeg]

bxs = Butia crossed with Syagrus, also called the mule palm. Most common mules are Butia capitata x Syagrus romanzoffiana. Mule palms are usually sterile but are much coldhardier than queen palms. They vary in appearance but usually have a "tropical" look that belies their hardiness. A mule palm should do well in your area.