Anyone having luck with Attalea (any species) in the "Queen Zone"?

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

The Queen Zone, where Queen Palms are reliably hardy but things like Royals are not. I've always been a fan of the Attaleas, but I counted them as too tropical for Central FL (especially since I'm NOT in a warm microclimate). I know most species have frost free requirements and I cannot meet that requirement.

[Zeeth]

Try A. dubia

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

I would also recommend Attalea rostrata, according to PalmPedia:

In cultivation it is rarely seen but adapts easily to tropical and some warm temperate climates and has proven to be surprisingly cold tolerant for a tropical palm, taking light to even moderate freezes without harm.

[sarasota alex]

Keith, I heard very good things about Attalea phalerata here in Sarasota.

Also this list compiled by Larry Noblick has several Attalea species (listed under Attalea, Orbignya and Scheelea) - http://www.bg-map.com/PLMTBLA.HTML

[Kailua_Krish]

My Attalea dubia has been in ground for 2 winters in Ocala. The official lows its seen have been at least 25, but the area its in is sheltered and under canopy so it might be warmer.

[Xenon]

I've heard of Attalea cohune being grown in Galveston and Daytona. It can't be that cold if there are arborescent Ficus bejamina in your area...

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Try A. dubia

Keith, where would I get one? I'm certainly willing to try?

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Keith, I heard very good things about Attalea phalerata here in Sarasota.

Also this list compiled by Larry Noblick has several Attalea species (listed under Attalea, Orbignya and Scheelea) - http://www.bg-map.com/PLMTBLA.HTML

Thanks Alex, this is a big help. My list is growing.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

I've heard of Attalea cohune being grown in Galveston and Daytona. It can't be that cold if there are arborescent Ficus bejamina in your area...

Xenon, I've never been to a place with such pronounced microclimates as here. It's all about proximity to water and one can drop from a 10a climate to 9a in 2 miles. Unfortunately my garden isnt close to water so Ficus benjamina wouldnt be arborescent in my yard even in the warmest winter. But I'm going to try our native F aurea. I will also try A cohune since its the easiest species to find and some reports say its good into the low-mid 20's.

One of my colleagues used to live in Katy and he showed me a fast food restaurant that had Foxtails and one of the common Archontophoenix. Do you know where I'm talking about? I was wondering if they are still there.

[Xenon]

One of my colleagues used to live in Katy and he showed me a fast food restaurant that had Foxtails and one of the common Archontophoenix. Do you know where I'm talking about? I was wondering if they are still there.

I believe that was Willie's by I-10. Two Archontphoenix clumps by the entrance and foxtails on the side? Used to admire those palms every time I passed by... They were absolutely torched by the 2010 freeze

Edited July 27, 2013 by Xenon

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

One of my colleagues used to live in Katy and he showed me a fast food restaurant that had Foxtails and one of the common Archontophoenix. Do you know where I'm talking about? I was wondering if they are still there.

I believe that was Willie's by I-10. Two Archontphoenix clumps by the entrance and foxtails on the side? Used to admire those palms every time I passed by... They were absolutely torched by the 2010 freeze

I wonderd about them, it was an aggressive zone push, but it worked for quite a while. If I had a business where a tropical landscape enhanced the experience for my customers, I wouldn't hesitate to replace them.

[Eric in Orlando]

Some of them seem bud hardy but foliage tender. Since they stay trunkless for decades the bud will stay underground and insulated. An Attalea rostrata survived the 3 bad freezes of the 1980s here at Leu Gardens in Orlando when all the Queen Palms were wiped out. I believe there are a few Attalea that have been growing at Dent Smiths former place in Daytona Beach for decades.

Attalea is a genus I really am interested in trying here in Orlando. Here is what we are growing at Leu Gardens;

Attalea allenii

brejinhoensis

butyracea

cohune

colenda

dubia

macrocarpa

phalerata

rostrata

[JungleGina]

I have an A. cohune in the ground since mid-2009. I protect with Christmas lights during winter...for now. It's about 8' tall with 5 leaves.

[Hilo Jason]

I have one labeled A. Geraniensis and it has done great for me. It saw 28 degrees this past winter and didnt have a blemish on it. It was planted from a 5 gallon about 3 years ago and is now 9 feet tall. Only pushes about 2 leaves or so a year, but each one is considerably larger than the previous.