South facing yard I Wrightwood CA

[DippyD]

I have a buddy who just bought a home in Wrightwood and wants to plant something's that may be unique for that area(palms). I haven't done much research but from what he has told me its that its south facing, for 2-3 months is in the low 30s and is not uncommon to see a few nights in the high 20s. What kid of palms can he grow?

[DippyD]

Might I add palms that are friendly for the non Palmer, something that will look good all year

[empireo22]

Washingtonia filifera, Brahea armata.....Wrightwood is 6000ft elevation? must be alot of frost there so only cold hardy palms.

[DippyD]

Yeah those are the two that cone to my mine are there any trachy palms that would make it

[DippyD]

Or any Phoenix? I remember way back I. The day seeing some palms guys that live in the mid west and see their gardens covered with snow

[empireo22]

Phoenix canariensis, chamaerops spp.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

You gotta be kidding me, palms in Wrightwood? Not even trachys will survive there. Maybe a needle palm, provided it gets covered. Give your friend some friendly advice and rethink the idea of growing palms in Wrightwood.

[Hammer]

Maybe a Nannarrhops. But he will need to keep it dry in winter. Even then that is no guarantee.

[_Keith]

Butia or Mule. Maybe a Jubaea?.

[grant b.]

these palms look like they could fair well at elevation in the snow...

contact verizon. maybe they'll plant one in his yard for free.

Edited August 29, 2013 by 1000shadesOFgreen

[DoomsDave]

Wrightwood might be good for skiing, but not palms.

Can he grow blue spruces there? I'm not being sarcastic.

That said, a Rhapidophyllum is a possibility, since they will survive in Kent, Ohio.

[Neel]

Axel is right. I spend my winters in wrightwood snowboarding and I'm pretty familiar with the area. Wrightwood gets its fair share of snow in the winter, so it'll be a challenge to grow anything. As a matter of fact, the last palms I see is at the exit for hwy 138 in the cajon pass and those washys don't exactly look happy either.

[empireo22]

Here is a climate guide for a location 3 miles from Wrightwood.....from the looks of it, some cold hardy palms may be possible in Wrightwood given the right microclimate.

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=847840&cityname=Pacific-Crest-Reservoir-California

[DippyD]

Here is a climate guide for a location 3 miles from Wrightwood.....from the looks of it, some cold hardy palms may be possible in Wrightwood given the right microclimate.

Thanks, I'm going to try anyways, he's not at the top of the hill and placing plastic around the base could be used for some for protection, I fell like some are possible.

http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=847840&cityname=Pacific-Crest-Reservoir-California

[DippyD]

You gotta be kidding me, palms in Wrightwood? Not even trachys will survive there. Maybe a needle palm, provided it gets covered. Give your friend some friendly advice and rethink the idea of growing palms in Wrightwood.

Easy Len, I mean axel. I remember not to long ago you were told you can't grow a lot of palms your growing and which you seems to think they are going to make it through your winter.

[DippyD]

these palms look like they could fair well at elevation in the snow...

contact verizon. maybe they'll plant one in his yard for free.

I think it would be cheaper to buy a real palm over and over again, although mayber Verizon would pay me to have them on the property

[DippyD]

Wrightwood might be good for skiing, but not palms.

Can he grow blue spruces there? I'm not being sarcastic.

That said, a Rhapidophyllum is a possibility, since they will survive in Kent, Ohio.

I'm not sure what he's able to grow and neither is he. That's why I was asking. I know its a far fetch and wishful thinking but you never know

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

You gotta be kidding me, palms in Wrightwood? Not even trachys will survive there. Maybe a needle palm, provided it gets covered. Give your friend some friendly advice and rethink the idea of growing palms in Wrightwood.

Easy Len, I mean axel. I remember not to long ago you were told you can't grow a lot of palms your growing and which you seems to think they are going to make it through your winter.

You must be referring to that dypsis lasteliana highland Form, that should grow like a weed up in Wrightwood, after all, it's a highland form. I am sure Len will concur.

I was just trying to help you, Wrightwood is pretty cut and dry when it comes to palms. Expecting nothing worse than high 20's as lows above 6,000 feet simply isn't realistic. Expecting a lasteliana to grow in a cool coastal USDA 10a is more like a 50/50 proposition, so far so good. I've got my fingers crossed.

Edit: I just looked up all time lows for Wrightwood, 9F,revised to 8b, average low for Dec is 28.5F, 20F lows are pretty normal. You might actually be able to get away with a Chinese windmill palm.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Washingtonia filifera, Brahea armata.....Wrightwood is 6000ft elevation? must be alot of frost there so only cold hardy palms.

Seems a logical pair, especially if its if it's hot in summer.

Trachycarpus fortunei should be fine. I grew them in the northern suburbs of Charlotte and the average low for 90 days a year was below freezing...and we got colder than 9f most winters. Further, they shed snow, unlike Sabals. Rhadiophyllum is a swamp plant. I'm sure winter temps wouldn't be an issue (I know of me that's been growing in a 6b climate without protection since March 2007), but the dry weather might be an issue. Further, I think R hystrix might suffer micronutrient deficiencies in alkaline conditions...and that can be an issue in CA. Along with the cold hardy nanny and Chamaerops already mentioned, maybe Sabal uresana, Trithranax campestris (ouch) and the Sabal minors from Oklahoma and Arkansas. One of the Butias might also make it, but most will suffer below a temp of 15f, +/-. Another that might make it is Jubaea! They can take occasional cold snaps into zone 7 category...and they like dry summers more than wet.

[Mauna Kea Cloudforest]

Washingtonia filifera, Brahea armata.....Wrightwood is 6000ft elevation? must be alot of frost there so only cold hardy palms.

Seems a logical pair, especially if its if it's hot in summer.

Trachycarpus fortunei should be fine. I grew them in the northern suburbs of Charlotte and the average low for 90 days a year was below freezing...and we got colder than 9f most winters. Further, they shed snow, unlike Sabals. Rhadiophyllum is a swamp plant. I'm sure winter temps wouldn't be an issue (I know of me that's been growing in a 6b climate without protection since March 2007), but the dry weather might be an issue. Further, I think R hystrix might suffer micronutrient deficiencies in alkaline conditions...and that can be an issue in CA. Along with the cold hardy nanny and Chamaerops already mentioned, maybe Sabal uresana, Trithranax campestris (ouch) and the Sabal minors from Oklahoma and Arkansas. One of the Butias might also make it, but most will suffer below a temp of 15f, +/-. Another that might make it is Jubaea! They can take occasional cold snaps into zone 7 category...and they like dry summers more than wet.

Keep in mind you have to also take into account the duration of cold. For example, last Winter, Wrightwood was below freezing for an entire week, 31F daytime and upper teens to low 20's night. That's not going to agree with a lot of palms, jubaea would be toast without protection.

[Keith N Tampa (ex SoJax)]

Washingtonia filifera, Brahea armata.....Wrightwood is 6000ft elevation? must be alot of frost there so only cold hardy palms.

Seems a logical pair, especially if its if it's hot in summer.

Trachycarpus fortunei should be fine. I grew them in the northern suburbs of Charlotte and the average low for 90 days a year was below freezing...and we got colder than 9f most winters. Further, they shed snow, unlike Sabals. Rhadiophyllum is a swamp plant. I'm sure winter temps wouldn't be an issue (I know of me that's been growing in a 6b climate without protection since March 2007), but the dry weather might be an issue. Further, I think R hystrix might suffer micronutrient deficiencies in alkaline conditions...and that can be an issue in CA. Along with the cold hardy nanny and Chamaerops already mentioned, maybe Sabal uresana, Trithranax campestris (ouch) and the Sabal minors from Oklahoma and Arkansas. One of the Butias might also make it, but most will suffer below a temp of 15f, +/-. Another that might make it is Jubaea! They can take occasional cold snaps into zone 7 category...and they like dry summers more than wet.

Keep in mind you have to also take into account the duration of cold. For example, last Winter, Wrightwood was below freezing for an entire week, 31F daytime and upper teens to low 20's night. That's not going to agree with a lot of palms, jubaea would be toast without protection.

Axel, that does make it much harder. Trachycarpus fortunei, Trachycarpus Takil, Sabal minor, hmm. All of those will endure a week of subfreezing temps. I think that's about it. R. Hystrix might be worth a try too, but it's going to need supplemental water, and maybe some shade. In fact, they'll all benefit from partial shade in winter as well as a wind break. I'd still give Trithrinax campestris a shot too. It's supposedly experienced 0f in its native range on rare occasions. In NC we had subfreezing temps and snow n the ground for several days too. R hystrix can take a MONTH of snow cover. In the east, it's our hardiest palm though the S minor from Oklahoma is right threre too. On the down side, both the Sabal and the Needle will need hot summers to perform at their best. Trachycarpus doesnt. I dont know about the Trithrinax.

[_Keith]

There are always smaller palms, where a little protection is reasonable. And then there are conifers, and there are some really cool conifers, too. Also, some really cool fruiting plants that can take those temps, as well. If it is not a palm climate, why waste valuable time and energy on them. Go with something more appropriate and some things that give back, as well.

[DippyD]

Help is one thing making a statement you have to be kidding me is another. Anyways appreciate your help. I was simply asking if its possible!

You gotta be kidding me, palms in Wrightwood? Not even trachys will survive there. Maybe a needle palm, provided it gets covered. Give your friend some friendly advice and rethink the idea of growing palms in Wrightwood.

Easy Len, I mean axel. I remember not to long ago you were told you can't grow a lot of palms your growing and which you seems to think they are going to make it through your winter.

You must be referring to that dypsis lasteliana highland Form, that should grow like a weed up in Wrightwood, after all, it's a highland form. I am sure Len will concur.

I was just trying to help you, Wrightwood is pretty cut and dry when it comes to palms. Expecting nothing worse than high 20's as lows above 6,000 feet simply isn't realistic. Expecting a lasteliana to grow in a cool coastal USDA 10a is more like a 50/50 proposition, so far so good. I've got my fingers crossed.

Edit: I just looked up all time lows for Wrightwood, 9F,revised to 8b, average low for Dec is 28.5F, 20F lows are pretty normal. You might actually be able to get away with a Chinese windmill palm.

[DippyD]

There are always smaller palms, where a little protection is reasonable. And then there are conifers, and there are some really cool conifers, too. Also, some really cool fruiting plants that can take those temps, as well. If it is not a palm climate, why waste valuable time and energy on them. Go with something more appropriate and some things that give back, as well.

Thanks Keith any direction with names for him to look at would be greatly appreciated, he's starting from a clean slate. He's seen my yard and that's what sparked the interest of palms and me not knowing a lot about some of the more cold tolerant palms had no clue if something would make it or not in his zone.

[DippyD]

Washingtonia filifera, Brahea armata.....Wrightwood is 6000ft elevation? must be alot of frost there so only cold hardy palms.

Seems a logical pair, especially if its if it's hot in summer.

Trachycarpus fortunei should be fine. I grew them in the northern suburbs of Charlotte and the average low for 90 days a year was below freezing...and we got colder than 9f most winters. Further, they shed snow, unlike Sabals. Rhadiophyllum is a swamp plant. I'm sure winter temps wouldn't be an issue (I know of me that's been growing in a 6b climate without protection since March 2007), but the dry weather might be an issue. Further, I think R hystrix might suffer micronutrient deficiencies in alkaline conditions...and that can be an issue in CA. Along with the cold hardy nanny and Chamaerops already mentioned, maybe Sabal uresana, Trithranax campestris (ouch) and the Sabal minors from Oklahoma and Arkansas. One of the Butias might also make it, but most will suffer below a temp of 15f, +/-. Another that might make it is Jubaea! They can take occasional cold snaps into zone 7 category...and they like dry summers more than wet.

Keep in mind you have to also take into account the duration of cold. For example, last Winter, Wrightwood was below freezing for an entire week, 31F daytime and upper teens to low 20's night. That's not going to agree with a lot of palms, jubaea would be toast without protection.

Axel, that does make it much harder. Trachycarpus fortunei, Trachycarpus Takil, Sabal minor, hmm. All of those will endure a week of subfreezing temps. I think that's about it. R. Hystrix might be worth a try too, but it's going to need supplemental water, and maybe some shade. In fact, they'll all benefit from partial shade in winter as well as a wind break. I'd still give Trithrinax campestris a shot too. It's supposedly experienced 0f in its native range on rare occasions. In NC we had subfreezing temps and snow n the ground for several days too. R hystrix can take a MONTH of snow cover. In the east, it's our hardiest palm though the S minor from Oklahoma is right threre too. On the down side, both the Sabal and the Needle will need hot summers to perform at their best. Trachycarpus doesnt. I dont know about the Trithrinax.

Very cool! Everything is worth a try.

[_Keith]

As I just replied in another thread, there are a few big box palms out there cheap enough to just be planted as annuals. Or that can be pseudo put in the ground using pot-in-pot techniques and brought inside over the winter.

[avb]

I live at 4500 feet now in Garner Valley, and see low temps in the mid teens daily after December 1st until April. I don't think palms like B. armata or Jubea will survive the daily lows for 4 or 5 months straight. I know there are a few W. robusta growing in the Phelan area on Sheep Creek Rd., near Highway 18, but it's far warmer there than Wrightwood. The further down the slope toward El Mirage you go, things actually get worse. The cold air drain gets El Mirage down to 4 degrees F., even though it's only about 4000 feet there.

If he just has to have some palms, he can plant them after Mother's Day and let them grow outside until about mid-September. Then, you dig them up and put them indoors all winter, until the next Mother's Day. Then repeat the planting and digging all over again.

People in Europe do that every year, and I met a guy from Switzerland who has a business keeping palms and other temperature sensitive plants indoors all winter.

My greenhouse in the backyard, Garner Valley.

My blue spruce in the front yard.