How far north...Mule palm

[Yeehova]

I just visited P&L Palms in Hampstead.  They have several mules from 30 gallon, to monnters with 8 feet of trunk.  The owner told me they have been planted in the open since the previous season unprotected in their outdoor grove.  Here are a couple and a nice Pindo they have. I might have purchased one.

[vcrosstx]

I’ve had one in the ground in Dallas now for maybe four years. Two of the winters had lows around 23F/-5C without damage. In February 2021 however, we had almost 200 hours mostly below freezing with just a few hours in the middle at 33F/1C and an absolute low of 2F/-17C in my yard. I protectected with multiple layers of frost cloth with a seed heating mat wrapped around the trunk. I was surprised it lived. In December we had a low of 12F/-11C and a high of 26F/-4C. I only wrapped with frost cloth. All the fronds are now dead but no spear pull. 
 

I think it would be pretty reliable in a z8b without a lot of variance in extreme minimums and no days completely below freezing. Otherwise with a lot of protection you could make it survive lower zones, but you’d need some sort of heat to keep the fronds green. 
 

Sadly for us in Dallas, we’ve had a recent zone 9b winter and many z9a and z8b winters for the last two decades but also some z8a and z7a! (It got to -2F/-18.9C) at our big airport in 2021 which is 6b! We’d be very palmy if it weren’t for that every decade big freeze we get. 

Edited February 10, 2023 by vcrosstx

[MarcusH]

8 hours ago, vcrosstx said:

I’ve had one in the ground in Dallas now for maybe four years. Two of the winters had lows around 23F/-5C without damage. In February 2021 however, we had almost 200 hours mostly below freezing with just a few hours in the middle at 33F/1C and an absolute low of 2F/-17C in my yard. I protectected with multiple layers of frost cloth with a seed heating mat wrapped around the trunk. I was surprised it lived. In December we had a low of 12F/-11C and a high of 26F/-4C. I only wrapped with frost cloth. All the fronds are now dead but no spear pull. 
 

I think it would be pretty reliable in a z8b without a lot of variance in extreme minimums and no days completely below freezing. Otherwise with a lot of protection you could make it survive lower zones, but you’d need some sort of heat to keep the fronds green. 
 

Sadly for us in Dallas, we’ve had a recent zone 9b winter and many z9a and z8b winters for the last two decades but also some z8a and z7a! (It got to -2F/-18.9C) at our big airport in 2021 which is 6b! We’d be very palmy if it weren’t for that every decade big freeze we get. 

I don't have a mule palm I wish I had once since they look better than Queens in my opinion.  Anyway I decided to go with Queens here in San Antonio.  I know I'm pushing it.  Yesterday I've bought my second Queen so I'm not counting it when I say my other Queen that was planted back in May lost all its fronds last December.  I only wrapped it with a thin bedsheet and a trash can over it but no other heat sources were added . Next time whenever it gets that cold again the trash can might not fit. I'm going to buy some frost cloth and heating tape. Will that prevent the fronds from burning or what other methods are recommended? 

[Sabal_Louisiana]

If I lived in San Antonio I would gamble with a Queen Palm. Historically, you may go a decade or longer without a threatening freeze there. 

But mainly, because of the cost. You can get one from Lowes when on sale that's 8 ft tall for like 50 bucks. A mule will cost 80 to 100 dollars per foot of height.

 

[vcrosstx]

On 2/10/2023 at 8:00 AM, MarcusH said:

I don't have a mule palm I wish I had once since they look better than Queens in my opinion.  Anyway I decided to go with Queens here in San Antonio.  I know I'm pushing it.  Yesterday I've bought my second Queen so I'm not counting it when I say my other Queen that was planted back in May lost all its fronds last December.  I only wrapped it with a thin bedsheet and a trash can over it but no other heat sources were added . Next time whenever it gets that cold again the trash can might not fit. I'm going to buy some frost cloth and heating tape. Will that prevent the fronds from burning or what other methods are recommended? 

I’ve actually gotten queens through a few winters here but even with protection the odd winter kills them dead. They are cheap but the mules have been longer term so I won’t bother again. Still no spear pull on my mule and think it made it with no supplemental heat. Crossing fingers. 

[WisTex]

On 2/10/2023 at 8:00 AM, MarcusH said:

I don't have a mule palm I wish I had once since they look better than Queens in my opinion.  Anyway I decided to go with Queens here in San Antonio.  I know I'm pushing it.  Yesterday I've bought my second Queen so I'm not counting it when I say my other Queen that was planted back in May lost all its fronds last December.  I only wrapped it with a thin bedsheet and a trash can over it but no other heat sources were added . Next time whenever it gets that cold again the trash can might not fit. I'm going to buy some frost cloth and heating tape. Will that prevent the fronds from burning or what other methods are recommended? 

Even mature queens north of Highway 59/I69 will be risky.  North Padre Island had below freezing lows of 28-20-23 during the February 2021 freeze.  All queens, including many over 25 years old were killed.  The Island had lows of 31-26-26-31 during the December 2022 freeze.  The majority of the replacement queens, foxtails and pygmy palms where killed off in this event.  As at result, the Island's leading palm installer has gone to recommending sabals, pindos, Sylvesters, washingtons, CIDP to property owners here.  Better to spend $250 for a small mule rather than a $250 with the accompanying survival concern for two larger queens that will likely meet their demise within a few years.

Edited March 24, 2023 by WisTex

[MarcusH]

4 hours ago, WisTex said:

Even mature queens north of Highway 59/I69 will be risky.  North Padre Island had below freezing lows of 28-20-23 during the February 2021 freeze.  All queens, including many over 25 years old were killed.  The Island had lows of 31-26-26-31 during the December 2022 freeze.  The majority of the replacement queens, foxtails and pygmy palms where killed off in this event.  As at result, the Island's leading palm installer has gone to recommending sabals, pindos, Sylvesters, washingtons, CIDP to property owners here.  Better to spend $250 for a small mule rather than a $250 with the accompanying survival concern for two larger queens that will likely meet their demise within a few years.

No risk no fun right but let's not forget that Feb 2021 event was a unique storm that only happens once in a century.  I should be dead by then. Hey if I get 20 to 30 years out of it I'm more than happy.  We has queens in SA that were at least 20 years old prior to Feb 21 . I think they're worth growing at places where owners take care of it. Not for commercial use .  In fact some of them surivived in Houston.  

[MarcusH]

5 hours ago, WisTex said:

Even mature queens north of Highway 59/I69 will be risky.  North Padre Island had below freezing lows of 28-20-23 during the February 2021 freeze.  All queens, including many over 25 years old were killed.  The Island had lows of 31-26-26-31 during the December 2022 freeze.  The majority of the replacement queens, foxtails and pygmy palms where killed off in this event.  As at result, the Island's leading palm installer has gone to recommending sabals, pindos, Sylvesters, washingtons, CIDP to property owners here.  Better to spend $250 for a small mule rather than a $250 with the accompanying survival concern for two larger queens that will likely meet their demise within a few years.

I don't know what killed the queens at such a "warm temperature ".  My juvenile that I planted last May facing the NW side was exposed to lows of 16,21,24,28F.  A bucket and thin layer of sheets around the trunk . No burlap no christmas lights whatsoever.  Recovering well. You have to take care of vulnerable palms in a colder climate . Queens do well if you're willing to keep them survive as an enthusiasts in chz 8b like where I am. Most winters are 9b in San Antonio.  Deep watering and heavy mulching.  

[Brad Mondel]

Any updates on the NC Mule? 

[MarcusH]

On 3/24/2023 at 8:14 AM, WisTex said:

Even mature queens north of Highway 59/I69 will be risky.  North Padre Island had below freezing lows of 28-20-23 during the February 2021 freeze.  All queens, including many over 25 years old were killed.  The Island had lows of 31-26-26-31 during the December 2022 freeze.  The majority of the replacement queens, foxtails and pygmy palms where killed off in this event.  As at result, the Island's leading palm installer has gone to recommending sabals, pindos, Sylvesters, washingtons, CIDP to property owners here.  Better to spend $250 for a small mule rather than a $250 with the accompanying survival concern for two larger queens that will likely meet their demise within a few years.

Just passed by 358 towards N Padre Island . Business with plenty of Queen palms looks like they've been there for at least a year.  

[Joe NC]

On 3/25/2023 at 5:45 AM, Brad Mondel said:

Any updates on the NC Mule? 

Looking crispy.  Got about 50% or more foliar burn during the Christmas freeze in an otherwise very mild winter.  It sucks because it was just starting to look good from getting the same damage last year.  Will take 2 consecutive years of mild winters to fully recover.

[JohnT]

Would love to see a picture Joe on what it looks like. I’m so tempted to buy one at the local Lowe’s for $199. 

[RJ]

7 hours ago, JohnT said:

Would love to see a picture Joe on what it looks like. I’m so tempted to buy one at the local Lowe’s for $199. 

Funny none of local lowes has the , yet a fellow PT’r north of me in SC found them in the upstate. 🤦‍♂️

[Brad Mondel]

4 hours ago, RJ said:

Funny none of local lowes has the , yet a fellow PT’r north of me in SC found them in the upstate. 🤦‍♂️

I found mine near Greenville, they were all gone within a few days. I should have gotten two. 

[Joe NC]

On 2/9/2022 at 1:50 PM, Joe NC said:

Suffered some cosmetic damage in the Jan 2022 ice storm.  I did wrap the trunk with a tarp/lights/thermocube, but the fronds were left exposed.

At least .25 inches of ice covering the fronds for over 24hrs.  Low of 19F.

 

Pre-storm protection

 

Damage to the fronds showed up as yellowing/bronzing a few weeks later

My last update for the SE NC mule.   I've sold my house and I am handing off all of my plants to a new owner.

The mule palm has survived with no protection since the last post.  Fronds show varying degrees of damage during winter, with more extensive damage from ice/snow + cold events than just cold.

24-25 winter saw ice/snow storm and later an ultimate low of 16.   A decent amount of damage to the fronds.  Unlike some of the other hardy palms that get winter damage, the spears and newest fronds are typically the least damaged from the cold. 

It takes 2 winters in a row without damage to regrow a full crown.  However, by summer it usually has enough new fronds to look decent, even after fairly heavy damage.  

Mule on the left, May 2025 after suffering some damage to the older fronds unprotected during the 2024-25 winter.  Side note, "Super Mule" on the right.  The "super mule" is a slug, and puts out 3 fronds per year (its only 3-4ish years younger than the big mule), really kind of disappointing how slow it has been.  Similar hardiness to it's larger mule neighbor.  A better view of the damage on the mule from this winter.  I over trimmed the damaged fronds from both mules (which I usually leave if there is any green),  just to make them "pretty" for the listing photos.

[SeanK]

9 hours ago, Joe NC said:

My last update for the SE NC mule.   I've sold my house and I am handing off all of my plants to a new owner.

The mule palm has survived with no protection since the last post.  Fronds show varying degrees of damage during winter, with more extensive damage from ice/snow + cold events than just cold.

24-25 winter saw ice/snow storm and later an ultimate low of 16.   A decent amount of damage to the fronds.  Unlike some of the other hardy palms that get winter damage, the spears and newest fronds are typically the least damaged from the cold. 

It takes 2 winters in a row without damage to regrow a full crown.  However, by summer it usually has enough new fronds to look decent, even after fairly heavy damage.  

Mule on the left, May 2025 after suffering some damage to the older fronds unprotected during the 2024-25 winter.  Side note, "Super Mule" on the right.  The "super mule" is a slug, and puts out 3 fronds per year (its only 3-4ish years younger than the big mule), really kind of disappointing how slow it has been.  Similar hardiness to it's larger mule neighbor.  A better view of the damage on the mule from this winter.  I over trimmed the damaged fronds from both mules (which I usually leave if there is any green),  just to make them "pretty" for the listing photos.

Palmettos would have fared better. What's that between the two S.minors?

[Joe NC]

18 hours ago, SeanK said:

Palmettos would have fared better. What's that between the two S.minors?

For sure, there is a very tall florida transplant S. palmetto closer to the road and out of frame that has been untouched by anything SE NC has thrown at it.  The other now trunking seed grown palmettos also have laughed at the cold.  A trunking S. mexicana was a little damaged during a low of ~12 during the great snowmageddon of the winter of 2017-18.  

There is a needle between the minors.  Bad placement as it wants to be much wider than there is space for, I have to keep chopping away at the suckers.  Seemed like a great spot when it was a tiny 3gal.  There is another needle just to the right of the tall mule.  There is a taller windmill Trachycarpus fortunei with stiffer fronds (I picked it out of a bunch of smaller 3gal plants because the fronds were not droopy).  It still is a bit stiffer than the others I have around back, but nothing crazy.  The other Trachy to the left of the super mule is a "nova".   It looks a little different than a typical windmill but probably only because I'm looking for a difference.... 

[JohnT]

On 5/28/2025 at 12:11 PM, Joe NC said:

My last update for the SE NC mule.   I've sold my house and I am handing off all of my plants to a new owner.

The mule palm has survived with no protection since the last post.  Fronds show varying degrees of damage during winter, with more extensive damage from ice/snow + cold events than just cold.

24-25 winter saw ice/snow storm and later an ultimate low of 16.   A decent amount of damage to the fronds.  Unlike some of the other hardy palms that get winter damage, the spears and newest fronds are typically the least damaged from the cold. 

It takes 2 winters in a row without damage to regrow a full crown.  However, by summer it usually has enough new fronds to look decent, even after fairly heavy damage.  

Mule on the left, May 2025 after suffering some damage to the older fronds unprotected during the 2024-25 winter.  Side note, "Super Mule" on the right.  The "super mule" is a slug, and puts out 3 fronds per year (its only 3-4ish years younger than the big mule), really kind of disappointing how slow it has been.  Similar hardiness to it's larger mule neighbor.  A better view of the damage on the mule from this winter.  I over trimmed the damaged fronds from both mules (which I usually leave if there is any green),  just to make them "pretty" for the listing photos.

Hey Joe, sorry to hear that you’re moving. I also live in Wilmington. In the Murrayville area to be more specific and your recorded 16 degrees took me by surprise since I only have about 19-20 recorded at my house. Your ex home looks great with all the palms, I’m sure it’s sad to leave. I just planted a mule this spring from having it in a large planter, I’m hoping it does well and takes off. I’ll have to post pictures of my yard to show some palms that I have. Best of luck in your new home! 

[RJ]

Joe, well done with that mule. Certainly an inspiration to all of us. I planted one at my folks place down the road from me,  it’s starting to put some size on but nothing compared to yours. I’ve planted several at my house and they are doing well. (So far) 

 

sorry to see you moving to not so palmy territory (New England). I think I read. It’s my old stomping grounds and still visit family up there every year. 
 

my folks mule as of a couple weeks ago. 
 

🍻 

[ckh1980]

Where are you guys purchasing the mules from?  I live in Virginia Beach, so have mainly stuck to windmills, but I have a new landscaping project and the mules would look awesome.  Not sure if my zone is condusive though (8a)