Frozen Coconuts in North Florida

[Kekoanui]

Aloha oukou!  I am new to the forum but have been a palm enthusiast for 20 years.  In Satellite Beach I planted my first Malayan coconut palm from a seedling that I found down in the keys (post freeze of '89).  Many of us back then agreed that coconuts look best at full girth just before they begin to trunk so if they freeze it didn't matter.  We just wanted to have something in our yard that you couldn't by at the local nurseries. Well three years ago I moved up to to St. Augustine and planted our 4 nice Beccariopheonix alfredii with the hope that I'll get a few good years to enjoy them and see how massive that get before they freeze.  They have performed great from 15 gal specimens and I don't feel as bummed going from 9B to 9A.  If there are any South/Central Florida transplants living here in North Florida, I would love to hear some success stories.    A hui hou, malama pono!

[RedRabbit]

Welcome to PT! That's a great looking palm, thanks for sharing.

I planted one about a year ago and just love it more and more as time goes by. Mine has only seen 32f so it hasn't been tested yet. I've got a small yard, but I'm considering getting a couple more of these since they just do so well here when most of my palms have languished under the hot Florida sun.  

_Keith over in 9A Louisiana had a bad winter that tested his alfredii's with somewhat disappointing results. You might be interested in reading his account of what happened here... I'm still optimistic this palm will be okay in low 20s once they get to be 15-20'. 

Are you on the beachside of St. Augustine? I think beachside is still 9b so they'll probably do okay there. This Archontophoenix cunninghamiana on the beachside managed to survive 2010 so it must not get too cold.

 

Edited June 25, 2017 by RedRabbit

[Kekoanui]

Glad to hear from a palm collector familiar to North Florida.  Man, it is tough growing up here!  I have a triple Archontopheonix maxima that has survived the past two winters as well.  I am not on Beachside, however, I have a nice microclimate as the north side of my yard is protected by a two-story house.  And in the 3 years I've been up here neither the north or south sides of my yard have seen much frost. I am fortunate to know some growers down in Merritt island so as long as I'm paying wholesale I can justify my addiction to palms.  I have a few more exotics around the house so we'll just enjoy 'em for as long as this warming trend lasts.  I've heard of a few big Royal palms in developments in the marsh areas in St. Augustine, but I'd have to see them to believe it!  Your profile says your in Tampa. We were in over there last weekend in Apollo Beach and I was very surprised at the amount of Coconuts on that side of the bay!  Anyway, happy planting.

Aloha!

Edited June 25, 2017 by Kekoanui

[Rain52]

Jax beach, both survived the Xmas 2022 freeze. There is one in Neptune that was planted in 2016 and is a monster.